The Caswell BNC Ford as it appears today, cleaned up but unrestored 'as last raced,' to quote Fred Simeone. Photo courtesy George Lymber.
Preserving History
By Eric Davison
It is hard to determine the ownership succession of a car like the BNC. We do know that Caswell bought it as a used car, after which he modified it and competed with it before it changed hands. To whom it went next is a mystery.
It was reportedly in the hands of Eric “Sonny” Grainger for a time. Grainger was the track announcer at the Islip, Long Island race track for a period and in 1955 was one of the founders of the Bridgehampton circuit.
The Brooklands windscreen with the Bridgehampton Paddock pass.
The next known owner was Chuck Molin, who purchased the car for himself after he graduated from high school. His affair with the BNC was short-lived and when he left home to seek his fortune the car was abandoned in the family garage. That was most likely around 1959.
John Gianella was a neighbor and while he didn’t know exactly what the car was, he knew it was a delightful little sports car that was stashed away. An inquiry to Molin’s mother revealed that yes, there was a car in the garage and “I think it might be a Bugatti!” While it surely wasn’t a Bugatti. it was most definitely a BNC with V8 60 power. In 1960 Gianella made a deal and became the next owner. Gianella kept the car for the next 48 years. He used it regularly and with enthusiasm for the first 10 of those years. 6
John Gianella with the BNC Ford at Bridgehampton in the early 1960s. Photo courtesy Tony Carroll.
There is still a sticker on the windshield that shows a Bridgehampton 1960 competitor’s credential. John Gianella was a regular participant at many events on the Eastern Seaboard. The BNC was back to being a sports car. Somewhere along the line, the spindly BNC wheels were replaced by what appears to be those from a Jaguar of the XK series. Someone, presumably Caswell, had replaced the cable-operated brakes with more substantial and effective hydraulics.
John Gianella checking tire pressure while getting the car ready to be passed on to its new caretaker. Photo by George Lymber.
In the early 70s Gianella’s interests took him in other directions and the little BNC occupied a space in his garage and like many old interests, it became an object of clutter. By 1990 the car was pretty well buried under boxes and other ‘stuff.’
The Ford V8 6O today. It is not running. Buy you know what? THAT'S OK! Photo by George Lymber.
George Lymber and John Gianella were friends, but George had no idea that John even owned the car or that there was a car buried in his garage until Gianella decided to relocate and George Lymber volunteered his help in the move to another home nearby on Long Island. Lymber, a VSCCA member, was thrilled with the find.
BNC instrument panel is full of later-era gauges. Note steering wheel mount. Photo by George Lymber.
Being a patient man, George never pressed his friend to sell the car but after seven or eight years in which the car continued to sit in its new location, it became apparent to Gianella that it was time to let it go.
Somewhere along the way the V8 received twin pipes, a very popular modification for V8s in the 1950. Photo by Goerge Lymber.
It was then, in 2008 that George Lymber became the latest owner of the BNC V8 60. In the time that Lymber his owned the car, he has not tried to restore it. It had been painted, the original radiator shell had been remounted and newer wire wheels had been mounted. There was not much else to do other than clean it up. While it does not yet run, it will soon.
It is his intention to bring it back to life as a “survivor,” a car to be savored for its patina and its unusual history. It is like a lady with a past, far more intriguing and interesting than the girls your mother would have preferred for you.
George Lymber stands next to the BNC before taking it home. Thankfully, Lymber will preserve rather than restore. Photo courtesy George Lymber.
It is also interesting that the little BNC never strayed far from home. It was in Philadelphia that Caswell and Linton started it on its way and since then it has never lived anywhere other than Long Island.
Lymber took the BNC to Watkins Glen in 2010 for a static appearance and enthusiasts did not have to be familiar with the car or its history to be charmed.
The Caswell BNC, still looking good 64 years after its 8th place finish at Watkins Glen, seen here at a car event on Long Island. Photo by George Lymber.
George Lymber is now the curator of a delightful part of automotive history and I hope that the car makes numerous appearances at suitable vintage events. It needs to be seen and George intends to keep it alive and to let enthusiasts savor its French savoir faire.
I have been told that there is another BNC residing somewhere in the US. For sure there is no BNC owner’s club. Perhaps somewhere among the readers of VeloceToday, there are other BNC owners or those with either photographs or remembrances of George Lymber’s car. If so, he would like to hear from them.
Footnote 6
Phone conversation with John Gianella, December 2011.
Our thanks to Eric Davison, Gijsbert-Paul Berk, Sandy Leith, Tony Carroll and of course George Lymber.
You can find more information on the website of the very active club,Amicale BNC.
Other useful websites:
http://www.laberezina.com/anciennes_voitures/A-L/bnc.htm
And
http://gtfrance.free.fr/bnc.html
There´s surely no BNC club in the US, but try http://www.amicale.bnc.freefr
I found a nice lttle French 2 seater in Alicante, Spain 3 years ago, which turned out to be a “Bitsa” with the front end of a BNC , Ruby engine etc. On close inspection, it was very badly executed, so the best thing was to sell the components to restoration projects. The BNC people were very helpful.
The BNC ran at Le Mans in the hands of a very butch French woman. Doug Nye did a very nice article on her in Motor Sport about 3 years ago. I don´t recall her name,but she was a bit of a monster, according to Nye.