RIAC Show 2013
For this very special event, Irish Vintage Scene Magazine have tracked down two extremely rare cars, both of which share a unique Irish connection in that they were actually manufactured in Ireland.
Our second display car is even more unique as it is the only example of its kind ever built, and is an even rarer sight at vintage and classic car events.
The brainchild of Phillip Townshend Sommerville-Large, the stately Silver Stream was constructed over the period from 1907 to 1909 as the prototype for a production run of large luxury cars. Like many vehicles of its time it was constructed from proprietary mechanicals from other suppliers, as Sommerville-Large perused the catalogues of the finest European suppliers to select their best components. The chassis was a chain-drive MAB unit, while the engine was a Gnome six-cylinder of just over three-litres capacity. The bodywork was in a very handsome Roi-de-Belges touring style, and was constructed by Salmons of Newport Pagnell in England to Sommerville-Large’s own design.
The resulting car was undoubtedly a very fine motor car, with quality and specification approaching that of the best and most expensive models of the day. However, despite its merits the projected production run of further cars never materialised, perhaps due to the finished car’s cost of £2,000, equivalent to the price of a large house, or even a farm! Luckily the sole Silver Stream ever made still survives in highly original order, and is on display here at the RIAC National Classic Car Show courtesy of its owner. The car spent many years on display as part of the Lucey Collection at the Killarney Motor Museum, but has made only rare appearances since that museum closed its doors, so this represents a rare chance to examine this fascinating and unique Irish motor car.
