derelict in the woods

[Oilyrag921]

So, I'm on a short holiday in Bassenthwaite, Lake district, where I'm most disappointed not to have seen a single series of any type. Only a couple of defenders plus quite a bit of RAF action in the way of Chinooks, transports and fighter jets (Typhoons ?), but walking through The woods surrounding Bassenthwaite lake I came across this.  Definitely OT unless we accept the similarity of the steering wheel, but I'm thinking 1930's, looking at the sprung bumper, lever arm dampers with torsion bar suspension. Also a floor/chassis mounted hydraulic cylinder and rack and pinion steering.  I've no idea of the make, and I can't claim credit for spotting it, it was my wife with the sharp eyes. Not much salvageable apart from maybe those dampers, but for a bit of summer evening fun can anyone identify it ?

[Oilyrag921]

two more

[autorover1]

Possibly an MO Morris oxford , the damper mount shape looks similar & they had a column change

[Oilyrag921]

The tops of those dampers do look identical, so you may have hit it on the head, I'm not sure when lever arms became unpopular with manufacturers but certainly still in use 1950's.

[Archie]

Wow, great condition.
I think that will T-cut out 🤔

[Alan Drover]

MGB's used primitive lever arms right until the end as did the Farina range of BMC cars. My 1955 Morris Oxford Series 2 had front torsion bars and telescopic shocks all round but reverted to lever arms when the Farina range was introduced. The car I had with the most advanced suspension was a 1951 Jowett Javelin with torsion bars all round.

[Ken]

The rack and pinion steering is an unusual form. The lever arm dampers look dissimilar to those on Austin Morris cars like the Minor. Not MG.
My guess would be just post war, possibly just pre war.

[Alan Drover]

OT but how simple yet advanced for its time.
The front and rear suspension arrangement for the Jowett Javelin/Jupiter. No ancient cart springs here, longitudinal torsion bars on the front and a transverse torsion bar on the rear.
Photos from my spare parts list and I have the relevant workshop manual and driver's handbook. Unfortunately the car is long gone but what a vehicle to drive, probably one of the best I've ever driven.

[Oilyrag921]

That Jupiter suspension set up wouldn't look out of place on a modern car, and I like the way torsion bar systems keep the profile of the vehicle low, unlike a macpherson strut.
My little break is almost over,  I need to get back home,  make some progress with finishing off my LR engine swap and then there's work!

[Alan Drover]

The Jowett Javelin was far and away head of its time in the post war 1940's. It was also an expensive car and a couple of elderly spinster sisters in my home village had one. Mine was the standard version with a metal dash but the posh one had a wooden dash. It had a distinctive flat four exhaust note and the Jupiters used to trounce the MG's at Le Mans.