History wanted
I love it when someone finds an old photo of their car on my site - or spots their former pride and joy lurking in a gallery. I recently heard from Christine, who now owns a lovely old Rover P4 “Cyclops” that I photographed at the Tatton Park Classic Car Show back in 2007. She’s keen to trace the history and, so far, there isn’t much out there - “she’s like a ghost!”
HFY 196 (also written HFY196) is a 1951 Rover P4 75 “Cyclops”. If you owned HFY 196 in the Oldham, Southport, Leeds or Sheffield areas - or took it to Tatton Park in 2007 - I’d love to hear from you. There’s a confirmed Brightwells sale in February 2022 and a later Martin Howey Classics listing where Christine bought it; now it’s time to piece together the car’s earlier life.
“It’s been a much bigger project than we thought. If we’d known, we probably wouldn’t have bought it.” - Christine
Work completed so far:
- Leak on the engine block - fixed
- Exhaust defective - almost complete replacement
- Gearbox jumping out of second - rebuilt into one good ’box from three with help from P4 Drivers’ Guild members and John Wearing
- Radiator re-cored to cure overheating
- Steering box notchy - now sorted
- Seat runners not adjusting (hence Christine driving to Roverfest - her partner didn’t fit!)
- Brakes needing an overhaul (currently in progress)
The paper trail
When Christine viewed the car there was no test drive. The seller said it had been to a show “in 2017”. Later digging showed the same car had actually appeared at Brightwells in 2022 and, before that, at Tatton Park in 2007 (my photo). The Brightwells listing (Lot 2, 16 Feb 2022) notes five previous keepers back to 1983 and that the car had no MOT since 2010; it sold for £3,248 including buyer’s premium. Shortly after, it reappeared for sale via Martin Howey Classics in Yorkshire, described as an honest, low-mileage Cyclops.
Bambers: a badge with a clue
Screwed to the dash is a period plaque:
Bambers, Nr Birkdale Station, Southport - The Headrow, Leeds - 16 Cambridge Street, Sheffield
The Exchange Specialists - Phone Birkdale 66161 - Use Motorine Oil
Bambers were a dealer/“exchange specialist” across those towns. Whether they supplied this car new or serviced it later is still to be confirmed.
Known timeline
- 1951 - Rover P4 75 “Cyclops” built and first registered as HFY 196
- 1983 - V5C shows a keeper in the Oldham area (subsequent keepers also local)
- 2007 - On display at Tatton Park (photographed there)
- February 2022 - Brightwells sale (Lot 2) - sold £3,248 incl. premium
- 2022-23 - Recommissioned and sold by Martin Howey Classics
- 2025 - Driven to Roverfest 2025 by Christine
What we’d love to confirm next
- First owner & supplying dealer - does the Bambers link prove a new-car sale or later service?
- 1951-1983 gap - any Oldham-area paperwork, tax discs or photos?
If you recognise HFY196, owned it, or remember it in Oldham / Southport / Leeds / Sheffield, please get in touch.
Email: info@retro-motoring.com | Subject: “HFY 196”
