nzcarnerd

The majority of pre-WW1 cars had right hand drive. The Ford T was first volume-produced model to go to left side control and most other followed suit over the next few years.

The mystery car looks to be a 1929-30 Dictator 8 Model FC, built from May 1929 to August 1930.

They look as if they are intended to have commercial bodies.

I guess it is actually the car's 20th birthday.

Body coachbuilt in Scotland. The bolt on wire wheels look very similar to these ones -

The phone number suggests the photo location is South London, but the car was registered in Luton, about 40 miles further north in 1920.

It looks to be British from the mid/late 1920s. The majority of British sporting models used 'knock-on' wire wheels, but the car here has six bolt wheels. I think one possibility is Talbot 14.45.

The only picture I have seen of a car wearing disc wheels as on our mystery car is in the Crestline book 75 Years of Pontiac Oakland. It is a 1926 Oakland. Our mystery appears to have beauty rings which the car in the 1926 photo does not. As mentioned elsewhere disc wheels were always an option in that era. Our 1926 Pontiac wears Motor Wheel disc wheels, which are a little different to the Baker wheels used on contemporary Chevrolets. Unlike the mystery car theses wheels are non-detachable much as the typical wooden artillery wheels of the period are. I found the information about or Motor Wheel wheels from the relevant parts book. Maybe someone has the Oakland and Pontiac parts book from 1929 which will help supply the necessary information regarding our mystery car.. In contrast this 1924 Oakland in New Zealand has what appear to be detachable disc wheels. photo from 2022. As does this one, also shot in New Zealand, but in 1960.

This is a good guide to engine numbers. Of course, it is possible that it has had its original engine replaced at some time. Flathead Six Engine Numbers (t137.com) More here - Engine identification by casting numbers - Mopar Flathead Truck Forum - P15-D24.com and Pilot-house.com

Looks to be mid to late 1920s. The radiator appears to be painted rather than plated.

Even though this Australian postcard photo was taken post WW2 most of the vehicles in it are pre-war. On the right is a Willys 77 roadster, a body style not built by the US factory as far as I know. These were bodied by Holdens who, even though they became part of GM in 1931, continued to build bodies for other makes most of the way through the 1930s. My Holden history book says they made just over 300 roadster bodies for Willys in the 1934-37 period. I am not sure what the convertible on the left of the photo is. In the far background is a circa 1947 Chevrolet coupe utility.

It has been suggested to me that the three bar bumper car might be a Paige.

I see it is on the, relatively uncommon, optional disc wheels. Our NZ assembled right hand drive one is also. Those wheels are different to those seen on contemporary Chevrolets. The Chevs use Baker wheels, the Pontiacs ones are by Motor Wheel. You can see the difference in the hub bolts. Unfortunately, our one lost its body a long time ago, but the various dated components suggest a mid/late 1926 date. As an aside, after running with that British (Morris Minor maybe) steering wheel for quite a few years my other son decided that a proper one was in order and has just built one up this week - using the original spider which we had all along. Hopefully the next photo will have the good wheel.

Yep, 1928 got front brakes and a whole new chassis, with Hotchkiss drive.

Nelson, New Zealand, 1932-33 by the registration plates. Cars waiting for passengers to disembark from the daily ferry from Wellington. Most of the cars are readily identifiable but the big sedan with the three-bar bumper is still a mystery.

Auckland, New Zealand, circa 1929. Karangahape Rd, usually just known as K Rd, is one of the city's main thoroughfares and looks little different today. That looks to be a Moon sedan in the middle of the photo. Not a common sight anywhere.

There is a small, machined area on the left side of the crankcase, near the front, which should have the engine number stamped in it. 1918 numbers run 343783 to 480995.

If you are referring to the mess on the Humber, that is muddy water. Lots of wet gravel roads and the occasional river crossing.

Charabanc - from the French word meaning 'benched carriage'.

If anyone is curious about the green sedan on the right it is a 1930 Humber Snipe, powered by the 3 1/2 litre inlet over exhaust six. It belongs to a neighbour. My other son and I took it on the same event seven years ago.

The lower photo was noted as being from 1932 when I first saw it. The car is a 1929 Studebaker, either a Dictator or a Commander - they both used the same size tyres. The photo is good guide for the pinstriping. This version of the early photo shows the tyre size. My 1929 (actually built and shipped in 1928) Studebaker Director Six cabriolet was restored in the 1980s but the pinstriping was only done late last year. It is the only known surviving right-hand drive example. It is one of two imported to NZ and they may have been the only right-hand drive ones built. Photo taken in early June on an event that included a lot of gravel roads.

I think the clue may be the size of the front brakes. This is a 20 in NZ. This one is a 12 -

I suspect the car in the OP pic with the exposed hinges is actually a larger 20hp model. A quick image search shows the regular 20hp touring models mostly have exposed hinges. Your sample car (white) looks to be Australian and may have an Australian built body. I am not up on the history of those British makes as far as local content was concerned but there were quite strict rules then. Your red sample car is an earlier 12-4 with no front brakes. There are quite a few surviving examples of both models. Both perform well for what they are. The engine in the 20hp model is twice the size of the 12. The Sports version of the 20 rivalled the Bentley for performance. An acquaintance restored one many years ago which is now in the UK. One of very few survivors.

Google translate tells me that 'Location de baches' is tarpaulin rental.

I know most of the cars on that event and some of the owners. The video highlights the many possible options of suitable, and some not so suitable, cars that go on the event. This year's event was the 70th running so it was a little special and was run over three days rather than the usual two. About the only car I didn't immediately recognise is the blue roadster visible in the link photo. It might be a Sunbeam. As the event is quite a big affair a high open road cruising speed is not really that important. The red 1927 Chev one-ton truck seen at 13:50 would have to be the least suitable as, if it retains its original gearing, its top speed would only be 30mph. I have seen it there on past events and I think it is a little faster than that. Any of the late 1920s Chrysler products are perfectly suitable. Our 1929 Plymouth 4 is quite capable of a 50mph cruise, as are any of its six-cylinder siblings - DeSoto K, Dodge DD, or Chrysler CJ. As far as other possibilities there are several. The cars are there to be had, and often at prices no higher than they were 20 or more years ago. It does help if you have access to a mechanic with the knowledge and skills, and enthusiasm, to deal with the oldies. I have been on that event several times over the last 45 years but didn't go this year. My son, who is a classic car mechanic, took my 1929 Studebaker cabriolet (the only known right-hand drive survivor of that model). If you look at 6:30 there is a light blue Alvis 12/50, a 1924 Buick 4 (another model that actually goes quite well), and then my Studebaker. My son and I took it on a 1000-mile trip to the Art Deco Festival in Napier in February. That added to the 650 miles run up on Irishman Rally means it is now due for some maintenance. It was restored in the 1980s and now needs rear axle seals, among other things. A few other highlights - from 10:26 to 10:50 are several Austin 7 specials. Basic motoring but remarkably capable. The underslung chassis car seen at 8:32 purports to be a 1914 American Motors Corp Underslung but was cobbled up a few decades ago using mostly 1920s Willys-Knight bits. At 11:11 is a 1930 Erskine, the only known surviving right-hand drive two door sedan. Its owner has taken it on every Irishman Rally since it was dragged out of a shed in the mid 1980s with only 40,000 miles on it. It is still wearing the bluish green paint that was applied over the original black in order to sell it I think in 1934. At 12:30 the blue sedan with the added trunk is Marquette. If there are any others you don't recognise just ask.