Halse Enterprises Sussex Specials - Harry Rose Body Tub

 
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Malcolm Gordon



Joined: 01 Jan 1990
Posts: 31
Location: Midlothian, United Kingdom

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I have been researching how many Harry Rose bodied Specials there are. I am now up to an incredible 65 cars and still counting. I am hoping publish my work in the next couple of weeks on the BDC forum for all to see.

I have been including the cars built by Halse Enterprises of Lewes, Sussex because they would appear to use the Harry Rose body tub. I may have to reduce the number of cars I have if it wasn't a Harry Rose body that was used.

Can anyone confirm if it is the Harry Rose body tub or was it a bespoke body that Halse utilised.

Please see the attached one example of one of the Halse cars that is for sale in Australia

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Mark Taxis



Joined: 02 Apr 2007
Posts: 226
Location: Queensland Australia

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It certainly looks like the Harry Rose tub, he got a company in Dorset to produce them
I look forward to seeing the list of cars
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Mark Taxis
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Paul Spencer



Joined: 17 Feb 2003
Posts: 1088
Location: Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

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Am I out of line if I say that the body looks at least two foot too short for the car? I know nothing of MkVI Specials, and even less of Harry Rose bodies. But I have a draft of the document Malcolm is preparing, which I found very interesting. The photos in the document are generally three quarter views and make the cars look much better (to my eyes). I also don't remember cars I have seen in the metal giving the same impression. I know some, such as Malcolm's own, have very different rear-end treatments. Is it the case that you fit the tub to the chassis then build the read-end as you want?
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Mark Taxis



Joined: 02 Apr 2007
Posts: 226
Location: Queensland Australia

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Hi Paul
I think the overall look depends a lot on colour scheme , you are correct, you just fit the tub and after that you build and create to your taste.
My car looks a lot better with the hood and the luggage rack in place, when they are removed it looks out of balance, same applies to the spare wheels mounted on the side, without them the bonnet looks too long


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Mark Taxis
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Queensland 4560
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Paul Spencer



Joined: 17 Feb 2003
Posts: 1088
Location: Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

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Hi Mark,

I can see from the photo that the hood alone makes a tremendous difference. Much better with it! Still long to my taste with the spare on the back, but I find that with most of the low MkVI Specials and life would be no fun if we all liked the same things!
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Stephen Blakey



Joined: 02 Feb 1995
Posts: 1337
Location: Derbyshire, United Kingdom

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Hi Malcolm,

There is a piece about Halse Specials in Review 171, October 2010 written by club member Barrie Midford-Millership who owns JWY 208 which is another Halse Harry Rose tub-alike.

BM-M clearly has an interest in the cars as he paid a visit to the late Mr Halse's widow but unfortunately discovered there are no records of the cars or the business.

It might be worth contacting BM-M if only to ask about whether his own car should be included in your list?

Regards,

Stephen
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Malcolm Gordon



Joined: 01 Jan 1990
Posts: 31
Location: Midlothian, United Kingdom

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At this stage I am going to include the Halse cars until I am otherwise corrected. They seem to have great similarities with the boot and the power bulge for the gear lever which have been the usual giveaways for it being a Harry Rose body.

Some of the cars look to have a different scuttle arrangement but this might just be a modification done to the basic tub.

I believe the early Halse cars were white and red as in this example and I have 3 examples of the cars in this colour scheme. The later cars were then green. It is reputed that 16 cars were built.

I do have one car advised as being a Halse built car which seems to have the engine moved back, with Harry Rose tub, different wings and wire wheels. I have attached the photo. The car reg HON 493 does not appear to be a current BDC member.

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Malcolm Gordon



Joined: 01 Jan 1990
Posts: 31
Location: Midlothian, United Kingdom

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This photo of a Halse car which I discovered last night clearly shows a modified scuttle design to the Harry Rose body tub. This car would appear to be in a museum in Japan.

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