Small world. Max Bennett and I are members of the same sailing club.

The next A7CA Mag may answer some of your questions...

Dave Wilcox is correct in that the '35 cars were not entered as Grasshoppers, but there was an interesting description error made on the entry form - about which you can read in the upcoming Assoc. Mag., as Robyn suggests. However the official entry from Austins for the 1937 Le Mans race does specify the cars as Grasshoppers. Cheers, Bill in Oz

Location: Mount Eliza, Melbourne, Australia

Thanks for all the responses.I look forward to seeing the next Association magazine - I hope it's got pictures!

Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire

A rather belated response to Mick Hanna's post:

1. AOX 3 is almost certainly in Portugal, a grasshopper is there, and was seen and photographed 3 years ago and I would bet is AOX 3, albeit with some grasshopper parts missing and some minor but significant changes in bodywork since 1939.

3.I am very doubtful that COA 120 had any part in the construction of UI 3345. There is no firm evidence to support this. (chassis no, engine no, - why bother to change them rather than rebuild the original?)

4. I do not believe that COA 121 could have been the Paris Nice car; photographs of it in the Lands End Trial in April 1938 (amongst many others) show it on high chassis, with supercharger and unique, faired in cycle type front wings.The only picture which I have seen of the Paris/Nice grasshopper (Motor Sport Sept 1938) shows a low chassis unblown car on a ramp, in front of an HRG, single spare wheel, with trials spec swept wings.
By August 1938, COA 119 was on high chassis with a blower and a body widened at the rear of the doors, (fitted uniquely) with handles. Jock Wilson always said that he had been told that COA 119 was the car, but there seems to be no real evidence to support this.
It seems to me that this will remain a mystery until another photo of the Paris?Nice car emerges.....

As you can see, all personal views.....

Location: Farnham

Thanks Peter. Your answers have been very helpful, and although you say they are personal views, they are informed and and I can now dispel with some of the contradictions I seem to be faced with. It seems the more I read about these Grasshoppers, the more it draws me in. Where do you stop?

Location: Doncaster, South Yorkshire

My partners family still have COA 119 in the family. We take it out now and again. It was rebuilt when his dad totalled it I think in the fifties. It's a fab little car.

Don't know if your are still on this site but my partners family have COA119. It stills runs and we love taking it out. If you are still on here it would be lovely to hear from you. xx

You would be surprised how many people are now rummaging around in their parents' lofts looking for old photographs as a result of this posting - and coming up with some real 'Grasshopper' treasures. Fantastic!

Location: Doncaster

I owned the 1936 Grasshopper COA118 from 1957 to approx 1959 when I hit a cow and had to sell it damaged.
I sold it to Charlie Hoskins (Grimsby) who repaired it fitted the Sindilla Magneto and raced it at Silverston.
I have a few photos of it if anyone is interested. Just ask and I will send them to you.

Location: Grimsby

Hi David,

I'm not sure how to email you directly from the link provided on your posting, but you might be able to email me from your end? We(Peter Hornby and myself) would be really interested in seeing any photos you may have of the car.

Two days ago I submitted an article to the editor of the Pre-War Austin Seven Club in which we claimed the chain of ownership for COA 118 was now complete and describing the process leading up to this and updating the information accordingly. As soon as I've finished this posting I will have to have the article withdrawn for further amendment!

We had listed Graham Hoskins from Grimsby as the owner from 1957 to 1959 and clearly this is now incorrect, but it's reassuring to know he did have the car before it went to J. Swinburne-Butterfield in 1959. If the rest of the ownership chain is accurate would we be correct in thinking you bought the car from Neil Jones's (see other postings) parents Clive and Norah Jones of Tadley in 1957?

I'm sure many others on the forum are eager to learn more about the car.

Very excited to learn about your connection to the car, David.

Location: Doncaster

Yes, Dave, same Charge Hoskins.

Steve

Sorry, Charlie Hoskins!

Steve

Our understanding is that Charles Hoskins is the son of Graham Hoskins of Grimsby who bought the Grasshopper, but we had heard of the VSCC connection. We are happy to be corrected.

Location: Doncaster

Our Grasshopper replica finally broke cover at Powderham in July, far from finished, but getting there. Father has built the body, which is dimensionally accurate, with very few changes in construction technique.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1576240959114095&set=pb.100001846188377.-2207520000.1502015785.&type=3&theater

Sorry its on facebook, but I really cant get on with photo bucket these days, it screws my computer up! If anyone wishes to convert it so it displays properly, feel free.

Stuart.

Location: Teignmouth

Stuart,

You might have seen from recent Forum comments that photobucket isn't getting on with anybody these days anyway and is best left alone.

Cheers, Tony.

Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.