Oscar Moore's Special

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Does the distinctive ovoid grille and cigar-shaped bodywork of the car pictured above look familiar? Devotees of post-war British Formula Two racing might recognise it as an HWM, one of the short-lived single-seaters built in Walton-on-Thames by George Abecassis and John Heath that were briefly a fixture on the international Grand Prix circuit. The skimpy cycle wings are another clue to this car's true identity: it is, in fact, the very first HWM-Jaguar.

Based around his outmoded 1950 Formula Two car, privateer Oscar Moore replaced the original Alta engine with a Jaguar XK unit, bored out to 3781cc, and transformed the car into a hill climb special. He campaigned the new car throughout 1953.

The following year, Abecassis himself pushed HWM in a new direction with his own Jaguar-powered car. Built around a 7ft 8in tubular chassis with a Le Mans-spec C-type Jaguar engine and gearbox with Weslake-designed camshafts and triple Weber carburetters. It was said to produce 240bhp at 5700rpm. Abecassis scored a nifty promotional victory by securing the registration number HWM 1.

This was the first of several HWM-Jaguars and among the first of a whole crop of independent sports-racing cars whose manufacturers saw the potential of the easily acquired and very reliable XK engine. Most of the HWM-Jaguars survive and continue to be campaigned in historic events – so don't forget to thank Oscar Moore for planting the seed next time you see one thundering round Goodwood.

The full story of HWM has been told for the first time in the latest issue of The Automobile, which is out now.  

(text Scott Barrett, photos courtesy The Automobile)

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