Vauxhall OE 30-98 Mulliner Two-Seater

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The first 30–98 was constructed by Vauxhall in 1913 at the behest of motor sport competitor Joseph Higginson. Vauxhall's chief engineer Lawrence Pomeroy, who had developed some of the most successful designs of the Edwardian period, created what is now considered among the finest and highly sought after of all vintage sporting motor cars, the 30-98 Vauxhall.

Pomeroy’s winning formula was based on the use of the lightweight chassis from the 1910 Prince Henry fitted with Vauxhall’s powerful 4 ½-litre four-cylinder side-valve engine used at the time for record attempts in power boats. The first car was completed in May 1913 and soon demonstrated its pedigree. Higginson entered the Waddington Fell Hill Climb on the day the car was delivered and achieved FTD. His next outing was at Shelsley Walsh where again it won the day, taking the hill record which was to stand for 10 years. 

Only a handful of 30-98s left the works prior to WW1. Production of the E-Type recommenced in 1919 until November 1922 when the engine was updated with an overhead valve design and detachable cylinder head. Thus started a production run of the 313 OE specification cars. The stroke was returned to its original length giving a slightly smaller capacity of 4,224 cc but power output was up nearly 30% from the original to 115 bhp.

Well-known to the Vauxhall 30-98 Register, the car offered is OE 50, one of the earlier OE models with the attractive and desirable low radiator and low-set headlamps. It also has a most desirable history.

First registered in August 1923, the car was immediately shipped to Persia where it spent the next seven years in the Agar family. Charles Agar returned to England in 1930, choosing to make the journey, with his wife, by road in the 30-98. This epic 4,000 mile journey from Shiraz to Manchester was successfully completed in 35 days and was the subject of a six-page illustrated article in The Autocar of Nov 1930. The article records “We did not carry a great amount of personal kit - one wardrobe trunk, two suitcases and one gramophone….”

The buff logbook accompanying the car records that after two short ownerships the car was sold in 1934 to Jack Moor, the well-known creator and driver of the GN Wasp. It was at this stage, believed to be 1934, that the open four-seater body was removed and the most elegant Mulliner two-seater body fitted that still remains on the car today. Jack Moor owned and used the car, including the regular towing of his Wasp to Shelsley Walsh for over 30 years until 1966.

During his ownership it is well known that Moor exited a connecting rod from the crankcase necessitating engine work that resulted in the engine components being rehoused in the replacement OD crankcase that remains in the car today. Its original OE crankcase was deemed beyond repair, although modern engineering techniques have since been employed to bring it back to life where it is doing service in another 30-98.

Completing the documented and continuous history of this magnificent car, it then passed, via only one further owner to its present-day custodians in 1976.

As with so many 30-98s, the front axle has been replaced with a Delage unit incorporating very effective 16-inch brake drums. Being one of the first 60 OE specification cars, OE 50 was originally built using the E-type front axle design devoid of brakes. Given that the factory guaranteed a performance when stripped of lights and wings of 100mph around Brooklands, this seems a sensible precaution. Indeed, the Delage front axle conversion is well known to 30-98 protagonists and is a well worthwhile improvement on today's busy roads.

The car is accompanied by a significant volume of maintenance records and receipts dating back to 1976 detailing all the work completed, the vast majority of which have been undertaken by Arthur Archer Ltd and Bassett Down Engineering. Testament to the quality of the maintenance and running order is its history of use with the current owner. The Pyrenees Rally, Angouleme Tour, many European driving adventures and, closer to home, Measham Rally and Welsh trial history are listed among the recorded activity over the last 30 years.

Presented in fine running order, OE 50 represents the opportunity to own one of the most historically complete 30-98 Vauxhalls. Beautifully presented with stunning Mulliner coachwork and a continuous history of ownership, this fabulous motorcar is one of the finest examples of the ‘Car Super Excellent’.