Harrington Bonanza at Wythall
Published: 30/05/2023
The 2023 Harrington Gathering at Wythall on May 21st was a positive spectacle of iconic design with coaches representing eight decades of art deco-inspired design on a number of different chassis, plus a very plain yet attractive single deck service bus.
From the bonneted era of the early 1930s through dorsal finned luxury into the 1960’s Granadiers and Cavaliers (plus a dash of ‘Cavadier’ to confuse the uninitiated), there was something for everyone. The sun shone and over 400 people were drawn to this superb gathering of days gone by luxury.
Harrington was also famous for carrosserie, its relationships with the Rootes Group and Triumph illustrated by the legendary Harrington Sunbeam and Triumph products, represented at the Gathering in the shape of a record five Sunbeam Alpines and a Triumph GTR4, all carrying sleek coupe bodywork, the hallmark of Harrington automobile style.
The Coaches in detail
From the early years of Harrington coaches, Sean Turpin’s Leyland Cheetah LZ2/Harrington C31F CUF 404 exhibited 1936 styling with a normal control/bonnet forward body. New to Southdown Motor Services and originally fitted with a roll-back canvas roof, post war it revisited Harrington’s and was rebuilt with glass cant windows, with only the roof centre remaining in canvas. Following years of neglect it was rebuilt, a remarkable vehicle to see today.
Hot on its heels and still in the 1930’s (just) was Leyland Cheetah LZ2/Harrington C31F EYA 923, art-deco personified in a coach with its distinctive dorsal fin. New to Blue Motors of Porlock Weir in 1939, it had further owners in its life and came out of commercial service in 1958 when bought by a lady in London to take her family on holidays. In 1961 it was laid up at the West of England Transport Museum at Winkleigh in Devon until the late 1980’s when it was bought and restored by Fraser Clayton, its current owner. A remarkable and stunning survivor, this 84 year old vehicle was driven to Wythall and back from Sussex without missing a beat.
Roger Burdett’s Leyland PS1/Harrington C33F dorsal fin JYC 855 from 1947 was also a Porlock Weir coach from new and stayed with the company until its amalgamation with Scarlet Pimpernel of Minehead in 1954. It retails their red livery today. Withdrawn in 1960 it passed through a number of operators until John Brenson of Brentwood Coaches undertook a full rebuild. Now owned by Roger, it is very familiar on today’s rally scene.
A 1950 Dorsal Fin is Leyland PS2/3/Harrington C33F GDM 494. One of a pair delivered to Walkey & Sons of Nortop in North Wales, it passed through a number of operators until joining David Dean’s Classique collection on heritage tours of the Scottish Highlands. Subsequently bought by Colin Cowdrey, it went to Kenzies for a high quality restoration and is now owned by Andrew Long.
This dorsal fin is a very recognisable coach that has been immortalised in a 1:50th scale model, 1950 full-fronted AEC Regal III/Harrington FC33F KDD 38. Two of these coaches entered service with Soudley Valley in 1950 (one a Leyland Comet). This AEC spent its entire working life working in the Forest of Dean until laid up in 1973. Bought by its current owner, Nick Helliker, it was restored to its current condition, another remarkable survivor.
And the final dorsal fin is 1951 Leyland Tiger PS2/3/Harrington C35F HVJ 583. This coach was purchased new by Wye Valley Motors with whom it remained until 1972 when it passed into preservation.
We now move through the fin era to more familiar designs that were precursors to the familiar Grenadier and Cavalier. The first, 1950 Leyland Tiger Cub/Harrington Wayfarer II MMR 553 is a familiar rally goer in its striking Silver Star livery. Updated using Wayfarer IV mouldings, the coach is now owned by Philip Thornes.
Digressing into a bus rather than a coach comes Nick Webster’s 1957 Dennis Lancet UF/Harrington B42F YYB 118, a Harrington bus for registered stage services with Hutchinson and Cornelius in Somerset, exhibiting none of the wild art deco design features of the coaches. Still fitted with a Dennis engine, the bus was out of service with Brutonian and restored by its current owner into stunning condition.
We now move to more familiar territory with a list of ‘modern’ coaches from Harrington:
1958 AEC Reliance/Wayfarer IV 390 DKK, a Maidstone and District example that was exhibited at the 1958 Commercial Motor Show.
1959 Seddon Mk19/Wayfarer IV VHO 200 new to Liss and District, one of just 30 examples of the Mk19 chassis.
1961 Bedford SB3/Crusader II 326 CAA new to King Alfred. One of a batch of three and restored by FoKAB members.
1961 Leyland Leopard L2T/Cavalier C32F PCK 618 new to Ribble. This coach lived near to Wythall with Regent Coaches in the early 1970’s and was restored in 1988 by David Prescott, its current owner.
1962 AEC Reliance/Cavalier C51F AMX 8A was new to Valliant Direct Coaches in Ealing. A fine example of a 36’ Cavalier.
1963 Leyland Leopard L2/Grenadier C28F 750 DCD is in fact a ‘Grenalier’. Southdown liked the Cavalier front that permitted the use of an illuminated ‘Southdown’ name panel. Subsequent Grenadiers had similar fronts fitted. This ‘front end swapping’ was not a rare occurrence with these coaches.
1964 AEC Reliance/Grenadier C36F ABO 145B was new to Western Welsh in a batch of six. Sold in 1971 to Greenslades in Devon, it eventually sustained serious front-end accident damage and was repaired with the entire front of a Timpson’s Grenadier. It is now preserved by Keith Severn.
1964 AEC Reliance/Grenadier C43F 100 VRL was new to Hawkeys of Newquay. This coach has a unique history having operated for Hawkeys until moving to Ridlers of Dulverton. But VRL was never repainted and was bought for preservation effectively in original Hawkeys livery and has been owned by Roger Thomas since 1999. It still retains its existing paint over a large proportion of the body.
1965 was represented by three Granadiers:
AEC Reliance/Grenadier C41 CYD 724C was new to Hutchings and Cornelius.
AEC Reliance/Grenadier C51F CDK 448C was new to Ellen Smith (Tours).
AEC Reliance/Grenadier C51F was new to Surrey Motors.
The cars in detail
1961 536 CNW Sunbeam Harrington Le Mans. Retaining its racing pedigree, this car is in rally clothes. Owned by Glenn Brackenridge since 2009 it has seen action in competitive events such as the Sunbeam Challenge.
1961 408 DPO Sunbeam Harrington Le Mans, one of 250 cars built as a 1961 Le Mans 24 hour endurance commemoration. Owned and restored to immaculate condition by Andrew Yates after being discovered in a container in a very poor state.
1962 WUD 270 Sunbeam Harrington C-Type with the complete set of Harrington optional extras of the time and owned by Derek Hewitson for nearly 40 years.
1963 XDB 25 Sunbeam Harrington C-Type, only 12 of which were produced.
1964 ACC 365A Sunbeam Harrington D-Type. A last of line very much ‘cost reduced’ car.
