ERAs - Chassis Ownership Histories

THESE PAGES ARE DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF TIM MAY
ERA HISTORIAN PAR EXCELLENCE

INTRODUCTION

The ERA marque is almost unique, as a major racing marque, in that, for each one of the twenty cars which were built by the company in period (1934 to 1952), the complete ownership history is known at every point in each car’s life.

The most comprehensive information on ERA ownership can be found in David Weguelin: The History of English Racing Automobiles - White Mouse Editions (1980).

Since David Weguelin’s masterly book was published in 1980, the ERA Club has set itself the task of maintaining the cars' ownership histories, with changes being noted here on the Club’s web site.

Anyone who has further information which adds, corrects or disputes anything herein should contact Adam Ferrington at info@eraclub.co.uk

CHASSIS BY CHASSIS

R1A
(Originally R1)
The Works 1934 to 1935
A (Antonio) Valette 1935
The Works 1935 to 1936
F S (Sidney) Cotton 1936 to 1937
E (Eugen) Bjørnstad 1937
The Works 1937 to 1938
J (Jean) Trévoux 1938
W E (Bill) Humphreys 1938 to 1942
H W Motors 1942 to 1947
R (Reg) Parnell 1947 to 1948
D A (David) Hampshire 1948 to 1952
W R (Ron) Flockhart & A W (Alistair) Birrell 1952
A W (Alistair) Birrell 1952 to 1955
T (Tom) Blackburn 1955
A W (Alistair) Birrell 1955 to 1956
W F (Bill) Moss 1956
E (Edmund) Smith 1956 to 1958
E (Ellis) Hammersley 1958 to 1959
A G (Sandy) Murray 1959 to 1982
D (Dan) Margulies 1982 to 1983
J (Jost) Wildbolz 1983 to 1993
P M (Peter) Rae 1993 to 1998
E D (Dean) Butler 1998 to 2008
(MDH - Dorset, UK) 2008 to date


R2A
(Originally R2)
The Works 1934 to 1936
N S (Nicky) Embiricos 1936 to 1938
A C (Conn) Pollock 1938 to 1942
R M W (Robert) Arbuthnot 1942 to 1946
G E (George) Abecassis 1946 to 1948
C K (Charles) Mortimer 1948
R (Reg) Parnell 1948
G R (George) Nixon 1948 to 1950
G R (George) Hartwell 1950
J V (John) Green & E (Edward) Miles Martin 1950 to 1952
H (Harry) Kayley 1952 to 1956
W E (Ted) Lloyd-Jones 1956 to 1957
G J (Gordon) Chapman 1957 to 1963
J B B (Barry) Swann 1963 to 1971
M J (Michael) Glass 1971 to 1978
B A (Brian) Classic 1978 to 1997
R (Rodney) Smith 1997 to 2007
Mrs M B (Mary) Smith 2007 to 2014
P P (Paddins) Dowling 2014 to date


R3A
(Originally R3)
The Works 1934 to 1936
L G (Luis) Fontes 1936
A N (Norman) Black & T H (Tommy) Wisdom 1936 to 1937
C E C (Charlie) Martin 1937 to 1938
J H (Jack) Bartlett 1938
R O (Roy) Hesketh 1938 to 1946
B W (Basil) Beall 1946 to 1958
G (Gordon) Henderson & C (Clive) Mitchell 1958 to 1965
P R (Peter) Massey 1965 to 1967
H F (Hamish) Moffatt & N M (Nigel) Arnold-Forster 1967 to 1988
C A (Chris) Mann 1988 to 1990
T (Tetsu) Takahashi 1990 to 1998
R T (Dick) Skipworth 1998 to 2003
R (Rodney) Smith 2003 to 2007
Mrs M B (Mary) Smith 2007 to 2014
R T (Dick) Skipworth 2014 to date


