• Rare and desirable 'Post-Vintage Thoroughbred'
• One of only a tiny handful built
• Restored between 1997 and 2005
• Present ownership since 2005

In 1935, ten years after the dissolution of the GN cyclecar company, the 'G' - H R Godfrey - was back in business with new partners E A Halford and G H Robins, the trio's new firm adopting the name 'HRG'. The aim was to build a lightweight Vintage-style sporting car endowed with the virtues of brisk acceleration and positive steering, and in this they succeeded brilliantly. However, with its Meadows engine at the end development an alternative was needed and the firm turned to Singer, adopting tuned versions of the latter's overhead-camshaft engines for its 1500 and 1100 models. By the early 1950s demand for HRG's traditional sports car was declining and the firm responded with a radical new design - the Twin Cam. The latter was powered by a 1,497cc Singer SM engine fitted with a twin-cam cylinder head, mounted in a new chassis featuring all-independent suspension, alloy wheels and four-wheel disc brakes. Unfortunately for HRG, Rootes' takeover of Singer halted the supply of engines and Twin Cam production ceased after a tiny handful of cars had been completed.

This Twin Cam was built circa 1955 using a spare chassis, which had been stored in the HRG factory's roof, and the body from the works racer. The engine is of the correct type, though the vehicle does depart from factory specification in a few, minor respects, being fitted with a 1960s MG gearbox instead of the original Singer; Jaguar camshafts (for ease of replacement); and a gas-flowed cylinder head incorporating larger valves.

The HRG was purchased at Bonhams' Silverstone sale in July 2005 (Lot 217). Restored between 1997 and 2005, the car was described by the private vendors as in very good condition in every respect. The car has not been recommissioned ahead of sale so is sold strictly was viewed. Accompanying paperwork consists of old MoT certificates, an old-style UK V5 document, and a list of historical invoices (1997-2005).

A fine example of one of the rarest and most exclusive of all English sporting thoroughbreds, 'VPH 188' is pictured in A-Z of Sports Cars by Mike Lawrence and A-Z of Cars 1945-1970 by Michael Sedgwick and Mark Gillies.

Please note that this vehicle is from outside the UK. Our customs agents, CARS UK, will manage all post sale customs administration. A fee of £350+VAT will be charged on the buyer's invoice to administer both import or export customs movements. If the buyer also chooses to ship with CARS UK, this will be quoted separately. If this vehicle is to remain in the UK, it will be subject to Import VAT at the reduced rate of 5% on the hammer price. This vehicle will not be available for immediate collection after the sale and will only be released on completion of customs clearance formalities. If you have any questions regarding customs clearance, please contact the Bonhams Motorcar Department.