The motor car in Jersey

The motor car in Jersey

J1 De Dion Bouton

The first motor car to arrive in Jersey just made it before the end of the 19th century. The Jersey Express of 31 July 1899 reported the arrival of a phaeton-built car, constructed by the International Motor Company in London, for Peter Falla, a solicitor of Les Issues, St John.

"This novelty weighs about a hundredweight, and can be driven from three to thirty miles per hour. The car was taken out to Mr Falla's residence today on a trolley and we may shortly expect to see the owner travelling on his novel transport."

In 1914 cars were inspected annually by the parish constables before their licence was renewed. Here a chauffeur has stopped his vehicle outside the Town Hall and looks on while the Constable and colleagues inspect the car

Astonished townsfolk

George Balleine's History of Jersey reported the speed of what he called a '3½-horsepower Benz' as 5 mph, but noted that townsfolk were astonished at its appearance when Peter Falla drove from St John to St Helier for the first time.

The vehicle could accommodate a driver and three passengers. The driver and one passenger faced forwards and the other two faced backwards.

The arrival of the motor car in Jersey was not a cause for celebration, and Mr Falla's vehicle was dubbed La Machine du Diable (the devil's machine) and suffered the indignity of being stoned as it passed along the rough roads near Mont Mado.

Mr Falla had to import his own petrol, and send a servant to the docks to unload and collect it. He was definitely a fair weather motorist, because the car only ventured out when it was dry, and never on a Sunday, Mr Falla preferring his tricycle for the journey to church.

J0

The car was finally broken up, and it is a Benz built under licence by Grandins, of the Esplanade, which can claim to be the oldest Jersey car still in existence.

It left the island for many years, and on its return it was allocated the special registration number J0

Mr Falla maintained his interest in cars well into old age and owned an American Studebaker in 1915, when he was in his seventies.

Letter

This letter by John Boothman, president of Jersey Old Motor Club, was published in the Jersey Evening Post and gives more information on the first and second cars in Jersey.

"I Was interested in the Temps Passé photograph of a car built in Jersey by George Pool in 1900 or 1901. It looks a fine machine. However, the description of it as ‘the first Jersey car’ is not correct. That honour goes to the 3.5 hp Benz imported to the Island by solicitor Peter Falla in July 1899.

"This novel machine was not well received by the population of Mr Falla’s home parish of St John, and on one occasion it was stoned while climbing Mont Mado. Mr Falla did not use the car in bad weather, or on Sunday, when he went to church on his tricycle.

"In the same year two young engineers from Grandin’s in St Helier, who had probably worked on Mr Falla’s Benz, set out to build what was a close copy of it, having first converted the key dimensions from metric to imperial. This car became known as the Jersey Benz and there is a fine period photograph of it with its creators sitting proudly aboard.

"Sadly Mr Falla’s car has long since disappeared – only the carriage lamps remain – but the Jersey Benz is intact, having spent many years in the lobby of a west country hotel before returning to Jersey in the 1970s. It now forms part of a private local collection.

"Comparing Mr Pool’s creation with the Benz, it looks significantly more advanced, despite being only a year or two younger. Perhaps it is no coincidence that he went on to establish one of the most successful motor businesses in Jersey."

Speed restriction

In 1923 speed restrictions were adopted by the States. The new law stated that char-a-bancs, omnibuses and motor lorries were not to travel at more than 6 mph when in town. Outside the town the maximum speed allowed was 10 mph. The Constable of St Helier said, when questioned, that the restrictions did not apply to motor cycles as, when they went too fast, they usually came into contact with objects heavier than themselves and came off second best. Jurat Le Boutillier said that even three miles per hour might be ‘dangerous’ and went on to say that the proposal was absolutely absurd. However, his fellow members disagreed and the proposition was adopted.

Registration numbers

Cars in Jersey did not initially have registration numbers. These were not introduced until around 1918, after the Great War. We are still trying to establish what procedures were followed to allocate numbers at this time but it appears that all cars registered then were allocated numbers according to the time they had been present in Jersey, starting

J1 has now been allocated to a vintage Rolls Royce

with the oldest, the De Dion Bouton, which was given J1. The vehicle is no longer in existence and the number has now been allocated to a vintage Rolls Royce There is sometimes confusion over very early vehicles bearing 'J' registrations, because this was originally the letter allocated to vehicles registered in Durham. We would appreciate hearing (editorial@jerripedia.org) from any enthusiast who can provide further information about the process of allocating early registration numbers in Jersey.

