Gurney Nutting Fire - Easter 1923 or Easter 1924?

andyfeaver

Hello all,

I am doing some research into the Gurney Nutting fire which destroyed the factory, along with a number of Bentley 3 litres. I would value any information on whether there is a definitive list of such chassis, the events surrounding the fire and the impact on the delivery of new cars to customers. It must have caused quite a delay, especially for those customers who had ordered a "standard" body for their car.

All help gratefull received,

Andy

John Murch · Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2024 6:20 am Post subject:

As far as I know the fire was Easter 1923, after which the firm moved from Croydon to London (Elystan St).
I don’t recall seeing a definitive list of destroyed or damaged cars but if you run through one of Clare Hay’s publications with a list of all chassis built and brief histories, she does comment which cars she believed were destroyed. I think it likely that some chassis were salvaged too.

andyfeaver · Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2024 6:55 am Post subject:

Hi John

Many thanks for your reply.

I think with a bit of lateral thinking, I have answered my own question. From studying local newspaper reports from Croydon in 1923 and 1924, it appears the fire started at about 10pm on Good Friday (18th April) 1924.

Other reports suggest some 20 chassis - including I presume some 3 litres - were destroyed.

On Coachbuild.com forum for Gurney Nutting, they list the following:

https://www.coachbuild.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22406&start=20

#534, engine #544
#541, engine #546
#550, engine # unknown
#552, engine #558
#553, engine # unknown
#559, engine #569
#561, engine #571
#570, engine #584
#576, engine # unknown
#577, engine # unknown
#583, engine #596, rebuilt saloon by factory, reg. PF 7782 (whereabouts unknown)

From an initial check, this list doesn't tie up with the results in Clare Hays "The Vintage Years".. I will need to do some more digging.

AF

John Murch · Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2024 5:18 am Post subject:

Great bit of research, references in various books said 1923, but you are clearly correct on 1924, my car 602, is may 1924 and the destroyed chassis are all slightly earlier numbers!