PostWar Specials - RPA 539
Page created : 9 July 2008Home > Cars > PostWar Specials > RPA 539
"Poppa in deep mud"
In May 2008 I received the above photograph, and the basis of the text below, from Nick de Meyer. There was a lengthier version of the text, with several more photographs on the www.carandclassic.co.uk website, but this has now been removed. Can anyone cast any more light on this particular special?
I am trying to locate a car my grandfather built in 1950. It was known as the M&H special, registration RPA 539, and was registered with the DVLA in 1949 or 1950 although they no longer have any record of it. It had an 1172cc Ford engine with an Aquaplane head, fitted with twin SU carbs, mated to a Wolseley 4-speed gear box, all mounted on an Austin Seven Chassis. The engine had been retrieved from a sunken boat in Chichester. The car was used for a period of time in sporting trials.
My grandfather's name was Charles Henry Harris, although he was always known as Harry or C.H. Born in 1908, won a engineering scholarship as a young man and studied at the Walthamstow College, and lived in London until bombed out in 1939. After the war he lived at 162 Cromwell Road, Redhill, Surrey, was a member of the 750 Motor Club, and like many others started his own car business (in Redhill). He also worked for Rob Walker of Pipbrook Garage, Dorking.