German Occupation

This 2.5 litre Standard Swallow (Jaguar) is pictured parked in the bus stop opposite St Brelade's Bay Hotel, in the summer of 1940. The driver is a member of the Luftwaffe Reconnisance Squadron based at Jersey Airport. The car was registered in 1937.

In October 1940 in Jersey, all cars were required to be cleaned and overhauled for inspection by a German Purchasing Commission. The Order stated that 'the owner is obliged to sell his motor vehicle at the price fixed' and many people were notified that payment would be made after the War.

Emotions ran high, and on 21 November all cars – 1936 models and upwards - were ordered to be presented for purchase. A similar Order was issued the next day for the handing in of all motorcycles. The campaign to rob the Islanders of their transport, and thereby restrict their ability to move around the Islands was now well underway, and it was estimated that eventually almost 12,000 motor vehicles were seized, mostly to be sold abroad.

• Garages

J0 and J1 together in Jersey

Pre-war Peugeot

Although we are not certain of the location of this 1939 photograph, which was our Picture of the week in September 2020, we are happy that it was taken in Jersey, as suggested when it was sent to us. We believe that it is either a JMT or a JBS bus in the background. The car was initially identified as a Volvo PV36 Carioca. However, we subsequently received information identifying the car as a Peugeot 402. Both the Peugeot and the Volvo were introduced in 1935 and, although we have found nothing to confirm our suspicion, they are so alike as to suggest a degree of co-operation between the two manufacturers. We wonder what happened to what looks like a beautiful autumobile when the Germans invaded the following year, and it would be interesting if anybody is able to identify any of the four gentlemen standing in front of it, and sadly hiding most of its bodywork from view. Restored examples of this Peugeot, on sale from 1935 to 1942, can be found for sale today, with prices around £20,000 for a restored car. The Volvo was the more expensive when the two cars first went on sale, and now it would set you back £40,000 for one in reasonable condition to over £100,000 for a fully-restored version

The story of an early car which was found buried under a St Helier garage

Click on any picture to see a larger version

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  This car was built in Jersey in 1901 by George Pool, owner of Pool's Garage in Don Street. He is pictured on an outing with his wife and son, also George
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  A family and their chauffeur in the 1920s
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  An early car demonstrates its power by climbing the steps from Snowhill to Regent Road ...
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  ... the stunt won the owner a £5 bet but he was fined the same amount when taken to court
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  We believe that this photograph of a family in their chauffeur-driven car was taken in Jersey but we cannot be certain
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  A serious accident outside the Grand Hotel in 1924

Concours d'Elegance

“THE most impressive display of magnificent, shining cars ever assembled at one place in the Island was witnessed yesterday afternoon,” the Evening Post declared in its front-page report of Jersey’s first Concours d’Elégance in 1951.

The event had drawn more than 6,000 people to the promenade between West Park and First Tower on 30 August to see the 75 entries in the Jersey Motor Cycle and Light Car Club’s competition.

“Car-consciousness and pride of ownership has long been a characteristic of Jersey’s wide motoring public. Indeed, for its size, the Island has an astonishing number of fine motor cars which one could go far to see equalled,” the Evening Post observed.

The paper sponsored the Prix d’Elégance trophy for the entrant whose car and lady was judged to be the most elegant. It was won by Mrs Michael Blampied in a 1951 almond green Vauxhall Velox, driven and entered by Mr K Barnes.

The car which was awarded the Prix d’Honneur was Melville Walker’s gun-metal Jaguar MK VII, driven by Len True.

The competition also included classes for pre-War cars, smaller cars and utility cars.

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  The 1952 Concours was held on People's Park
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  Evening Post photograph of Mr Trigg and his daughter, winners of the Prix d'Honneur and Prix d'Elegance in 1952

A Studebaker taxi in 1939

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  Jersey Motor Museum's Bentley
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  A Peugeot at Petit Port in the 1930s
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  A car arrives at the harbour in the early 1910s
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  An early motorised taxi
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  An early Singer car owned by Mr Bois
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  J0
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  An early crash
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  This fatal accident on Victoria Avenue led to the first charge of driving under the influence of drink
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  An early motor car photographed by Francis Foot
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  An early car on island roads
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  One of Jersey's most famous cars was the maroon 1944 Triumph Roadster 2000, which was used in the popular BBC television series "Bergerac" in the 1980s
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  An early Austin in Jersey
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  Everard Le Breton in his 'bull-nose' Morris in 1933

The car which eventually returned to Jersey to become J0, photographed in the island in 1903 by Albert Smith

