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David hi
My records differ for 126.
Agent agreed was Brooklands of Bond Street.
Delivered to Agent on 7th March 1963
Delivered and Guarantee Period on 8th March 1963 (In acordance with the Log Book and Build Sheet). I had double checked these details with Aston Service, Dorset who hold the Build Sheets and kindly sent me a copy of documentation in their file for a nominal fee.
However, please do note, that both the Build Sheet and the original Log Book (which I have) state the original purchaser / owner was Beaconsfield Films and not a Mr. Thomas.
However, what I an after is when the car was actually built and ordered, if I am correct all these cars were to personal order, and not the final delivery date.
I guess a phone call call to AM Heritage would be in order, to find out some more details.
The possibility exists of course that the British Pathe archive has made a mistake with the year for the Motor-Show.
However, 1962 was the year the Ford Cortina and Triumph Spitfire both debuted, and they both have prominent roles in this film. The Cortina gets a starring role right at the begining as well.
The title words give another clue, to the UK’s earlier application to enter the Common market in 1962, a failed application and again in 1967.
There is also a full length Pathe film for highlights of the year 1962, with the same moto-show clip on it in black and white.
David hi
Further developments from information received this morning from the Archive Curator at AM Heritage Trust;
101 – at Paris MotorShow in 1961
105 at London Motorshow in 1961
110 at New York Motor-Show in April 1962 (117R was works demonstrator).
See this link in black and white:
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/auto-show-in-new-york
The car not visible, just checked.
102 (broken up ? and 104 (left hand drive) taken to Geneva Motor-Show in 1961/62
Motor-Show Records for October 1962 not available at AMHT.
Am now trying to speak to Mr. Lancey, possibly has further records regarding to the Rapide.
Reading the last 2 posts, the Brooklands records are broadly consistent with the build sheets; sadly my record does not show the date when Brooklands received 126 (or 129) from AML. It is also conceivable (50 years on) that there is scope for ambiguity between delivery say, and change of title
I wonder therefore if Mr Thomas was an employee or director of Beaconsfield Films, e.g. Company Secretary, Finance Director, Chairman’s chauffeur etc?
Your evidence about 1962 being the year does seem strong.
So I wonder if the car in the film was painted for the show and later changed to another colour? E.g Black pearl. But we found no evidence in 117 when we did the bare metal respray that it had ever had a blue coat under the black, for example
David hi
My record on the build sheet, appears to show that Brooklands received 126 on 7th of March 1963.
See this html for a nice period view :
http://www.carsfortheconnoisseur.com/history2009/may2009.html
I suspect then that your Mr. Thomas may have been a Finance Director or more likley the Chauffeuer entrusted to pick up the car, but it was not registered in their name. The first owner name is very clear on all other records including with DVLA, but of course in Company Name.
if you look over the log book of 126, you will see the name appears to be N A W???…….s (hard to read surname, could be Thomas, I really can’t tell, take a look and let me know what you think), company secretary, is how this perosn who signed for the car was listed.
Would you mind forwarding to me please this other information:
“Brooklands of Bond Street to a Mr Thomas under order number BS12819 on 8 Mar 1963.” I would be most grateful for this.
I think the year is correct, and I was going to ask if 117 being the works demonstrator, had been resprayed to another color to suit customers choice, you have beaten me to it!
I have followed up lead with Mr. Lancey, waiting to hear from him, any other suggestions ?
I think I can shed a bit of light on the identity of Mr Thomas.
‘Doctor in Distress’, the film which features the Rapide in the clip above, was directed by Ralph Thomas, brother of Gerald Thomas of ‘Carry on’ film fame.
Rapidelover, many thanks for finding a possible solution to this “problem”
Looking at the Brooklands of Bond Street order Sheet for 1961-65.
The majority of the “Customers” were garages. The few private owners – four in all are clearly listed. When it comes to 126, the name is written as follows, in a unique manner for the order sheet :
: Thomas :
The only person listed as such for 23 Rapides. Also this name has been added it seems in another hand to the rest of the entry, just to complicate matters, it appears as an informal entry, and suggests the car was a “signed for collection” by this individual.
It is likely that the car was signed for by a wealthy friend from the film world, so the more likely connection, is actually Gerald Thomas (director of 30 of the Carry on Films), who worked on a regular basis with Rogers, and his biography suggests they had a good relationship.
This reminds me, has anyone checked the 1963 Carry on Films, for a picture of this car, it just might be in one of them in a parking lot as well….
Nurse on Wheels (1963), Carry On Cabby (1963), Carry On Jack (1963) etc
However, another member of the forum has emailed me and suggested why not the famous Terry Thomas, who was also well known to Peter Rogers.
There are clearly several possibilities, none of which can be really narrowed down any further.
Lets not forget that the important thing here is the Build Sheet and original Log Book which both show the original customer/owner was Beaconsfield Films, (always owned, only by Peter Rogers and his wife Betty) and more importantly, where the car was kept, guess where in Beaconsfield, Drummers Yard….
The house, Drummers Yard, being purchased from an actor in Doctor in Distress, Dirk Bogarde, typical I would imagine of such thespian plots…
One can go further and pull down the Company records as I did, very interesting for Beaconsfield Films. Just a shame that in this awful movie, it has to be a Rolls and not a Lagonda which has a starring role.
Before I forget, thank you for your interest in my car, this is very much appreciated.
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