The history of the Thomond motor car

by Mark Humphrys.

My grandfather Dick Humphreys was involved in the production of the "Thomond" car, of which four were built in Dublin between 1925 and 1933. There are no known remains of any today.

I have been researching the story since 1983.

Most of my Thomond research is still offline. I hope to get it onto this site eventually.

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Summary

James A. Jones set up a garage on Haddington Rd, Dublin.
Four cars were built by Jones and his mechanics.
The chief mechanic was Ben Parsons.
The four cars were as follows:

1. In 1925, Jones built his own car, Thomond no.1.

2. Dick Humphreys saw the car, and designed one of his own for Jones and Parsons to build.
   This was Thomond no.2 in 1929.

3. There was a Thomond no.3 saloon car in 1930.

4. Humphreys' car was rebuilt in 1933, and this seems to be Thomond no.4.

Thomond no.2, prob. early 1933, just before it was rebuilt as Thomond no.4.

The Thomond featured on an Irish postage stamp in 1989.
From here.

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References

• "The Thomond", Dick Humphreys, Motoring Life, no.170, vol.XIV, May 1963.

• Ireland's First Car, Mark Humphreys (later Humphrys), Irish Motor Sport Annual 1985, Jemma Publications Ltd, Dublin.

• Thomond Motor Car (letter), Mark Humphrys, Irish Times, 29 May 1989.

• Past Imperfect column on the Thomond, by Bob Montgomery, Irish Times, 23 Apr 2003.

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