Vscc Bulletin Crossword 51

[DGR]

I am stuck on two clues and none of the reference books I have looked at help.
18 across reads "Lyons car but not from Sir William". I have D?R???T and imagine it might be a car made in Lyon. Could it be a French Darmont? I cannot find out where Damont (cycle cars) were made in France.
15 down (i.e. same corner) is "Mid-Atlantic 1930s car alnost on trial in Surrey. I have R???T?N which would be R?O?T?N if the answer to 18 across is indeed Darmont. Any suggestions would be most welcome.

[slaney]

15d Railton?
..http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railton_(car)

[scorpiojo]

2 Railton light sports cars were produced in 1935

[slaney]

Correct link

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railton_(car)

[frugalfred]

This will help with the "Sir William" bit.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lyons

[frugalfred]

Darmont had a factory in a Paris suburb where Darmont-Morgans were built.
http://morgan3w.de/darmont/darmont.htm

[emeritus]

Darl'mat ?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darl%27mat

[DGR]

Many thanks for all the suggestions. I should have guessed "Railton" for 13 down, but nor only did I read the clue incorrectly (I was thinking in terms of mid-American rather than Mid-Atlantic) but I should have spotted that "on trial was an anagram for Railton.
This still leaves 18 across. Unfortunately it cannot be "Darl'mat" Emeritus since the 4th letter has to be I (the "I" coming from 15 down "Railton". I am pretty sure the answer to 18 across has to be "D?R?I?T. Perhaps for once the compiler has made a mistake!

[slaney]

How sure are you of your D?
Berliet would seem to fit..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berliet

[DGR]

Hello Slaney.
The "D" might be wrong. It come from 4 down "Beatrix Potter pulls rabbit out of hat for French light car". I guessed that that might give "BENJAMIN (Beatrix Potter's rabbit's name) DERBY (the hat) - the "D" of DERBY giving the "D" of 18 across.
BENJAMIN was certainly a French light car, as I think was DERBY, but I am not sure if there was ever a BENJAMIN-DERBY. Can you think of an alternative for "DERBY"? It would need to be B?R?Y. Could it be "BERET"? That sounds appropriate as it is a French hat.

[Baldric]

A Bédélia won the 1913 Cyclecar Grand Prix held at Amiens.[2] A Morgan came in first, Morgan enthusiasts have claimed it as a win to the present day and it was largely on publicity from this success that Morgan broke into the French market, resulting in the creation of the Darmont company
Manufacturing rights were obtained by a dealer, a Monsieur Binet in 1920 and he had an updated version of the cars made for him by Mahieux of Levallois-Perret, Seine.

[slaney]

Hi DGR -the only French manufacturer that I can find that comes close is Barré.
Not sure how that would fit with the rabbit (Peter Benjamin etc.) being pulled out of hat though. I'll give it some more thought...

[DGR]

I've pretty well given up on this one! Nothing seems to fit. The answers will be published when the Autumn Bulletin come out in a few weeks time and I will post the official answer to 8 across when I can confirm what it is. I am looking forward to seeing it!
Meanwhile, thanks again for all the suggestions.