R4A
P G (Pat) Fairfield 1935 to 1937
W E (Bill) Humphreys 1937
N G (Norman) Wilson 1937 to 1942
R (Reg) Parnell 1942 to 1945
F R (Bob) Gerard 1945 to 1955
J (John) MacPhee 1955 to 1956
J A F (Jimmy) de Villiers 1956 to 1957
J A (Jimmy) Shield 1957 to 1959
J A F (Jimmy) de Villiers 1959 to 1961
H (Horst) Hornick 1961
B (Barry) Sargeant 1961 to 1963
F P (Peter) Brewer 1963 to 1966
Sir John Venables-Llewelyn 1966 to 1996
P A (Peter) Mann & J (Jost) Wildbolz 1996 to 1998
J (Jost) Wildbolz 1998 to 2008
J-R (Jean-Robert) Grellet 2008 to 2012
N J (Nick) Topliss 2012 to date


R1B
R J B (Dick) Seaman 1935 to 1936
G F A (Jock) Manby-Colegrave 1936 to 1937
W E (Billy) Cotton 1937 to 1947
T C (Cuth) Harrison 1947 to 1948
D C (Don) Pitt 1948 to 1950
J C G W A (Claud) Hamilton 1950 to 1955
D R (David) Good 1955 to 1957
M L (Martin) Brewer 1957 to 1959
A L (Alan) Cottam 1959 to 1964
C P (Patrick) Marsh 1964 to 1986
Mrs S K (Sally) Marsh 1986 to 1998
N (Norbert) Springer 1998 to 2000
W V (Bill) Vaccaro 2000 to 2007
M J (Michael) Gans 2007 to date


R2B
H R H Prince Chula Chakrabongse 1935 to 1963
H R H Princess Chula Chakrabongse 1963 to 1971
M R Narisa Chakrabongse 1971 to 2007
G F (Greg) Whitten 2007 to date


R3B
The Works 1935 to 1936

(Dismantled after Marcel Lehoux's fatal accident at Deauville and never rebuilt)


R4C
(Originally R4B)
The Works 1935 to 1938

(Converted to R4C over the winter 1936/37)

Rebuilt in March 1938 as R4D around a new chassis frame

Frame of R4C re-used in the building of R8C in 1938 - see below


R4D
The Works 1938 to 1939
T R (Raymond) Mays 1939 to 1952
W R (Ron) Flockhart 1952 to 1954
F C K (Ken) Wharton 1954 to 1957
A T (Tommy) Norton 1957 to 1959
J (Jim) Berry 1959 to 1962
Mrs V E (Vera) Berry 1962 to 1966
F P (Peter) Brewer 1966 to 1970
E N (Neil) Corner 1970 to 1974
N F (Nigel) Moores 1974 to 1980
A P (Anthony) Bamford 1980 to 1984
A J S (Anthony) Mayman 1984 to 1993
V V (Vijay) Mallya 1993 to 1998
M J (Michael) Steele 1998 to 2000
J M (Mac) Hulbert 2000 to 2015
B H (Brian) Fidler 2015 to 2020
B P (Ben) Fidler 2020 to date


R5B
H R H Prince Chula Chakrabongse 1936 to 1937
A P R (Tony) Rolt 1937 to 1939
A P R (Tony) Rolt & St J R (St John) Horsfall 1939 to 1945
H (Hugh) Green 1945 to 1946
I F (Ian) Connell 1946
P H (Peter) Bell 1946 to 1950
J D (Duncan) Hamilton & P (Philip) Fotheringham-Parker 1950 to 1951
H (Harry) Sullivan 1951 to 1952
V (Vic) Thomas 1952 to 1954
K (Ken) Flint & V (Verdun) Edwards 1954 to 1955
J W (John) Broad 1955 to 1956
W F (Bill) Moss 1956 to 1959
Hon. Patrick Lindsay 1959 to 1986
A L (Ludovic) Lindsay 1986 to 2010
C K (Charles) McCabe 2010 to 2022
P P (Paddins) Dowling 2022 to date


