1936 WD Trials cars mystery

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Note that it's the 13" wheeled version [judging by the wheels] M 371610, from the batch 371604 - 371613, V.3032, Chassis # 20/16788. It's been allocated to the Mechanical Engineering Establisment, Farnborough, Hampshire and was trialled in February 1936, along with the 16"-wheeled version as per photo. However it could be that the third photo is in fact when new [say February], and the first/second was taken in December 1936 at the Farnborough Trials that investigated the superior performance that the 13" wheels & tyres provided over the 16" tyre equipment. By then Rootes had found that that they had to improve the cooling, and the 1937 WD Report states that the tested Hawk proved acceptable after many more miles of off- and on-road trials. More on this in VINTAGE ROADSCENE issue 94 out next year.