Find out more in the press release below.

We've teamed up with prestigious auction house, H&H Classics, where next week our 1917 Woods Dual Power will be auctioned. The head-turning, history-rich vehicle that was bequeathed to us in 2021 paved the way for automotive powertrain advancements and with the help from Lucas Gomersall and the H&H Classics team, hopes to raise valuable funds.

Find out more in the press release below.

Charity auction for century-old pioneering hybrid car

• One of the earliest ever hybrid cars, more than one hundred years old, is going under the hammer for charity
• Proceeds from the 1917 Woods Dual Power will go to StarterMotor, a charity that assists a younger generation to find jobs in the classic car sector
• An historic vehicle, the pioneering car was built in Chicago a century ahead of its time

One of the first hybrid cars ever built more than one hundred years ago is going under the hammer to raise valuable funds for StarterMotor, a charity based on the Bicester Motion campus in Oxfordshire. 

The 1917 Woods Dual Power, one of the earliest gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles ever built, will be auctioned by H&H Classics on behalf of StarterMotor, a charity whose mission is to support a younger generation to find work experience and careers in the classic car sector.

Offered as a restoration project looking for completion, the historic car that was originally built in Chicago by the Woods Motor Vehicle Company, will go under the hammer on Wednesday 30th July at the Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, with an estimated price of £9,000 - £11,000.

The car, one of the first true hybrids, which arguably inspired the electric revolution over 100 years ago, was bequeathed to the StarterMotor charity in 2021 with the owner’s aspiration for his most prized restoration project to be completed.

However, the charity sadly never had the financial or people resources to continue and finish the car’s restoration.

In recognition of the charity’s need for financial support, and the hope that whoever acquires the car takes it through to completion, the owner’s family kindly and generously support the sale of the car to the benefit of StarterMotor.

Steve Cootes, General Manager at StarterMotor, said: “The 1917 Woods Dual Power was a century ahead of its time, and this particular model provides a wonderful opportunity for an enthusiast, or enthusiasts, to fulfil a very rewarding restoration project.”

Only around 1,900 examples of this type were ever produced. The car operated on battery power from start-up and up to speeds of 15mph, at which point the petrol engine cut in to take the car to its top speed of 35mph.

The car going under the hammer was fully restored in New Zealand in the mid-1980s and  then shipped back to its German owner. However, it was tragically almost completely destroyed in a fire in 2011. Its previous owner undertook the task of straightening the chassis and front axle which are original to the car. Some sub-assemblies of the car, including the rear axle and steering box, were not damaged in the fire.

Lucas Gomersall, Motor Car Specialist at H&H Classics, said: “The Woods Dual Power was a pioneering car and surviving models are rare and much sought after by collectors.

“We’re delighted to offer this example for auction in the hope it will raise as much funds as possible for StarterMotor and, also, that it finds a new home for its restoration to be completed.”

For more information about StarterMotor, visit www.startermotor.co, while for H&H Classics, visit www.handh.co.uk.

Notes
Established in 1993, H&H Classics is the longest continually trading specialist automotive auction house in the UK and Europe. With centuries of collective market expertise in the classic and collector vehicle industry, H&H Classics prides itself on delivering the highest levels of service to its buyers and sellers, ensuring an experience which is easy and enjoyable.
 
Over the past 32 years, H&H Classics has achieved world record prices for classic motorcycles, cars, and competition cars such as a 1960 Ferrari 250 GT SWB, 1968 Lotus 49B, 1996 Subaru Impreza WRC, as well as royal cars including Queen Elizabeth II’s Daimler, Prince Phillip’s Lagonda and Princess Anne’s Bentley.
 
To find out more about H&H Classics, upcoming auctions or for enquiries, please visit www.handh.co.uk

Useful Links
H&H Classics – https://www.handh.co.uk/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HHClassicsLtd/
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Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/handhclassics/
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/HandHAuctions

Pictures
For high resolution images which accompany this release, please visit the following Dropbox link.