Hammering Swords into Plowshares By: John E. Aibel

In England during the 1930s a form of auto competition developed utilizing the local agrarian terrain. They called this competition “Trails”. They were low speed low traction events i.e. mud steep hills and narrow roads. Today in the States we would call this Jeeping. 

In order to maximize traction, the people would build special off road vehicles with the maximum of weight concentrated over the rear drive wheels. Sidney Allard was one of those individuals who constructed some of these specialized vehicles.

After World War II interest in trials continued. Two gentlemen, Mr. Dellingpol and Mr. Low, started to build trails cars using Austin 7 chassis, and English Ford suspensions and engines. These were very successful cars and demand for them increased to the point that the partners decided to go into business of building them in series. Forming Dellow Car Company.  

The Austin chassis which is the bases of these cars became increasing difficult to obtain. The solution to this problem was solved by buying military surplus rocket launches from the government. These launches were tubes made of very good quality steel. The tubes were welded in chassis of the same dimensions as the original Austin chassis.

The resulting Dellow was a pretty little car in the traditional English form. Much like a MG or Morgan, or Singer. With aluminum bodies, dual spare tires on the rear, a hopped up Ford 1172 engine at a very affordable price.

One such car was imported into the States by a Grumman aviation engineer. He was a sports car buff and wanted to race his new car. On arriving in the port of New York during a longshoreman strike it had to return to England. On the next crossing the Dellow did finally get unloaded in New York. By now with all the ocean travel the was now Green!

This gentleman did race the Dellow with some success, and kept it until he passed away. My brother Fred bought a supercharged Dellow from a fellow in Rhode Island. Fred also heard about the New York one owner car. A call to the widow of the owner confirmed she would sell the car to me.

My son-in-law and I drove out to Long Island and loaded the Dellow on the trailer and headed home. We replaced some “O” rings in the oil pump, cleaned the oil pan, had a new fuel tank constructed, new tires installed, and a beautiful British Racing Green paint job applied. This was one great little car. 

John Aibel on the race track at the
PVGP c. 1999
before an unfortunate accident

Unfortunately , I had some bad luck with it during an event in Pittsburgh, PA and had to sell this gem.