1927 Monte Carlo Rally

[Fran008]

Hi there, just wondered if anyone could tell me whether this is the original AC that won the 1927 Monte Carlo Rally, driven by Victor Bruce.
   
   http://www.motorvision.de/artikel/fotoshow-sonderausstellung-100-jahre-rallye-monte-carlo,13054.html

[Fran008]

Correction, the 1926 Monte Carlo Rally

[ACOCArch]

Hi there, just wondered if anyone could tell me whether this is the original AC that won the 1927 Monte Carlo Rally, driven by Victor Bruce.

The AC car on display at Essen was similar to that driven by Hon Victor Bruce and WJ Brunell to win the 1926 Monte Carlo Rally. The car at Essen was dressed to replicate Bruce's car, including the registration plate.
   
   The photo below shows Bruce's daughter and son at Thames Ditton in August 2011, with the cup won by their father in 1926
   
   

[tim isles]

Thanks John. Does the original survive please? Tim

[ACOCArch]

quote:Originally posted by tim isles
   
Thanks John. Does the original survive please? Tim
   

   
   The wherabouts of the 1926 Monte-winning car is not known

[Jam2]

I note that they refer to the Hon Victor Bruce as being French.

[Fran008]

Thanks for the information, just for the record Victor Bruce was British, not French.

[Old Crock]

The Hon. Victor Bruce was a son of the 2nd Baron Aberdare (so, very British indeed). Both he, and his wife, Mildred Mary (the Hon Mrs Victor Bruce) were noted for their motoring adventures in the 1920's. Both drove the Monte Carlo Rally in AC's.
   
   The company's first entry was in 1925 - the first British car to compete - but I have not seen any result for this car, so presume it retired. In 1926 the Hon Victor Bruce and W J Brunell (well-known at the time for his motoring photography), won the event in an AC; an Aceca-bodied Six. The car differed from most in having one door only, on the left. The driver having to enter the car and cross the seat - not unusual as the gear lever and handbrake both got in the way from entering quickly the right-side on those cars with two doors. This meant the right side on his car had a level running board, with no step (the usual fitting). Also, for the event the car carried two spare wheels, one each side, on the running board/wings.
   
   In 1927 Mildred Bruce came 6th out of 66 entrants, though she won the hill climb once again, and the Coupe des Dames. This time the car was a four-door saloon. Virtually as soon as formalities were over Victor and his wife set off in the car, with an RAC observer aboard, on a 5000 mile trial through Europe and North Africa. Derring-do!

[Old Crock]

Here's a nice photograph of Mildred Bruce (the Hon Mrs Victor Bruce), having won the Concours d'Elegance at Brighton in 1928 with an AC - the models from that year now sporting the taller radiator and pointed front wings.
   
   

[Fran008]

Heres another couple of photos of PE 7799 at the 1926 Middlesex County Meeting,
   
   http://www.austinharris.co.uk/registration/pe-7799
   
   This must of been just after it won the Monte Carlo in January 1926, on this same website there are also some pictures of another AC registration PD 9058, is anything known of the whereabouts of this car?
   
   http://www.austinharris.co.uk/registration/pd-9058

[Old Crock]

PD 9058 was a 'works' entry that both Bruce and Brownsort drove. This early car had narrow tyres, six-stud disc wheels, no front-wheel brakes etc – it's most likely a four-cylinder (the factory's first use of the Six in any type of competitive event was late '23). PD 9058 doesn't survive today.
   
   Back to the 1927 Monte Carlo Rally, here's another pic of Mildred with PF 6465 (and crowd) in the UK. Amazing, this same car then went around Europe and North Africa, and then the Bruces drove from London to 250 miles north of the Arctic Circle, further north than anyone had driven before (imagine the roads), where they ceremoniously planted the Union flag! That car doesn't survive either, little wonder I suppose, as it had a very hard life...