Collectors\' Motor Cars and Automobilia

MOTOR CARS | 151

The Gipsy Moth was the aircraft in which many of the great
aviation pioneers, Sir Francis Chichester and Amy Johnson
among them, made aeronautical history in the 1920s and
1930s. The Gipsy Moth, only a handful of which are still
airworthy, is considered by many to be superior and nicer to
Åy than its successor, the Tiger Moth.

Manufactured in 1933, G-ATBL was among the last of
the 595 built at Stag Lane and was delivered straight to
Switzerland where it remained until 195. The Gipsy Moth
was purchased and then Åown back to the <K, being kept for
many years as part of the Historic Aircraft Museum collection
in Southend, Essex.

Maintained beautifully over the years, this extremely original,
wooden fuselage, folding-wing DH0 has recently had a
significant amount of money spent on careful maintenance.

Specialists Vintage Engine Technology Ltd (Vintech) of

Bedfordshire rebuilt and installed a zero-hours De Havilland

Gipsy 1 air-cooled four-cylinder engine producing 100

horsepower, while a new Hoffman propeller (serial no. 023)

was fitted also. The Åying and landing wires were replaced,

and new tyres and a stainless exhaust fitted. Sensible

modifications included a new radio and Mode S transponder

which have been sympathetically installed" in addition to a skid

steer on the rudder, making taxing far easier.

With a recent Permit to Fly renewal, this is arguably one

of the most original and best condition Gipsy Moths in

existence. A detailed historic record accompanies the aircraft,

together with sundry receipts for maintenance works, and the

aforementioned Permit to Fly.

£90,000 - 125,000

€100,000 - 140,000