British Empire Staff Cars

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

1. Yes the mystery car was indedd a 1939-40 Sunbeam-Talbot, assembled in Barlby Road, Acton, London W., and probably a 3-Litre.

2. The bottom car I think is one of the 1935 Phaetons [Model 48, so a C48?]: the DND had 1934, 1935 and 1936 Phaetons, and several '36 Models were retained after the mass sell-off in 1938. Here's an extract from the papers:

Lieut. Jolley then drew up a list of all 15-cwt. Trucks or equivalent that were to be replaced by new trucks, traded-in, retained for schools or for instructional purposes. The oldest was a 1928 Model Durant Coach. There was a 1929 Chevrolet LQ stake truck, a 1934 Chevrolet Light Delivery, two Chevrolet pickups and a 1½-ton stake truck, all 1934 Models. There were eight Crossley Staff Cars to be sent to schools, otherwise all others were Fords: 1931 to 1936 Models, 2-ton stake trucks, Station Wagons or Phaetons. Ten 1936 Ford 2-ton trucks were to be retained, to be supplemented by the new 15-cwt. Trucks.

There appears to be several panel vans in rhe line-up. Is that so? It looks like a Ford to me but I have no idea otherwise.

Somewhere I have a list of all the DND numbers of the disposal list but can't find it at the moment, save for these Chevies:

DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENCE TRUCKS:
1934 CHEVROLET LIGHT DELIVERY 1-168
1934 CHEVROLET PICKUP 1-174
1934 CHEVROLET PICKUP 1-175
1934 CHEVROLET 1½ TON STAKE 1-180