In the years immediately following WWII, car manufacturers gradually began returning from munitions manufacture to building motor vehicles but, naturally, with a shortage of steel and petrol rationing, their focus was on building small economical saloons.

Consequently sports cars, in fact any vehicles of a sporting nature, were simply not available so, if you wanted one, you built it yourself from whatever pre-war bits you could find.

In this case, talented engineer Mr R.C.

Brookes and a 1934 Graham-Paige supercharged straight-eight saloon began a journey that would lead to the Brookes Special being first registered on 17th March 1949.

Rarely are the details of home built 'specials' recorded but in this case the story is well documented being featured in the Talking of Sports Cars series and The Enthusiasts Guide to Vintage Specials by John Bateman as well an article in The Autocar magazine of 31st August 1951 which makes interesting reading.

Apparently the entire project cost hi...