The Manchester company of Newton & Bennett had strong connections in Turin, being closely involved with Societa Ceirano Automobili Torino (S.C.A.T.), Manchester-born Cyril Snipe driving the winning S.C.A.T. in the 1912 Targa Florio and obviously influencing his uncle, a board member at Newton & Bennett to finance that company. John Newton of Newton & Bennett owned the Valt factory in Turin and there built the Newton Bennett car, commonly known as the NB. The 12hp model was powered by a conventional, four-cylinder engine displacing 2,155cc. It is recorded that about 1,000 were built and they were marketed in England by Newton & Bennett of Manchester – perhaps the coachwork for some of these cars being English-built.
This car was first Cheshire-registered on 16th February 1915 to a Mrs Townsend of Gorstage Hall, Sandiway, Northwich, who last licenced the car in 1932. John Newton, its designer, purchased it at auction in 1945, keeping the car in storage until his daughter loaned the car to the Museum in 1968. Following a major restoration in the Museum workshops from 1968 – 1971 the car was presented to the National Motor Museum Trust.
This exquisitely elegant Edwardian is original in all major respects, the oil side lamps and acetylene rear lamps bearing the Newton Bennett mark and the coachwork is most attractively liveried in dark blue with black wings and the car upholstered in dark blue leather. It benefits from a four-speed gearbox and is equipped with an Auster-style rear screen. Mechanical condition generally is described as good with electrics serviceable. This rare, English-designed and Italian-built Edwardian is the only such example of the marque recorded in the current Veteran Car Club Members Handbook and should be a most practical touring car for that club’s events. It is offered with a Swansea V5 registration document, old style log book and copies of bills relating to its restoration.