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  Austin 7
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  Agnes and Mary Gallichan with the family Ford Prefect in the late 1940s
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  Traffic control in Queen Street in the 1950s
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  The Langlois family in their car at Sion Hall
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  A restored German vehicle put to good use by a Jersey family
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  Morris van at Rozel
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  Early road accident
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  Triumph Razor Edge operated as a taxi in the 1950s, pictured here in Langley Park
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  This picture of a lady at the wheel of a car at La Corbiere was supplied to us dated '1940s', but we believe it to be possibly two decades earlier
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  A photograph by Albert Smith of a family with their car
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  An outing in the 1950s
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  A Jersey Motor Museum Bentley
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  A car rally at Rosel Manor
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  An early picture by Albert Smith of cars in a country lane
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  J P V Falle's Darracq
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  An outing to St Ouen's Bay
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  Hamon family Chevrolet in the 1920s
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  Hamon family Oldsmobile in the 1930s
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  Vauxhall, 1930s

Helier Bisson and his family on an outing in 1926

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  Betty Marie, nee Hamon, with an SS Jaguar
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  Her husband Colin
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  Wilfred Picot
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  Betty Marie with a Standard 8
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  Hamon Oldsmobile
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  One of Wilfred Picot's cars being loaded at the Harbour
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  Harold Hamon's Hillman
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  Waimarama, Colin and Betty Marie's home in Rue du Froid Vent, St Saviour
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  An early Ford from the Hamon collection
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  Harold Hamon at the wheel of a Ford Prefect
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  Husband and wife swap places for a photograph of their new car in 1910
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  Ford Mustang, sold for £1,750 in 1966
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  Many Jersey vehicles proudly displayed a metal Automobile Association badge
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  1920 driving licence
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  1920
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  1954
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  A Jersey driving licence
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  1935 Traffic Law
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  An Allard K1 on the beach in St Brelade's Bay with its owner, Bob Le Breton, and friends. Mr Le Breton was given the car by his uncle in 1948. The number plate, J111, no longer attached to the car, sold at auction in March 2018 for £54,000

Roderick Averty in his grandfather William Alexander's Renault AX in about 1913-14, at Les Marais Farm St Mary. He always told the story of he and his brother Donald being told Sit down Boys, we're doing 14 miles per hour! Being strictly Methodist William Alexander would not drive on a Sunday unless it was to pick up the minister from the neighbouring parish

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  The same car competing in the Bouley Bay Hill Climb
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  An outing to Greve de Lecq in 1950 for Fred and Ciss Bisson, Frank and Eva Luce
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  A post-war photograph outside the Farmers Inn in St Ouen, including an Aston Martin
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  A Victoria College boy at the wheel of his father's car, photographed by Percival Dunham
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  A family outing, photographed by Percival Dunham
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  Streamline Taxis new Chevrolet fleet in 1940
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  An overturned car in the 1950s
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  A Morris outing in 1953
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  Cars parked at an air display in the 1920s
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  A family convertible in 1946-47
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  An accident at the Harbour in 1940 ...
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  ... another view
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  A convertible Morris Minor hire car greets Airport arrivals in the late 1950s
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  A 1951 Concours d'Elegance
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  Kelvin Kent and friend with his 1928 Austin in 1957
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  Cover of the 1937 highway code

Everard Le Breton in 1933

A 20 mph speed limit was introduced on the seafront road between La Haule and St Aubin in 1936 - Evening Post photograph

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  Barry Roche with his vintage Hillman
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  George Arthur Yates with a 1920s Renault ...
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  ... and this is what the car looked like, pictured at Melchester Court, New St John's Road
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  An Austin 7 in St Ouen's Bay
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  An outing in 1954
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  JPV Falle driving his Darracq, accompanied by his sister Gladys and their parents Jean Pierre and Rachel
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  An unidentified car parked outside La Rocque Stores
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  Bill Taverner with his first car
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  French officers on a guided excurstion in 1922
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  Pat Oxenden driving her Jaguar XK
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  1923
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  1934 Essex saloon
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  A family with their Singer 9 in 1933
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  Date: 1920; model of car: unknown; driver: unknown
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  Jack Ronald Houillebecq
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  Lawford family outing in a larger Citroen in 1935

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  Holidaymakers at Havre des Pas in 1936
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  The Lawfords with their Citroen Typ C in 1923

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  Star Cabs on Victoria Avenue ...
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  ... for a wedding ...
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  ... and at the Underground Hospital

An afternoon drive for the Bois family. A Singer driven by Dr Charles Albert Bois, with his brother George Walter Bois sitting next to him and behind him Francis John Bois. The two latter founded Bois and Bois, solicitors

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  More photographs of the Bois family car in 1909
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The motor car on Jersey stamps from 1989, 1992, 1999, 2005, 2010 and 2016

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