The English Racing Automobiles (ERA) was a British racing car manufacturer from 1933 to 1954 and raced competitively at the highest level of motor racing during that time, producing a total of twenty cars.

This R8B/C is a single seater racer built for Francis Curzon, the Fifth Earl Howe. It was produced in 1936 to ‘type B’ specification but was rebuilt two years later using the frame of R4C, taking it to ‘type C’ specification. This is the only original ‘type C’ vehicle. 

The R8C has competed in many races from 1936 to 2002, including finishing in first place when it was driven by Earl Howe at the 1938 South Africa Grand Prix. After his ownership, it was sold to famous British racing driver Reg Parnell and after changing hands many times through the mid-twentieth century, it entered the Spollon collection.

Following its restoration in 1977, the car was returned to its original format. It went on to compete once again and in 1985 took the record for a pre-war car at the Shelsey Walsh Hill Climb.