The Coulter Star Pegasus 1926 Sports
XI 6393
Purchased by Brian J. Rollings in April 2009
This Star was originally owned by J. E. Coulter & Co., Ford
& Star Agents in Belfast, Northern Ireland at a time when
both makes complemented each other in the car and commercial
fields. Competition was considered an essential part of the
trade and Coulter's staff, raced a Model T Ford, with O.H.V.
conversion, and a Star 12/40, a new model for 1926 with an
overhead valve engine, that was Jack Coulters personal car.
Unfortunately Coulter turned the car over loosing an arm in
the process, and after this injury, Bob Wylie, as lead
apprentice with the company, fetched him to work each
morning in this Star from his home on Cliftonville Road.
The Coulter Star, as it is today.
The charge hand at Coulter's, was W. H Connolly, who in
later years became the Citroen agent for the Belfast area,
and it was he who drove the Coulter cars in the various
motoring competitions in Northern Ireland pre-Ards TT Days,
including the Magilligan Sand Races and Hill Climbs at
Craigantlet and at Ballybannon. This hill climb event was
unique in that it was held on a straight but steep road; the
cars started two at a time. It was first held in 1903 as
part of the Irish Motoring Fortnight, associated with the
Gordon Bennett Trophy Race in Kildare. |
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Another view of the Coulter Star. |
When the Star 12/40 was raced at Magilligan by Billy
Connolly, it had the mudguards removed from the original
two-seater body with dickey seat, but it is now exactly as
it left the factory.
Coulters then acquired a single-seater
aluminium body that had originally been fitted to a 1923
Star 11.9 hp with which, in two seater form, Malcolm
Campbell had won the Easter Brooklands Handicap Race in
1924.
After being fitted with this single seat body, and
engine upgraded initially to a side valve 1944cc, and then
to an o.h.v. version of the same engine, Campbell raced at
every Brooklands meeting during 1924, eventually winning a
second handicap race in September.
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When the Ford Company told Coulters to shed the Star agency,
Billy Connolly started his own garage to sell and service
Stars. The Coulter Star and the Malcolm Campbell body were
among the assets taken over, and Connolly won Ballybannon
Hill Climb in 1928 with the Star 12/40 Sports (XI 6393)
fitted with the single seater Campbell Body. The average
speed achieved was 63.9 mph up a 1 in 6 hill for one mile,
and it was said the car was good for 100 mph.
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The Campbell single-seater body.
| The Coulter Star 12/40 remained in Belfast until the1950's.
With mudguards refitted it was sold to Alec Furphy, before
passing to Kevin Gildea of Stratford on Avon who owned it
for some 40years. Having had very little use in the last 20
of those years, I acquired it at the beginning of April
2009. Since then I have spent many hours bringing it back to
a high standard of finish, but hopefully retaining its
originality. Its first official outing will be The Festival
of Black Country Vehicles on the 26th July 2009. |
Brian Rollings standing beside the Coulter Star.
A final view of the Coulter Star.
| My association with Star cars, is that my Gt. Grandfather's
sister Sarah Ann Rollings was married to Edward Lisle, the
founder of the Star Companies.
Also John Rollings my Gt.
Grandfather’s Brother was a Director and a main Share Holder
in the Star Cycle Company, which later became Briton cars.
This, my second Star, the first one a 1930 18/50 Jason
Saloon, owned for 10 years.
Over the past 45 years I have
owned many old cars starting with humble Austin Sevens (the
first of which I still own) through to Bentleys. |
Brian standing beside the Campbell body. |
Brian and his Star in action at the 2009 Festival
of Black Country Vehicles.
| In the early part of October 2009, my cousin, Peter
Lisle, came to visit us and expressed a wish to paint a
picture of the Star, but stated that as he is getting on in
years, it may take him some time to complete. To my delight,
he duly arrived on our door step in December, with the
picture, the quality and accuracy of which is outstanding.
It will be one of my treasured possessions. I would express
my sincere thanks to Peter for this wonderful piece of work. |
Peter Lisle's excellent painting of the Coulter
Star.
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