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Lot: 812
1952 Armstrong Siddeley Whitley Saloon

Registration No. MCD 336
Chassis No. 1812676
Engine No. 1812682
Estimate: £5,500-£7,500

Production of aero engines kept Armstrong Siddeley Motors busy during the Second World War, and in 1945 the factory was keen to put into production a postwar range of their “cars of aircraft quality”. As early as January 1943 the design of the new cars was sanctioned, and by 1944 prototypes of the 16hp range appeared, all celebrating the Hawker Siddeley Aviation Companies aero engines and bearing the names of famous aircraft; the first 12 models were delivered during December 1945. The chassis was of massive construction as befits a car intended for export to the colonies, and had a large central cruciform, with box section front and rear chassis rails, and was designed to incorporate independant front suspension by torsion bar. Rear suspension was by conventional leaf springs, steering was Burman worm and nut type, and brakes were Girling hydraulic at the front and rod operated mechanical at the rear, giving a failsafe option if the hydraulics failed. The engine, a 2 litre 16 hp at first, and later as in this car a 2.3 litre 18hp unit was a 6 cylinder ohv with a Westlake designed head employing hydraulic tappets. Wilson preselect gearboxes were usually fitted, but this example has the desirable four-speed manual box with synchromesh on top, third and second.

The new cars all shared a family resemblance, the radiator grille and front end being very attractively styled in the art-deco manner. Coachwork of all the standard designs was produced in-house by Burlingham, but several outside coachbuilders produced their own versions. Introduced in 1950 and produced in 4 and 6 light versions, the Whitley was an improved update of the original Lancaster, the chief advances being in the construction of the body frame with timber used only in the turret area, the wheelarches being of box-section steel and aluminium castings, with steel and aluminium windscreen and door pillars, all contributing to an immensely strong and rigid body. Indeed this car, after 57 years service has doors and boot lid which are entirely free from “sag” and fit as well as when they were new.

First registered in Brighton in 1952 this exceptional 18hp 6 light manual saloon is believed to have covered only 47,000 in its sixty years on the road. It is carefully used and well maintained by its owner and the car has a current V5c and MoT certificate. Mechanically the car is excellent, with a very smooth engine and gearbox and a delightful exhaust note. The body and interior are also in super condition, and with a very small amount of attention the car could easily be a concours contender.