R6B
Dr J D (Dudley) Benjafield 1936 (see note below)
D L (Douglas) Briault 1936 to 1937
I F (Ian) Connell 1937 to 1939
Mrs M E (Marjorie) Hall-Smith 1939 (see note below)
R (Reg) Parnell 1939 to 1945
F R (Bob) Gerard 1945 to 1954
Lord (Robert) Ebury 1954 to 1958
S I (Sid) Day 1958 to 1968
S I (Sid) Day & J S (John) Sutton 1968 to 1977
S I (Sid) Day, M (Michael) Scott & J P S (Peter) Warne 1977 to 1980
J C (Cedric) Brierley 1980 to 1987
J R (Jeffrey) Pattinson 1987 to 2002
I F (Ian) Landy 2002 to 2013
C K (Charles) McCabe 2013 to date


R7B
A C (Arthur) Dobson 1936 to 1945 (see note below)
H L (Les) Brooke 1945 to 1948
K N (Ken) Hutchison 1948 to 1952
B D F (David) Blann (?) 1952 to 1955
R (Ron) Linley 1955 to 1956
F S (Frank) Lockhart 1956 to 1957
J A (Jack) Bond 1957 to 1960
D H (Dudley) Gahagan & P (Paul) Burch 1960 to 1998
M (Michael) Rudnik 1998 to 2002
P P (Paul) Mullins 2002 to 2014
Ms S (Stephanie) & Ms F (Chessie) Wilton 2014 to date


R8B
Earl (Francis) Howe 1936 to 1938

Rebuilt in 1938 as R8C using the discarded frame of R4C

Frame of R8B later re-used in the rebuilding of R12B in 1939 - see below


R8C
Built in 1938 using the discarded frame of R4C
Earl (Francis) Howe 1938 to 1946
R (Reg) Parnell 1946 to 1947
T C (Cuth) Harrison 1947 to 1951
B N (Brian) Shawe-Taylor 1951 to 1952
A G (Graham) Whitehead 1952 to 1955
R D P (Derek) Wilkinson 1955 to 1960
B E (Bertie) Brown 1960 to 1977
B (Bruce) Spollon 1977 to 2013
R W M (Rod) Spollon 2013 to date

A D type chassis (possibly ex-White Mouse Garage) was fitted to R8C between 1949 and 1951, after which the car reverted to its C type chassis


R9B
D H (Denis) Scribbans 1936 to 1938
R E (Bob) Ansell 1938 to 1947
G E (Geoff) Ansell 1947 to 1950
B N (Brian) Shawe-Taylor 1950 to 1951
E J A (Ernie) Wilkinson 1951 to 1954
J D (John) Lewis 1954 to 1955
T T (Terry) Carson 1955 to 1957
A J (Arthur) Jeddere-Fisher 1957 to 1958
P (Peter) Waller 1958 to 1976
P A (Peter) Mann 1976 to 1994
J (Jost) Wildbolz 1994 to 1998
P A (Peter) Mann 1998 to 2004
R (Rainer) Ott 2004 to 2014
H (Heinz) Bachmann 2014 to date


R10B
P N (Peter) Whitehead 1936 to 1949
P D C (Peter) Walker 1949
P N (Peter) Whitehead 1949 to 1952
R D P (Derek) Wilkinson 1952 to 1957
J A (Jack) Williamson 1957 to 1976
J E (Joel) Finn 1976 to 1980
N B (Nick) Mason 1980 to 2005
P P (Paddins) Dowling 2005 to 2022
B (Brad) Baker 2022 to date


R11B
R E (Reggie) Tongue 1936 to 1938
Hon. Peter Aitken 1938 to 1946
R M (Bob) Cowell & G M (Gordon) Watson 1946 to 1947
E G (Ted) Pool 1947 to 1948
R (Reg) Parnell 1948
P H (Peter) Bell 1948 to 1956 (see note below)
J W (John) Broad 1956 to 1957
R F (Roy) Bloxam 1957
B R (Barry) Eastick 1957
A J (Arthur) Jeddere-Fisher, P M A (Peter) Hull & D H C (Douglas) Hull 1957 to 1961
M H (Martin) Morris 1961 to 2006
D R O (David) Morris 2006 to date


R12C
(Originally R12B)
The Works 1936 to 1937

(Converted to R12C over the winter 1936/37)
The Works 1937 to 1938
H R H Prince Chula Chakrabongse 1938 to 1939

