Beating the train to Brighton

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Last year the PreWarCar.com team experienced quite a challenge during the famous London to Brighton Run. As it took us 9 and a half hours to get to the finish at Madeira Drive. We participated in our 1903 single cylinder car. But there are other ways to get to Brighton, which I can tell you are a lot quicker. We looked at trains, this will only take you approximately one hour. But I cannot imagine you have so much fun as we had. Or a helicopter maybe? When looking at other options, we found the Bonhams catalog and saw this very impressive 1904 Fiat Type 24/32 Rear Entrance Tonneau. In theory, this car can bring you with its 6.9-litre four-cylinder T-head engine to Brighton in less than one hour. As the car does an average speed of approximately 70 miles an hour, and the route is 60 miles.

This 1904 Fiat Type 24/32 will be on auction during the upcoming Bonhams auction on 8 February at The Grand Palais, Paris.

Let us tell you a little bit more about this fascinating car. This 1904 Fiat chassis no. 745 has a very extensive documented history (of previous owners). Which includes the fact that the car has been buried (upside down) on a family estate called Sandyside. Ten years later, Ted Robinson, one of the founders of the Vintage Sports Car Club of America found out about the car. He bought the Fiat for $50 and unearthed the car. Since then the car changes owner several times. The previous owner restored the car in the 1990s and fitted the Fiat with a recreation of a rear-entrance Tonneau body by Quimby of Newark, New Jersey.

In 2007, Jan Bruijn bought the car at auction. Jan, who has always been very passionate about the car was already involved during the restoration period. Under his ownership, the car was dated by the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain as 1904 with all matching numbers (745).

As stated in the Bonhams catalog: ''The history file that accompanies '745' is truly amazing, containing original correspondence dating back to 1953; a substantial quantity of restoration and London-Brighton photographs; taxation/condition reports; restoration invoices (1996-1998); sales letter (the 1950s); Dutch registration papers, technical drawings, and VCC report. A wonderful opportunity to acquire a unique and well-documented piece of Italian motoring history, eligible for the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run and many other similarly prestigious events.'' Something which we totally agree. ''Since 2007 the Fiat has competed in every London to Brighton Run without missing a beat. '' I personally was privileged to once be a passenger in this car. And I can only confirm the saying; it goes like a rocket!

The Fiat will be Lot 347 and is estimated between €750,000 and €950,000. We hope the new owner will keep using the car as it is supposed to be. Maybe we can hang on on Clayton Hill while trying to reach the crest of the hill with our mono cylinder car. And share some of its 32 horsepowers’.

Words by the editor. Photograph courtesy Bonhams.

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