Military Vehicle Trust Commemorative Showcase

SIR MALCOLM CAMPBELL’S 39 MERCURY STATION WAGON

Sir Malcolm Campbell imported this car, the first 1939 Right Hand Drive Mercury V8 into Great Britain and immediately sent her to Windovers to have her converted with a Station Wagon body for use by him and his team during his Bluebird Water Speed record attempts on Lake Windemere. Because these attempts took place at night, the interior was designed so that all the seats folded flat to create space for him or his team members to be able to have a snooze in the car during the nighttime preparations.  WW2 intervened and the car was parked at his home.

In 1942 Sir Malcolm met George Formby at a charity fund raising event at Claridge’s Hotel in London who told him that he needed a car to use in North Africa during his forthcoming tour with ENSA where he was to entertain the Allied Troops.

Sir Malcolm offered to loan him this car which was duly delivered to the REME workshops to be repainted in Desert Sand and have Sand Tyres and canvas curtains fitted.  It was noted that Formby was seen by troops stationed in Surrey test driving the car prior to shipment to North Africa.

Formby used this car during two tours with ENSA in North Africa, the second tour ending in Italy with the car being shipped back to the UK under REME supervision on both occasions.  Formby was Top of the Pops during that time and was very popular with our troops and entertained a total 750,000 Allied Troops during his tours during which this car became very well known.