Jack Davey was an Australian radio and television personality from the early
1930s into the late 1950s. For most of his life he was involved with cars, so when the
first Redex Reliability Trial (a round-Australia rally) was announced, he was one of the
first to enter. With co-driver Lou Moss, he took a Ford Customline on the marathon in 1953
and participated in the second Redex Trial in 1954. However in 1955 after Davey's doctors
barred him from participating in the Redex Trial, because of concerns about his health,
he consoled himself with the purchase of a Swallow Doretti.
Swallow Doretti - Chassis No.1273 was, "an attractive looking sports car in pale blue,
with darker blue upholstery and white saddle stitching to set it off. Although not the
fastest, nor the most expensive car Davey ever owned, it became one of his favourite cars."
According to Lew Wright his biographer, the car was,"as docile as a lamb in traffic, and
completely without tricks at 100 mph, the Doretti was a car he could lend to friends
without fear of mishap".
Photo: Polkinghorne & Stevens, courtesy M.B.S
Jack Davey also bought a second-hand, blue and white Austin-Healey 100S, AHS 3905 early in 1956, just for the enjoyment of driving a fast car. When the car was sold the new owner immediately had it painted and trimmed in BRG. Another fast sports car owned by Davey for a little while, was a D-type Jaguar XKD-520. The car was bought by AMPOL early in 1957 from John Crouch on behalf of Jack Davey for £5250. After delivery the car was left in the care of Bill Murray to prepare for the 1957 Ampol Trial, including a repaint in bright red and the addition of a screen on the passenger's side. Unfortunately while driving the Jaguar to the start of the event, Murray lost control at high speed and crashed into an articulated lorry. Both the D-type and Murray were badly damaged in the accident and even after a long recovery process Murray had ongoing health problems. The car was written off for insurance purposes and the wreckage sold to Frank Gardner who rebuilt XKD-520 with body repairs carried out by Alan Standfield
....Info & Photo: Lew Wright