Toby Wilson
Head of Department
LOT 32
An unusual 24 Quart fuel or oil container and measure, formerly the property of St. John Ratcliffe Stewart 'Jock' Horsfall,
Estimate: £1,000 - £1,200
Lot 32
An unusual 24 Quart fuel or oil container and measure, formerly the property of St. John Ratcliffe Stewart 'Jock' Horsfall,
The December Sale Collector's Motor Cars, Motorcycles and Automobilia|7 December 2016, 11:00 GMT|London, Olympia
An unusual 24 Quart fuel or oil container and measure, formerly the property of St. John Ratcliffe Stewart 'Jock' Horsfall,
steel bodied container with handles to either side, outlet pipe to front, fitted with glazed panel and two stamped brass measures, the galvanized interior fitted with third brass measure 2-24 Quarts, lockable lid, with handle and brass attachment, 71cm high overall. Offered for sale with a letter of provenance.
(2)
(2)
Footnotes
St. John Ratcliffe Stewart 'Jock' Horsfall (31 July 1910 – 20 August 1949)
During the late 1930s 'Jock' Horsfall became a familiar and popular competitor at British and European motor races, commonly driving "The Black Car", his Aston Martin 2 litre Speed Model. At the wheel of the Black Car, Horsfall won the Leinster Trophy race at Brooklands in 1938, later that year he went on to take victory in the 2 litre class, and finished second overall, in the RAC Tourist Trophy race at Donington Park, getting the best out of the Black Car and beating the more fancied BMW works cars.
During World War II 'Jock' Horsfall was employed as a specialist driver for the British secret service, playing an important part in Operation Mincemeat, a famously successful disinformation plot to convince the Germans that the Allies planned to land in Greece rather than Italy.
Returning to the track following the cessation of hostilities, Horsfall drove the Black Car to victory in the 1946 Belgian Sports Car Grand Prix. In 1948 he and co-driver Leslie Johnson won the Spa 24 Hours race, sharing a prototype Aston Martin 2-Litre Sports car. Tragically 'Jock' died from an accident while driving an ERA racing car in the 1949 BRDC International Trophy race at Silverstone Circuit. Today, the Aston Martin Owner's Club maintains an annual race meeting in his memory.
Looking for a similar item?
Our Cars specialists can help you find a similar item at an auction or via a private sale.
Find your local specialistSpecialist section
Auction Viewings
- 6 December 2016, 16:00 - 19:30 GMT