Lot Ended
Description
One of only a small number
of these handsome post-war saloons believed to remain on the road; starting
driving and stopping while being on site; The odometer currently reads 73,302
miles, although this cannot be verified with complete certainty; Wilson
pre-selector transmission
First registered in 1947, this
fascinating Armstrong-Siddeley Lancaster is one of only a small number of these
handsome post-war saloons believed to remain on the road today. Powered by a
1,991cc straight-six overhead-valve engine producing approximately 70bhp and
coupled to Armstrong-Siddeley's Wilson four-speed pre-selector gearbox, it
represents an interesting and highly engineered chapter in Britain's post-war
motoring history.
The Lancaster was aimed
squarely at the conservative, quality-conscious British and Empire markets and
was launched by Armstrong-Siddeley at the end of the Second World War. This
particular example, GDG 384, was delivered to its first owner in June 1947,
following a two-year delay. It subsequently passed to his son, who retained the
car until 2004, an extraordinary 57 years, during which time a major restoration
was undertaken between 1992 and 1996.
The Lancaster is a four-door,
six-light saloon with steel, wood and aluminium coachwork by Mulliners of
Birmingham and features a sunshine roof. Particularly noteworthy is the original
expensive cloth rear seating, complemented by leather front seats intended for
the chauffeur. Other interesting features include the onboard jacking system,
independent front torsion-bar suspension and 12-inch drum brakes with hydraulic
front and rod-and-cable rear operation.
A second family carried out
further work between 2004 and 2011, with over £2,500 spent on parts purchased
from the Armstrong-Siddeley stores alone. The car was subsequently kept in a
museum in Devon before passing through a brief further ownership and into the
hands of the current vendor in 2018.
More recently, the engine has
been removed, inspected and renovated where necessary, with all the hydraulic
tappets replaced. The vendor reports that following this work the Lancaster now
runs splendidly. The car was running and driving while with us for photography
and a short video.
The accompanying history is
particularly impressive and is presented in a 100-page archive book containing a
substantial collection of invoices, documents, descriptions of work carried out
and other historical material. This provides a fascinating insight into the
car's long ownership history and extensive restoration and
maintenance.
The odometer currently reads
73,302 miles, although this cannot be verified with complete
certainty.
With its imposing post-war
styling, unusual Wilson pre-selector transmission, coachbuilt Mulliners body and
remarkable history of long-term ownership and restoration, GDG 384 is a highly
individual and increasingly rare survivor. An excellent opportunity to acquire a
genuinely historic British luxury saloon with an extensive archive and plenty of
character.
Contact james.booth@brightwells.com