London Classic Car Show Pulls Together.
South West-based Vauxhall Prince Henry owner John Burgess uses his 1914 4-litre example regularly and was part of the 'First's show at the London Classic Car Show's Grand Avenue parades. However, sadly, when it was being moved the windscreen fell backwards on to the steering column, badly cracking the screen and giving John no option but to remove the whole windscreen frame before it could be used on the Grand Avenue.
Pilkington Classics Manager Nick Gardiner was overseeing the company's stand at the show and, after hearing about the accident, set the wheels in motion to a get a new bespoke laminated screen made quickly so John can use the car at a forthcoming event. The pair taped up the screen to retain its integrity and shape, 'borrowed' a large sheet of paper from well known automotive artist Ian Cook, who was also exhibiting, then dismantled the windscreen frame on the Pilkington stand using borrowed tools and made a template for the glass needed. Although Nick is based at Pilkington's UK facility just outside Birmingham he is scheduled to visit their manufacturing facility in Laitila, Finland this week, and will take the template with him to make the screen as quickly as possible and said ''we're delighted to help get such a lovely vintage car as the Prince Henry back on the road in time for its next event. We can produce bespoke screens for all sorts of classics but didn't expect to be actually demonstrating that at the London Classic Car Show!''
John Lakey