Mulliner Saloon help

[Archivist]

Finally, I am getting to grips with the cataloguing of the Harding collection of photos. It will be worth the wait (I hope!)

Can someone more informed than I on the development of the Mulliner Saloon suggest a date when the Pram irons were removed? I have included two photos from the collection that demonstrate the difference.. (If indeed these are both Mulliners!)

Many thanks for any assistance. With some 350 photos to describe, this may not be my only question!

   
  PH0040001.jpg (Size: 187.66 KB / Downloads: 231)

[Mike Costigan]

Yes, they are both Mulliners. My guess would be that the pram irons were dropped in late 1929 or early 1930; brochure 655G dated June 1929 still shows them, although it uses the same illustration as 655A (November 1928) so that may just be economy in the production of the brochures!

[Ivor Hawkins]

I love the “assistance” provided for the handbrake in the top photo!

[Chris KC]

Yes - I was just saying to myself "it's got a good handbrake..." when I spotted the brick!

[Colin Morgan]

It seems from surviving cars that the Mulliner fabric saloon body design was updated during 1929 - perhaps when the new 1930 model year designs were introduced in late summer?  

The earlier 1929 body has doors hinged at the front and irons.  The later 1929 cars have doors hinged at the rear and no irons.  The body shapes are subtly different.

YC 5314, sold recently by Robin Lawton, was registered in February 1929.


  Mulliner Saloon 1929 1.jpg (Size: 73.84 KB / Downloads: 121)

UY 2999 (briefly mine many years ago) was of the later type with 'suicide doors' and no irons.  The chassis number was 100267, from late 1929, though it wasn't registered until May 1930. 


  Mulliner Saloon 1929 2.jpg (Size: 106.11 KB / Downloads: 120)

[Tony Griffiths]

As everybody else has spotted..."That's a steep hill. Has the driver relied on the 'uncertain' handbrake? No, there's a brick under the front wheel."
My drive's on a slope, and I always have a small pile of bricks to hand—just in case.

[Archivist]

Thanks all..

I think I will use the description 'pre-1930' and 'post-1929' in my descriptions. That should be relatively accurate and give some leeway...

Hugh