A PreWarCar or a PostWarClassic engine mystery...

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Rodney from Australia wrote a very interesting letter to the editor. But we were not sure whether we should publish it on PreWarCar.com or PostWarClassic.com. When you read the rest of the article, you probably understand why. Let us tell you the story. We hope one of you is able to help us solving this engine mystery.

The letter writer asked for our help as he is looking for an AFG (Aluminum French Gregoire) from 1943 or a Simca Gregoire from the late 1940s. The reason for this is that he has an engine, which he believes is NEW. In 1946, the engine was sent out from France in a crate by Gregoire. It was a sample to Australia, where it was to be used in a car called a Hartnett in the 1950s. Approximately 125 of these cars were manufactured. The remarkable thing is that the motor in question was never fitted in a car and was always left as a display.

Believed there was never a manual on the motor or the car

Rod told us “I purchased a Hartnett car in 1972 from my uncle who had purchased it in 1952 when the Hartnett cars were first manufactured in Australia. This car was one of three cars first sold in Australia.

Believed there was never a manual on the motor or the car, but I have been able to learn by disassembling 3 very similar motors for checking tolerances and measurements in the restoration of these motors. The French AFG (Hartnett) Motor (the only difference in the French motor and the Hartnett motor) is a fan in front of each cylinder on the French motor and the Australian motor has one fan on the crankshaft for cooling, as the engine is air cooled.

The engines for the Hartnett were originally manufactured in England as a car called the Kendall in 1948. They were to be manufactured there but failed with no cars being produced for the public. As the dies and moulds were in England and the aluminium from the WWII  planes being disposed of, it was better to manufacture over there and then bring everything out to Australia."

Back to the engine in question

"I corresponded with Sir Lawrence Hartnett (Managing Director of General Motors Australia till 1948) over some years. After he passed away I was given the AFG motor and other spares by his estate, and have accumulated 2 other engines and additional spare parts. The French AFG motor is not in any car and is a static display at the moment." Is what Rod told us.

There is a 1948 Hartnett prototype in the National Motor Museum in Birdwood in South Australia. As also can be seen in the photographs.

We are interested to find out whether anybody can tell us more about this engine. Is there an AFG or Simca Gregoire still around? Maybe someone owns one, knows of one or can tell us more about them.

Please comment below. Your help will be greatly appreciated!

Rodney also showed us his Hartnett Station Wagon he is restoring at the moment. It is one of approximately 15 made, and the only S/Wagon left in the world. The restoration is getting to the final stage and only requires painting (see pictures). We are very curious to see the end result back on the road Rodney!

Photographs by Rodney.

Originally published: Monday May 20th, 2019

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