R12C existed as a chassis frame only from 1939 to 1982

W R G (Bill) Morris 1982 to 2007
T A D (Terry) Crabb 2007 to date


R12B
Built in 1939 using the discarded frame of R8B
H R H Prince Chula Chakrabongse 1939 to 1949
D A (David) Hampshire & D (David) Murray 1949 to 1950
D (David) Murray 1950 to 1951
J A (Jimmy) Somervail 1951 to 1954
D G (Denys) Owen 1954 to 1956
K (Ken) Flint & V (Vern) Edwards 1956 to 1957
S A (Sam) Tingle 1957 to 1959
D (Doug) Gillespie 1959 to 1961
A (Alan) Gillespie 1961 to 1962
W R G (Bill) Morris & D N (David) Kergon 1962 to 1974
W R G (Bill) Morris 1974 to 1999
D H (David) Wenman 1999 to 2007
H R H King Bhumibol of Thailand 2007 to 2016
H R H King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand 2016 to date


R14B
J P (Johnnie) Wakefield 1938 to 1941
R (Reg) Parnell 1941 to 1945
F R (Bob) Gerard 1945 to 1955
J T (Jimmy) Stuart 1955 to 1957
C K W (Keith) Schellenberg & N V L (Norman) Barclay 1957
N V L (Norman) Barclay 1957 to 1958
D H (Donald) Day 1958 to 2015
C E (Chris) MacAllister 2015 to date


GP1
The Works 1938 to 1946
P N (Peter) Whitehead 1946 to 1947
R (Reg) Parnell 1947 to 1948
P N (Peter) Whitehead 1948 to 1949
P D C (Peter) Walker 1949 to 1952
The Works 1952 to 1954
R J C (John) Marshall 1954
K (Ken) Flint & V (Verdun) Edwards 1954 to 1958
J (Jim) Berry 1958 to 1959
G J (Gordon) Chapman 1959 to 1995
D (Duncan) Ricketts 1995 to date


GP2
The Works 1945 to 1946
H L (Les) Brooke 1946 to 1947
The Works 1947 to 1952 (see note below)
R P (Roy) King 1952 to 1955
K (Ken) Flint & V (Verdun) Edwards 1955 to 1958
J (Jack) Nicholson 1958 to 1965
P (Peter) Lee 1965 to 1966
G J (Gordon) Chapman 1966 to 1995
Ms L J (Lucy) Chapman & Ms N J (Narisa) Chapman 1995 to 2021
J L (Jolyon) Harrison 2021 to date


G Type (R1G)
The Works 1952

The G Type project was sold to the Car Division of the Bristol Aeroplane Company at the end of 1952, with R1G being incorporated into the prototype Bristol 450.


AJM1
A J (Tony) Merrick 1986 to 1989
A J S (Anthony) Mayman 1989 to 1994
P A (Peter) Mann 1994 to 1998
J M (Mac) Hulbert & J P (Julian) Bronson 1998 to 2001
R (Rainer) Ott 2001 to 2004
P A (Peter) Mann 2004 to 2008
B P (Ben) Fidler 2008 to date


NOTES

General - In some cases an ownership period includes the subsequent ownership by the deceased owner’s estate. The ownership lists largely ignore any motor traders who temporarily had a car in their stock.

R6B – Robin Hanson appears in some ownership lists in 1939, but the car was owned by his patron, Mrs Marjorie Hall-Smith.

R6B - Brian Finglass appears in Doug Nye's Old Motor ownership list in 1936, between Benjafield and Briault. Finglass was a motor trader, so it is possible that R6B passed through his hands at this point.

R7B – Cyril Paul drove this car in its first few races in 1936, but he was driving the car for its first owner, Arthur Dobson.

R11B – Michael Christie is shown by Weguelin as owning this car between 1954 and 1956. In fact Christie drove it for Peter Bell who remained the owner until the car was sold to John Broad in 1956.

GP2 - For a period during 1949 and 1950 GP2 was officially owned by TASO Mathieson, although it remained at the ERA Works at Dunstable and continued to be driven by Leslie Johnson. See Weguelin pages 163 and 166.