Blog Post

The journey: Hello – I’m Elliot.

Elliot • Mar 09, 2019

I guess first things first, I should really introduce myself properly. I’m Elliot. Thirty-something. Long time car enthusiast. Potty mouth. And now the custodian of Black Bess.

For those of you that have never seen a car like this before, Bessy is 1956 Vauxhall Wyvern. More specifically, she is an E-series Wyvern. These were built in Luton, England from 1952 – 1957 alongside the more lavishly specified Velox and Cresta models. These E-series cars were one of the first examples of the transatlantic styling that we saw in Britain. This American influence went on to define a generation of music, fashion and pop culture well into the 60's.

I acquired the car in the summer of 2018 but my relationship with this car goes back to the very start of my life. I wish I could say that I enjoy driving her on a regular basis however sadly, her condition is a little less than ideal these days. It’s not so much TLC that’s needed but some serious surgery. We’ll go into why exactly such a well-loved and prized family car is in such a poor state in future updates.

In the meantime, the plan with this page is to simultaneously share some of the amazing, and quite exceptional history of Bess alongside her journey back onto the tarmac and beyond. Look out for updates titled ‘ A look back ’ where I’ll be bringing this history to life. I’ll also be sharing my recent and future efforts, titled ‘ The journey .’

For now, she’s resting safely in the garage under the same roof as us. Here are a few pictures of Bessy's current state (and one of my grandad and I too…)

by Elliot 14 Feb, 2021
If you knew my grandad personally his funeral will be held on 25 March 2021 at Sandwell Crematoriu m, although it is likely that Covid-19 restrictions will limit numbers. In lieu of flowers, all we’re asking is that you do what came so naturally to him - Tell those people precious to you that you love them. If you’d like to make a donation to his memory, we will be splitting the proceeds three ways. To the Royal British Legion, the Alzheimer’s Society and of course, to Mind. You can do so by heading to our JustGiving page . For now though, there are plenty of wonderful memories for us to immerse ourselves in. How lucky we are to have them. And how lucky we were to have you; Ron, Ronaldo Longero, Corporal R.S Long, ‘Old Grumpy’... Grandad. Sleep well. We love you.
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How did we manage to uncover such a rich histroy for Bess? A lucky find and the power of the internet... Read the latest to find out more.
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One of the sacrifices that needs to be made in order to get bess back on the road is my lovely MINI GP.
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Well, I'm not quite sure how it happened, but I've had her back for a whole year...
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...we start the task of dismantling her. That's right, the restoration has begun. But here's one last look around before the transformation begins.
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by Elliot 18 May, 2019
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