GEORGE FORMBY’S 3.4

ABOVE: George Formby with his Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud and Jaguar Mk IX that replaced his crashed 3.4 RIGHT: Top left of the car’s original logbook shows George Formby’s details and signature

county court judges and even British film stars such as George Formby.

Born in Wigan on 26 May 1904 Formby made his name in music halls during the Twenties before making his first film in 1934. Due to his northern, down-to-earth style and perfect comedy timing, he became an instant hit and by the end of the decade was earning a massive £100,000 a year (almost seven million in today’s money).

Little wonder Formby could afford to buy his first Rolls-Royce while filming It’s in the Air during 1938. He would remain loyal to the brand for the rest of his life, swapping for a new model every year.

Yet when he was walking past Jaguar’s main dealer in his home town of Blackpool in early 1959, Formby saw a 3.4 manual in Mist Grey with a red interior (chassis number S976920DN). Impressed by Jaguar’s disc brake system (which would later save his life), Formby bought the car on the spot despite it being smaller than his usual choice of car. The Jaguar was registered GF 2 to match the GF 1 numberplate of his Rolls-Royce, apparently acquiring both registrations in the mid-Fifties.

Registered with Formby’s name and address at Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, on 8 April 1959 (the surviving original buff logbook showing he had personally added OBE after his name) it makes the 3.4 one of OBE after his name) it makes the 3 4 one of the final examples to have been produced before the larger and more modern Mk 2 replaced it later the same year.

During the summer of 1959, the by-now ageing ag Formby was appearing in Great Yarmouth’sY Windmill Theatre. After spending thesp weekend at their home outside Blackpool in early o August, George and his wife Beryl used the Jaguaran to return to to the Norfolk coast. At the village of East Winch, seven miles east of KingsW Lynn along the A47,a George collided with an Austin A30 when it had turned right into aA cricket fcr ield.

George said later in court that he had seen a car ahead on an otherwise clear road at the Swaffham end of the village.

He began to overtake and suddenly, when he was about 75 feet away, the driver in front put out his indicator and started turning right. Formby said he’d braked as hard as he could but even the Jaguar’s disc brakes couldn’t slow him down enough to avoid a collision. “I hadn’t an earthly chance of avoiding him,” he continued under oath. “It’s lucky I have a car with terrific braking power.” George also said that following the accident, the driver of the Austin, 26-yearold Maurice Bunting from nearby Stoke Ferry, had told him he had no idea there had been anyone behind.

George later stressed he had not been driving fast at the time of the accident, which was corroborated by a witness, Peter Plant from Norwich, who had been following the Formbys on his motorcycle. Yet it’s easy to speculate that George, excited by the new Jaguar, had put his foot down on the straight and largely empty A47…

During a 2004 interview, Bunting said he’d been disappointed George had wanted to call the police immediately after the collision, not even asking if he was all right first.

Following the crash, George and Beryl (who had been asleep on the rear seat at the time of the accident with the pair’s terrier, Punch) were taken to Kings Lynn hospital suffering from shock. Beryl was quickly discharged but the doctors were so concerned about the poor state of George’s health that he was kept in a private ward for observation.

“He was quite poorly,” said Angela Sims, a student nurse, in a newspaper article at the time. “He was bed-nursed for a few days. Beryl was there with him and sat by his bed. She was very quiet – well, they both were until George felt a bit better.” After George was released from hospital a few days later the pair went to the Norfolk Broads to allow him to convalesce.

As for Bunting, despite pleading not guilty he was later charged with careless driving, fined £10 plus £3. 8s.f for costs and disqualified for six months. When Bunting later appealedf this t was reduced to just one month.

Not wanting to keep the now-damaged 3.4, Formby exchanged the car through Norfolk’s main Jaguar agent, Mann Egerton of Norwich, for a Mk IX automatic in Sherwood Green with green upholstery and S power steering. According to a surviving letter from the dealership’s general manager, Michael McKee, on 12 August, Formby was offered a healthy £1,425 for the car, at mere £247 less than the 3.4’s 1959 list price. But the dealer’s generosity didn’t end there. “When this car is repaired and we sell it, anything made above this

figure will be divided in half between yourself and ourselves,” continued McKee.

On 5 September 1959, the now-repaired 3.4 (since Formby had taken GF 2 with him for his Mk IX the 3.4 was re-registered NCL 699) was bought from Mann Egerton by a Peter Beck from Stalham, 15 miles to the north of Norwich. He only kept the car for a year since the logbook shows the next owner, Dorothy Paquot from the nearby Blakeney Hotel, bought it on 24 November 1960. The car doesn’t change hands again until January 1988 when Ronald Reynolds of Nelson Constable acquired it.

Other than it was taken off the road in around 1968, what happened next is unclear. What is known is that the car was given a six-month restoration in the early 2000s. By then it had lost its NCL 699 number but when the owner contacted the DVLA in 2002 to have it re-registered, he was informed this was no longer available yet amazingly its original GF 2 was.

The car has kept a low profile since its restoration, reappearing earlier this year when it was auctioned by Anglia Car Auctions of Kings Lynn. Although put back on the road two decades ago, the car remains in a remarkably good condition, the grey paint offering a shine that would put a newer respray to shame. Inside, the burr walnut veneer is thick and glossy while the odometer still only reads 71,500 miles.

But despite its pristine condition, ACA tells me the car hasn’t been driven for some time, confirmed by the DVLA’s website that says its last MOT was a decade ago. Since the vendor didn’t want to try starting the engine without a full recommission, it was sold as a non-runner.

Yet it’s still a handsome car while its unique place in British culture makes it even more desirable. And it’s not just me that thinks so, either, since the Mk 1 made £87,480 (including commission) when it was sold by ACA in late January 2022, around twice what a 3.4 is usually worth.

So as Formby himself might say, for his car at least it really did turn out nice again. PW

Thanks to: Anglia Car Auctions (www.angliacarauctions.co.uk)

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