Vehicle Description
As the dust settled in the aftermath of World War II, people across
Great Britain and mainland Europe gradually returned to the
business of daily life. Motoring enthusiasts were eager to hit the
road and racing circuits again but faced a shortage of materials,
fuel, and cars. Sports cars were a low priority for British
manufacturers, leaving few options available to the enthusiast. The
insatiable need to go racing spurred on a "cottage industry" of
constructors who utilized whatever they could to create unique,
scratch-built racing specials in their sheds. Names like Allard,
Lotus, and Elva sprang to life in the 1940s and 1950s to meet the
rapidly growing demand for nimble, competition-worthy sports cars.
One of the earliest concerns to go racing post-war was Hersham &
Walton Motors, commonly known as HWM. Prewar racing driver George
Abecassis partnered with John Heath in running the garage, who, in
1946, produced a gorgeous sports racer using a prewar Alta chassis
as a basis - known as the HW-Alta. Eventually finding their niche
in Formula 2, the company made a brief foray into Formula 1 with a
2.5- liter, fuel-injected version of the HW-Alta. But it was
summarily outclassed, and the pair abandoned it to go sports car
racing with far better results. The former Grand Prix car formed an
excellent basis for the development of a sports racer, particularly
when paired with Jaguar's spectacular new twin-cam "XK" inline-six.
Abecassis himself piloted the first HWM-Jaguar to a second-place
finish behind a 4.9 Ferrari at a soaking wet Silverstone circuit.
The team enjoyed steady success for several years when, in 1956,
John Heath perished in a crash at the Mille Miglia, and Abecassis
lost his taste for motor racing. The team eventually fizzled by the
end of 1957, yet HWM survives today as the world's longest-running
authorized Aston Martin dealer. While HWM is a relatively obscure
marque, two cars, in particular, stand out to today's enthusiasts.
One is the Chevrolet-powered "Stovebolt Special," which had a
successful racing and Hollywood career in America and is now owned
by Simon Taylor. The other is the last car built by HWM, the
ex-Phil Scragg sports racer known as the "Scragg Jag." Phil Scragg,
in his distinctive Jaguar-powered HWM, was a regular in road racing
and hill climb events across Britain in the 1950s, power-sliding
his way to numerous victories and championships. The famous racer
left an impression on countless fans, and it remains an enduring
legend in 1950s British motorsport. It was a time rife with
innovation when heroic privateers in cottage-built specials could
often beat the works teams at the highest levels of the sport.
Phillip Scragg's fearsome HWM-Jaguar left an indelible mark on many
a young British motor racing fan, including a man named Barry
Gurdler. Vivid memories of the car from his childhood inspired him
to commission this fabulous recreation in the late 1980s. A
resident of New Zealand, Mr. Gurdler contacted the respected local
coachbuilding shop Tempero Coach & Motor Company, Ltd of Omaru.
Established in the 1940s, the Tempero family is best known for its
high-quality, hand-crafted recreations of famous 1950s sports
racers such as the Jaguar D-Type, C-Type, and Aston Martin DBR1.
The HWM was not part of Tempero's regular catalog, but the project
intrigued them, and they gladly took it on, building the car from
the ground-up with Mr. Gurdler's input. A Jaguar 420 Saloon donor
car provided its serial number and necessary mechanical components,
including the four-wheel independent suspension, four-wheel disc
brakes, 4.2-liter XK inline-six, and overdrive gearbox. The chassis
a bespoke tubular steel design built by Tempero in the same manner
as their acclaimed C-Type replicas. Using period photos as
reference, the coachbuilders crafted the bodywork out of aluminum
alloy, incorporating the scoops, louvers, and cycle wings of the
original design. The quality of the craftsmanship is impressive,
with excellent panel fit and detailing on the delicate,
torpedo-shaped body. It now presents in classic British Racing
Green with white roundels, and exposed rivets and Dzus fasteners.
It is a remarkably compact car sitting low on its 15-inch wire
wheels, with an evocative, purposeful look. The quality of
Tempero's work is apparent as you step down into the two-passenger
cockpit. Bare aluminum lines the floors and transmission tunnel,
leaving no room to mistake this for anything but a purpose-built
driver's car. The lever for the 4-speed Jaguar gearbox falls
readily to hand, with a discreet toggle operating the Laycock
overdrive for occasional moments of relaxed cruising on longer
drives. High-quality, beautifully-finished tan leather is utilized
for the seats, which snap in and out for cleaning and service. The
instruments and switches are familiar Jaguar items, set into a
beautiful engine-turned alloy fascia. Removing the lift-off bonnet
reveals the 4.2-liter twin-cam Jaguar engine. Fed by a trio of SU
carburetors with trumpet intakes, the engine delivers a mighty
punch in the incredibly light Tempero-built chassis. The engine bay
presents in good condition, with an honest character befitting a
rally-ready car. For the drivetrain, steering, brakes, and
suspension, the creators used as many off-the-shelf Jaguar
components as possible, allowing for ease of service and reliable
running. Upon seeing the car in the metal for the first time, the
people at HWM in England were so impressed that they happily
offered a cherished, genuine HWM nose badge from their stocks,
which it proudly wears today. The car's light-alloy coachwork,
beautifully crafted chassis and gutsy 4.2-liter engine make it an
absolute thrill on the road, with a rapturous exhaust note urging
the driver to press on. As of writing, it is believed that this is
the sole car of its kind produced, ensuring ultimate exclusivity
for its next owner. Beautifully built and exciting to drive, the
Tempero HWM-Jaguar is an evocative creation, sure to draw
admiration wherever it goes. Offers welcome and trades considered