Tracing Historic Coachbuilder

[tuttle]

Also posted on G.G.

I've recently discovered that my great grandfather founded the Hooper & co coach building firm & that early last century his company built several bespoke bodies for Daimler,RR & the like. The company still exists,tho under different ownership.
I've spent some time with google searches & similar, but have not come up with much info.Here's one interesting one:
www.classicjaguar.com/hrhdaimler.html

I'd be most grateful if any of the PH collective with an interst in historic/classic cars could point me in the right direction for researching this most interesting turn up in family history.


>>> Edited by tuttle on Tuesday 22 February 10:04

[HiRich]

You've probably got the basics from Google, and I suspect that you need to get into the Rolls Royce chaps for more detail.

One search worth doing is "Hooper +coachbuilder +zebra". Post war, Hooper did a series of showcars for Daimler, with help from the boss's wife, Lady Docker. They featured very graceful bodies, though somewhat overwhelmed by the paintwork and trim (one used zebra hide). A touch extravagant in an austere post-war Britain.I recall an excellent article on this in Classic & Sportscar, but it could be from any time in the last ten years.

[tuttle]

Many thanks,I'll give it a try

[tvrgaas]

It may be worth contacting the RREC and the Henry Royce Foundation in Northants. Lawrence Dalton has also written some (expensive) books on body work on Rolls chassis and most of these books will have a chapter on Hooper. The Hunt House will have copies. The Foundation also has many records for Pre 1955 Rolls (and Post 1930 Bentleys!) These include the build cars which will have body details.

Dad has a couple of Hooper bodied cars. 1924 20hp RR and a 1948 MkVI