SEVENTY-years-old next year, Miss Peabody was voted the best in show among a great number of vehicles at the Crashbox and Classic Car Club Historic Vehicle gathering at Powderham during the weekend of July 8 and 9.

Miss Peabody is the lovely red 1954 Dellow, bought some years ago by Roger and Di Brooking of Yeoford.

Di explained: “We were invited by the MCC, Motor Cycling Club founded in 1901, to take Miss Peabody, our 1954 trials/hill climb sports car to be displayed at the front of the MCC area at the weekend. 

Roger Brooking with Miss Peabody, restoration having begun.
Roger Brooking with Miss Peabody, restoration having begun. ( )

“Miss Peabody had been bought in a terrible dismantled state having been abandoned for almost 50 years.

“Roger and Rob Murch, a neighbour, got together three years ago and did just about the whole restoration themselves.  They finally finished Miss Peabody in time for the Powderham show.

“She caused a lot of interest being a pretty rare car, with people who had been Dellow owners in the past and others stopping to look.

“To top it all, the MCC stand won the Best Display in the Show - nothing for Miss Peabody who has already won a trophy for Best Renovation for Originality from the Dellow Club Register.  Well done girl!”

Di explained that the Motor Cycling Club was founded to organise long distance motor trials and endurance events for motorcycles, cars were accepted later when they became more available.

Such events are still organised today, 122 years later such as the Exeter, Lands End and Edinburgh long distance trials.