Chassis No. OE 118 Engine No. OE 117 Registration No. TU 831 While the Vauxhall 30-98’s predecessor, the Prince Henry, is often credited as the first British production sports car, it was the 30-98 that became the nation’s first genuine car capable of 100 miles per hour to be series-built. This distinction has only enhanced the model’s appeal among collectors and enthusiasts across generations. In later overhead-valve (OE-Type) form, they simply run rings around their more sophisticated contemporaries from Bentley and Sunbeam and on the open road often surpass modern motor cars nearly 100 years their junior! The “big engine, lightweight” formula is well understood these days and is often cited as the reason for the 30-98’s superb performance. While this is a completely fair assessment, it overlooks the 30-98's intent as a purpose-built sports car for a growing class of motorists in 1913, and that the 4½-Litre engine was not actually considered to be all that large. This “new” concept of a sports car departed from the ideology of the earlier leviathan racing car where a bigger engine equaled greater performance. It instead embraced a more modern concept of a lighter car, with a powerful, smaller-capacity engine that could often outperform larger motorcars through superior handling, braking, and overall performance. The 30-98 was a superb demonstration by Vauxhall of how to build a sports car, proven when Joseph Higginson drove the first-ever 30-98 built to break the hill record at The Shelsley Walsh hill-climb in 1913, a record that remained unbroken until 1922. This superb example of what Vauxhall called the "Finest of Sporting Cars", chassis number OE118, is one of the later and highly desired overhead-valve, low radiator, front wheel-braked models. It left the Vauxhall Motors erecting shop on 27 May 1924 and was fitted with engine number OE117, factory Velox type coachwork, both of which the chassis retains to this day. The completed car was supplied new to Sir William Proctor-Smith and originally registered as FM 404. This was likely a private registration number retained by Proctor-Smith, reappearing in 1930 on a Bentley 4½-Litre Vanden Plas tourer that he bought new, chassis number AD3666. It is not known exactly how long Proctor-Smith retained ownership of OE118 but by 1933 it was owned by W.G.S. Wike, then registered TU 831. From Wike the car passed to N. Sharratt in 1935. Contained within The Vauxhall 30-98 Centenary Index, written and compiled by Nic Portway, is a photograph of OE118 in Manchester before the Second World War when Sharratt owned the car and had modified the Vauxhall by fitting a lavish external exhaust system from a supercharged Mercedes, Stephen Grebel headlights, long pointed wings and (interestingly) the word “DIESEL” emblazoned on the radiator in large nickel or chrome letters. When researching the history of OE118, Portway relayed that his late father-in-law, Ken Neve, remembered OE118 in this form at V.S.C.C. events before the War. Sharratt kept the car until 1946 when it passed to P. Coates, who was well-known to Portway and the owner of a number of interesting cars and Vincent motorcycles. By 1957 OE118 was with a J. Bacon and was in rather a poor state of repair. In 1965 the Vauxhall was purchased by Dr. Robin Barnard, a collector of many fine vintage sports cars. Dr. Barnard entrusted Arthur Archer with a comprehensive restoration, a time-consuming undertaking that ultimately rescued the car from dereliction. Tragically, by the time the restoration was completed in the early 1990s, Dr. Barnard had started to lose his vision and was unable to drive. To this end, the car saw limited use and in 1995 was purchased, via Fiskens, by Roger Firth of Cheshire. Mr. Firth used OE118 sparingly and carefully, carrying out regular maintenance. During Mr. Firth’s ownership, the car was never pressed into competition work and was mostly used for an annual trip from Cheshire to the V.S.C.C. meeting at the Prescott speed hill-climb where the model is well represented each year. Roger Firth retained ownership of the car until 2020, when most of his collection was sold via Robert Glover Limited. The current owner has carried on the good work of Roger Firth and OE118 has continued to be maintained to the highest standards, with recent work entrusted to Piers Trevelyan at the world-renowned vintage restoration specialists, Ashton Keynes Vintage Restorations. Of particular note is a significant refresh of the original engine with the connecting rods, pistons and valve gear all replaced. All work carried out by AKVR are listed in the history file supplied with OE118, which also includes period monochrome images of the car during the 1930s, the car pre-restoration by Arthur Archer and some excellent photographs of the running chassis during the Archer restoration that show in some detail the extent of the works carried out on behalf of Dr. Barnard. Sadly, recent ill-health suffered by the owner has limited his driving enjoyment of OE118 and thus this “Finest of Sporting Cars” is offered for sale by Broad Arrow. It is sure to provide its next custodian with many miles of fast vintage motoring. OE118 is eligible for numerous events around the world and would be equally comfortable on a long-distance rally, hill-climb or vintage race as it would on a concours lawn. PREVIEW DETAILS: This lot will be available for viewing at Bicester Heritage. Please contact a Broad Arrow specialist to arrange an appointment. SALE LOCATION: United Kingdom BUYER’S PREMIUM: 10% + VAT on the Hammer Price TITLE/REGISTRATION DOCUMENTS: UK V5C ADDITIONAL NOTES: N/A POST-AUCTION REMOVAL AND STORAGE: Following receipt of payment, collection can be arranged by appointment only from Bicester, United Kingdom with 24 hours' notice.