HvB Special rediscovered by builder's son

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The late Dutch racing enthusiast Han van der Blij had been building Specials since the early 1950s. From a Steyr based and Veritas bodied roadster to Formula Vee and Formula Ford single seaters and even a prestigious two-seater sports car destined for series production. Many of the HvB models used BMW power due to Van der Blij’s day job as a trained BMW mechanic at the Dutch concessionaire and many were raced in their heydays at the Zandvoort track. At least 12 HvB’s have stood the test of time, but one car that had been presumed missing was a GT.

In fact Van der Blij had built a series of two ultra low-slung gull-winged two-seater GTs in the mid- to late 1960s, one with BMW 1800 engine placed amidships and mated to a Hewland gearbox; the other with VW power at the back. Both used independent wheel suspension all-round, had their windscreens sourced from a BMW 700 and measured less than a meter in height.

Van der Blij’s son Hans had heard of the survival of one of the cars several years ago, but it was only recently that he actually saw it. It turned out to be the VW powered example, sans engine, which was in the possession of its current owner for five decades. This man, who wishes to remain anonymous, had bought the car in 1968 from the original owner: a member of the Dutch psychedelic rock band ‘Group 1850’ . According to Hans van der Blij the car is overdue for a major restoration but is mostly complete and fully original.

(Words Jeroen Booij, pictures Hans van der Blij)

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