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Details
1904 REXETTE 5HP TRICAR TANDEM TWO SEATER
Registration No. A 8912
Engine No. 3259
Burgundy with black and cream coachlining and dark red upholstery
Engine: vertical, water-cooled single cylinder 3 5/8"x 3 5/8" bore & stroke (612cc), with automatic inlet valve and coil ignition; Transmission: cone clutch, two-speed gearbox, chain final drive; Suspension: front and rear, semi-elliptic leaf springs; Brakes: external contracting brakes on all three wheels. Wheel-steered from rear-seat.
There were at least ten different makes of motor vehicle from Europe and America that feature the name Rex in their company titles, but none had any apparent connection with any other, beyond perhaps their principals having at least a rudimentary knowledge of Latin. The Rex Motor Manufacturing Company of Coventry made both motorcycles and cars, and introduced its Rexette Tri-car to the public at the Crystal Palace Motor Show in February 1904. Although advertised as 'The King of the Little Cars', the vehicle could not, as The Motor-Car Journal pointed out, 'be classed as a car or a motorcycle', whilst The Autocar said it was 'on the borderline of a voiturette and a motorcycle'. With its coach-built front seat and bucket seat rather than a saddle for the driver, it was in fact a more substantial machine than many of the other tri-cars of the day, although its handlebar steering explains some of the reason for the difficulty in classifying it. At a price of 90 Guineas the Rexette approached the cost of some of the cheapest light cars then available.
The vehicle evolved rapidly. By May the engine's horsepower had been raised to five and a radiator fitted behind the driver's seat, additional longitudinal bracing was added to the chassis frame, and the previously optional wheel steering was standardised at around the same time. Soon after this side-ducting was added for the radiator and in October the 'Improved Rexette' appeared with long grasshopper springs, the radiator was incorporated into the seat sides, and skirt style bodywork added to enclose the engine, transmission and the rear wheel - Rex referring to this improved version as their 1905 model. The Autocar described these Rexettes as having been 'well received', possessing 'good hill-climbing qualities', and being 'deservedly popular'. The vehicle offered here is an example of just such an Improved Rexette.
Registered on a continuation log book in June 1952, the owner then was Wallace Wallace of Eastbourne. Mr Wallace kept the Rexette until October 1962 when it passed to Veteran Car Club stalwart George Evan Cook and later to his son Bernard. On file is a helpful note of running instructions handed over at the time of this sale. From the Evan Cook family the car was sold in the early 1980s to Tim Matthews, then later through motorcycle dealer Brian Verrall.
Dated by the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain in 1953 it retains this certificate and over the course of the last two decades it has been entered and completed the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run on a number of occasions. In addition, in keeping with the original period comments as to whether it was a car or motorcycle, the simple answer is that today it can be considered as both; having a Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club Pioneer Certificate it is also eligible for their annual Pioneer run.
Presented in older though tidy cosmetic order, the Rexette has been the subject of considerable fettling work in the current ownership and was proven to the cataloguer to be a prompt starter on inspection late last year.
With dual eligibility for the two most popular events for cars and motorcycles of this era, in our opinion this well known machine offers a modestly priced entry for both.
Registration No. A 8912
Engine No. 3259
Burgundy with black and cream coachlining and dark red upholstery
Engine: vertical, water-cooled single cylinder 3 5/8"x 3 5/8" bore & stroke (612cc), with automatic inlet valve and coil ignition; Transmission: cone clutch, two-speed gearbox, chain final drive; Suspension: front and rear, semi-elliptic leaf springs; Brakes: external contracting brakes on all three wheels. Wheel-steered from rear-seat.
There were at least ten different makes of motor vehicle from Europe and America that feature the name Rex in their company titles, but none had any apparent connection with any other, beyond perhaps their principals having at least a rudimentary knowledge of Latin. The Rex Motor Manufacturing Company of Coventry made both motorcycles and cars, and introduced its Rexette Tri-car to the public at the Crystal Palace Motor Show in February 1904. Although advertised as 'The King of the Little Cars', the vehicle could not, as The Motor-Car Journal pointed out, 'be classed as a car or a motorcycle', whilst The Autocar said it was 'on the borderline of a voiturette and a motorcycle'. With its coach-built front seat and bucket seat rather than a saddle for the driver, it was in fact a more substantial machine than many of the other tri-cars of the day, although its handlebar steering explains some of the reason for the difficulty in classifying it. At a price of 90 Guineas the Rexette approached the cost of some of the cheapest light cars then available.
The vehicle evolved rapidly. By May the engine's horsepower had been raised to five and a radiator fitted behind the driver's seat, additional longitudinal bracing was added to the chassis frame, and the previously optional wheel steering was standardised at around the same time. Soon after this side-ducting was added for the radiator and in October the 'Improved Rexette' appeared with long grasshopper springs, the radiator was incorporated into the seat sides, and skirt style bodywork added to enclose the engine, transmission and the rear wheel - Rex referring to this improved version as their 1905 model. The Autocar described these Rexettes as having been 'well received', possessing 'good hill-climbing qualities', and being 'deservedly popular'. The vehicle offered here is an example of just such an Improved Rexette.
Registered on a continuation log book in June 1952, the owner then was Wallace Wallace of Eastbourne. Mr Wallace kept the Rexette until October 1962 when it passed to Veteran Car Club stalwart George Evan Cook and later to his son Bernard. On file is a helpful note of running instructions handed over at the time of this sale. From the Evan Cook family the car was sold in the early 1980s to Tim Matthews, then later through motorcycle dealer Brian Verrall.
Dated by the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain in 1953 it retains this certificate and over the course of the last two decades it has been entered and completed the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run on a number of occasions. In addition, in keeping with the original period comments as to whether it was a car or motorcycle, the simple answer is that today it can be considered as both; having a Sunbeam Motor Cycle Club Pioneer Certificate it is also eligible for their annual Pioneer run.
Presented in older though tidy cosmetic order, the Rexette has been the subject of considerable fettling work in the current ownership and was proven to the cataloguer to be a prompt starter on inspection late last year.
With dual eligibility for the two most popular events for cars and motorcycles of this era, in our opinion this well known machine offers a modestly priced entry for both.
Special notice
No VAT will be charged on the hammer price, but VAT at 15% will be added to the buyer's premium which is invoiced on a VAT inclusive basis.