Anglo-French Alliance

Crossley Bugatti or Bugatti Crossley ?

Crossley Motors Were indeed makers of fine high quality cars, and had a good history of producing Sporting cars, as well as top end Limousines. Their 20 HP and 15 HP Works cars, dominated sprints,and hill climbs from 1909 to 1913 in the hands of Hubert Woods and Cecil Bianchi. The 15 HP became the well known "Shelsley" after its successes at that event. later in 1922 came the 20/70 following on from the 15 HP with wins at Brooklands. Finally in 1928 one of their finest, pure sports cars revived the name "Shelsley" at its launch and was known as the Crossley 2 litre sports. This was the last time the Crossley Works sanctioned a Works car to race at Brooklands.

Crossley Motors of Gorton Manchester allotted chassis numbers CM1600 - CM1625 for their first and only batch of Bugatti cars.The car above is Chassis CM1614. There are Two other "Bugatti Crossley" cars I am aware of one which was certainly in the UK according to Motorsport in 1972 Chassis CM1622 (Rodney Manners) and the other was in New Zealand owned by the late Grand Prix Racer Ron Roycroft, then later by R.J.Blackburn Chassis Number 1606.
Just to add to the confusion was the "Crossley Bugatti" which was a 1928 Crossley Shelsley raced and owned by McWhirter of Hawks Bay N.Z. This car was a regular and sucessfull competitor after the War. The fabric body of this well known racer was in such a poor condition due to the harsh gravel track racing conditions, it began to resemble a Hurricane returning from a good dog fight. At this time a Bugatti T38428 that had belonged to a Gentleman named Wells was being split up (Probably by Roycroft, as he also had the twin car T38429 which was used as parts to keep his T35 racer going) The body of T38428 along with its bonnet and radiator was fitted to the Shelsley Crossley. Which although was still a Crossley underneath was campaigned an known from 1949 to 1963 as The "Crossley Bugatti" The confusion only starts there as Roycroft's T35 was fitted with The T38429 Radiator to cool its newly fitted Jaguar XK120 engine. Stirling Moss said, when Ron Held him off for 10 lapa of the NZ GP: "If this guy ever gets a real car we are all in trouble!"
Roycroft and McWhirter regularly competed at the same events both with their "T38" Bugatti look alikes. Much confusion occured. Roycroft gathered all the bits including the Crossley and and Sold the T38428 to John Hern, which he restored.

The Now "Shelsley Crossley" (De frocked of Bug parts) was fitted a "Bum Freezer" body by Roycroft and competed locally.

I purchased the Crossley from the Ron Roycroft collection in 1999 just before he died. The car is now Fully restored and fitted with an original Crossley 2 litre Sports body No. X15 of X20 built by Crossley. This was ironically found in storage 35 miles from my home in Bolton near Manchester, after spending many years fitted to a Lagonda.

This is what I like about this site. I am always LEARNING something new about the hobby. Thank to all who contribute photos, articles and wisdom.......Keith

Today, only one complete car survives,
Not true there is another one in New Zealand which once belonged to my old friend [the late] Ron Roycroft who owned no less than five Bugattis at the time. The car is still in New Zealand.

....about the Brescias built under licence, in Germany by Rabag and in Manchester, England, by Crossley? and also the [approx] fifty that were ordered by Diatto in Italy which had Diatto firewalls and radiators but carried Bugatti badges. A fair number of these has been turned back into Brescias which seems a shame.