A 1965 Buick Riviera Ruddspeed steering conversion - Autosport, July 9th, 1965

We've been sent this photo by Derek Scott who is the Secretary Kent Section of the VOC.

This is a 'Club 10 Rudds Volvo' tie. He says the 'Club' reference maybe something as mundane as “join our club and get 10% off all your bills when your car is serviced by us” but who knows?

We'd love to know if anyone remembers these ties or know when and why they were made.

Dan Weller (in the blue jumper) is the nephew of John Weller the designer of the overhead-cam 6 cylinder engine designed under the Weller name which eventually became AC Cars. Dan's Father was Thomas was the younger brother of John Weller.

John (MD), Thomas (Works Director) and Berisford (Technical Director) set up the original Weller company, in West Norwood, in 1902, that later became AC. There were 9 children in the Weller family, 7 boys and 2 girls. The girls emigrate to the USA, one of the brothers became a doctor, John, Thomas and Berisford, engineers and the other 3 missionaries in China.

The other gentleman in the photos is Kenneth, the brother of Dan's wife, Barbara. Kenneth is the Chief Motor Engineer of the team who look after the 1898 Panhard that is owned by Norfolk County Council and displayed in Gressenhall Rural Life Museum.

We wonder if this car is still around?

Did you know that Ken Rudd appeared as the driver of an Aston Martin DB4 in the Peter Sellers film "The Wrong Arm of the Law" He drove the Aston at speed over a Humpback Railway Bridge, the location for filming was Rockingham Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEet2P4GItw

If your quick you'll see the jump about 1:14:23...and Ken appears around 1:18:57