Lucy Gascoigne’s MG ‘Record Breaker’.

The appearance of this car on eBay at the tail end of 2008 took many people completely by surprise. It was known to a number of enthusiasts where the car was and they were given to understand that its future was secure, but events were to prove otherwise.

The car dates back to the very early days of the Pioneer Model Car Club, which was formed by enthusiasts following the first organised tethered car meetings on the factory rooftop in London. Among them were Jim Cruickshank, who worked in the blind making factory where these meetings were held, Jack Morgan, and Jack Gascoigne who was a partner in a heating company. Both Gascoigne and Cruickshank who had campaigned tethered hydroplanes prior to WW2 built semi-scale models of the ‘Magic Midget’ that MG cars had created in 1931 for George Eyston to race. Late in 1945, Jack Gascoigne, assisted by his wife Lucy and Jack Morgan set about building a replica of another car built by MG in 1935, again for Eyston, but this time specifically for record breaking.

Whereas the earlier car had been based on the 4 cylinder ‘Midget’ chassis and engine, EX 135 owed its existence to the 1100cc 6 cylinder Magnette. As it was intended solely for record breaking, the engine and drive shaft were angled to allow the driver to sit as low as possible, leaving the top of the wheels and the drivers head as the highest part of the car. In 1938 the car was rebuilt, rebodied and modified extensively for the driver who was to be most closely associated with it, Lt Col ‘Goldie’ Gardner. A sleek, streamlined body covered the entire car with just the driver’s head above the bodyline. Initially the cockpit was open with a small, faired windscreen and headrest, which eventually was replaced by a fully enclosed version

In the hands of Gardner, the car broke numerous class records. On one notable occasion it recorded 203 mph as an 1100, the engine was rebored beside the road and it then took the 1500cc record at 205 mph. The car re emerged after WW2 and continued it’s record breaking. A 750cc engine that had been built in 1939 powered the car to a record in that class of 159mph. 2 of the cylinders were then fitted with dummy pistons so that it could run as a 500cc. A quite remarkable car.

A fundamental error in one of the first reports about the model attributed it to Mr and Mrs Cruickshank, but commented that the ‘delightful little scale MG breaks new ground in design’. Most obvious was that the low bodyline meant that the engine could not be upright. Also, Gascoigne favoured fabricating his chassis from either steel or aluminium sheet and these two factors combined to create a model quite different to any other cars of the period. What is not generally appreciated either, is just how small the model is. The engine based on a Westbury designed 5cc Kestrel is mounted horizontally and occupies virtually the whole width of the car.

Attached to the Kestrel are a centrifugal clutch and a cable operated ‘pull start’ mechanism that Lucy used, while her husband stuck with the traditional leather cord on the flywheel. A fuel tank was mounted ‘pannier’ style on the outside of the left hand frame, while a coil was mounted in a cut out in the right hand frame. A pair of NIFE cells and a ‘knock off switch made from a radio rotary switch completed the car.

The first appearance of the ‘Gascoigne MG’ that was to become so well known, was at Eaton Bray in September 1946 where it was described as a ‘most interesting newcomer’. Following several test laps in the morning, with the new engine being ‘treated gingerly’, it was entered in the Drysdale ‘Concours’ for unfinished models. Later that month it was taken to a Pioneer Club Meeting in the Royal Horticultural Hall where battery trouble prevented a run of any sort.

The 1947 season initially proved frustrating for Lucy Gascoigne as the car failed to live up to its promise of the previous year. From the rearranged Austin trophy meeting, run indoors at Eaton Bray in January, right through to Whitsun it failed to beat 30 mph and was still noted as ‘jumping about a bit’.

Lack of speed was not a problem when the Pioneer Club provided demonstrations on the circular track at the Model Engineer Exhibition. The car was displayed at the opening of the Surrey Club track at Christmaspie, but insufficient ground clearance for the streamlined tail prevented it running.

Lucy with her MG at Christmaspie. Images courtesy Westbury Family

The trip to Eaton Bray in July was a ‘non event’, as ignition troubles proved insurmountable and stopped the car running at all. Clearly showing that the scale approach had its champions, ‘Jerry Can’, in his ‘Dope and Castor’ column in Model Cars, commented (that) "Models are steadily growing better looking. Hearty congratulations on a really charming little car Mrs Gascoigne".

To encourage the aspect of realism, several competitions, such as the Russell Trophy, included a ‘concours’, or scale, judging element. The MG would always score very highly for this aspect, but was marginal on speed when it came to combining the totals. The Rickard Trophy in October that was judged by Rodney Clarke was a case in point where good static marks were compromised by a ¼ mile run at 43.1 mph and no run at all for the ½.

A month later, Lucy Gascoigne had two of her best ever runs with the car. At the Horticultural Hall on 8^th Nov, she ‘earned applause from the crowd with a run at 50.1 mph’ and at the opening of the new Handley Page track the following day took the class prize at 53 mph. This is possibly the fastest ever run for the car and it was reported that ‘it rocketed round’ and the speed ‘was no mean feat on such small diameter, unsprung wheels.

