Reader find of the month
Send in a 200-word story plus a selection of photographs of your discoveries to the usual C&SC address or e-mail malcolm.thorne@haymarket.com and you could win £100!
Reader Ian Cameron stumbled across this special while on a coastal walk near St David’s in Pembrokeshire. “This curious car, which is badged as an Auburn, has seemingly been left to the elements and very much out in the open,” said Cameron. “Although at first sight the right-hand-drive car appears to have been abandoned, an overseas – possibly American? – registration plate states ‘Penna 1929’ and the number 74-995.”
The radiator does appear to be 1920s Auburn, and the vehicle wears cut-down two-seater bodywork, leaf springs all round and hydraulic drum brakes. Little remains inside, bar a bench seat and large four-spoke steering wheel, while ‘Spirit of Pendine Sands’ is scrawled on the bonnet in marker pen. Scratched on the side can be seen the legend ‘Pendine Beastie,’ possibly in preparation for a signwriter.
“It would appear to have once been a handsome car that’s been cut down for beach racing or similar,” said Cameron. “Other than weathering of the paint, it looks very sound.” Can anyone shed any further light on it?