The National Motor Museum Trust

Motor racing has, throughout its history, always been a relatively expensive pursuit. During the inter-war years, however, amateur enthusiasts could be found building hybrid sports cars for club and National competition. Often short of cash, they commonly chose simple chassis, a tuned motorcycle engine, and the minimum of bodywork.

Of all such specials built, John and Richard Bolster's Bloody Mary is probably the most famous. It had an ash frame, two JAP motorcycle engines, chain drive and weighed just 7 cwt. John Bolster, later a popular as a writer and broadcaster, drove Mary to great success in hill climbs and speed trials during the 1930s.