In the slightly less exotic surroundings of the Rego clothing factory, the newly formed Edmonton Club held its opening meeting on the 7^th February where runs of 36.5 and 39.8 mph would see Lucy finishing second to Basil Miles. Another 50 point maximum for the concours at the Russell Trophy meeting at Eaton Bray was backed up with a run of 45.35 leaving Lucy with the highest placed 5cc car but in 10^th place overall. The Gascoignes travelled to Worcester at the end of June to run at the official opening of Geoffrey Hastings’ private track. Although a thing of beauty, with the elderly Kestrel not providing sufficient ‘urge’ and the small wheels the car was no longer competitive, but its career was not over.

Jack Gascoigne was working on another scale 5cc car for his wife; an ETA 29 powered Dowson Lightweight, although it would be a while before she would be able to run it. In the Drysdale Trophy, two cars are run one after the other with the total time, including starting and changing cars being taken. For this event, ‘Team Gascoigne’ comprised Jack with the Dowson and Lucy running the MG.   Left: Change over of cars during the Drysdale Trophy, Dowson having completed its run. Below right: Starting the MG for the second run.

Jack Gascoigne returned to the world of model powerboats, before becoming a true pioneer in radio control yacht development. On his retirement he moved down to Bournemouth and ended up as Commodore of the Poole Model Yacht Club for 10 years. Just a few days before his sudden death in January 1978, he helped launch the Solent MYC.

It was not until Vixen and the MG appeared on eBay that anyone knew that that the family had parted with them. It transpired that at least two cars were sold at auction in London, probably towards the end of 2006, but how this came about is a mystery at present. Certainly no hint of their sale reached any enthusiasts in the UK and it is not even known if they were sold at one of the major auction houses. The whereabouts of Red Fox is not currently known, but an American, who travels the world looking for unique items, bought Vixen and the MG. (see update) He returned to the States with the cars where they remained in storage for a while before asking a friend to sell both of them on eBay towards the end of 2008. What followed were two of the most bizarre auctions seen so far. With the Stubbs Austin and Bernard Manley’s car having been up in the £2000+ bracket and lesser cars making almost as much, the lowest estimate for the MG was £2500. Given its importance, recorded history and impeccable provenance, it would not have been out of the way to have seen it heading towards £5000 or even beyond. Vixen had equally good provenance but was probably slightly less well known and was not expected to do quite as well.

In the event, and to the amazement of everyone in the UK, Lucy Gascoigne’s MG sold for just £1300, with the Vixen making a few pounds more. With the pound in freefall against the dollar and the costs involved in re-importing the car, perhaps British bidders were reluctant to get involved in an auction that they did not believe they had any realistic chances of winning. Inevitably, having seen the final price, many commented that they ‘would have made a bid if they had known how much it was going for’! Of course, this does not take into account how much the high bidder might have been prepared to pay. It does not explain either why there was so little interest from the rest of the world though, as it will be a long while before two British cars any more important than these appear on the open market.

The MG now resides in Connecticut on the east coast of the USA. The astute bidder and lucky winner of the auction was Guy Martin, who has been kind enough to supply photographs of the MG and share information about himself. He has been an enthusiastic collector for 15 years or so, and has amongst his cars, a very nice and original M&E Special with a Keil K6 motor that was featured on the On The Wire website in September 2008. Both he, and his father, who has been an antique dealer for 50 years, collect cars having been ‘bitten by the bug’ after seeing a tethered car at an antiques fair. Guy has developed a very informative website www.tethercar.net to help others that share similar interests and aid with the identification of cars that they might have. On reflection, Guy regretted that he did not just go a few dollars more in the auction for Vixen.

There are many cars in collections that are identifiable, yet no one has recorded their history, so it is a great pleasure to be able to put together the story of the ‘Gascoigne MG’. Thanks to Peter Hill of the Retro Racing Club and Guy Martin for all their help in producing this article.

Click here for another rare example of the EX135

I was on vacation with my wife and daughter in London in July of 2007. We spent much of our time with a friend of mine and fellow clockmaker who lives in London. We took a drive to a popular area of London where there are some neat shops and restaurants. I wish I could remember the name of the area, but it escapes me. I think it was in the SW part of the city, and a desirable neighbourhood.

There was a women's' dress shop which sold a lot of vintage clothing. In the windows, as displays, were several models - a couple of tether cars, ships, a submarine, and a couple of other items. I noted that the models were quite exceptional and enquired as to whether they were for sale. The proprietor of the shop said that she had inherited them from someone who was somewhat of a brilliant engineer, and that yes, she would sell, them, but not cheaply.

I have collected stuff all of my life, but for the past year I have been reducing my collection for many practical reasons. I enjoyed having the MG, and am glad it is now in the hands of another party who seems to really be enjoying it.

Thanks, Stephen Kowalski

Update:- Sept 2014 Since this was written the car has changed hands again and now resides in California with long-time OTW supporter Ron Reiter. Jack Morgan's 10cc car 'Red Fox' has also turned up most unexpectedly and is now with a member of the Retro Club. 'Vixen's' where-abouts are still unknown.
Update:- Oct 2019. We have been informed that the car has changed hands yet again and is now owned by Don McKeag who tells us that Gardner's signature is still evident inside the body, despite the external paint job. Thanks to Don for notifying us of this.