Built by Craftsmen - Lanchester LD10 #L63579

Lanchester founded as the Lanchester Engine Company Ltd in 1899 by the Lanchester brothers Frederick, George and Frank who are credited with being the first British builders of a motor car, not a horseless carriage, in 1895 which ran on a public road in 1896. The brothers are also credited with being the original purveyors of disc brakes in 1902. Fredricks uncompromising attitude to mechanical perfection led Lanchester into financial difficulties and an eventual merger with the British Daimler Company in 1931.



The post war Lanchester LD10 was a compact companion to the Daimler range, like it's bigger Bretheren Lanchester's were built by craftsman at a time when most vehicles of this size were already much cheaper to build on assembly lines. Initially this model was available with a steel body by Briggs of Dagenham and later models like the one in these photographs with alloy body work by Barker.



This model is powered by a 4 cylinder 40hp overhead valve engine which transmits power to the rear wheels via a 4 speed preselector gearbox. This combination of engine and geabox was considered both reasonably powerful, with a 69 mph capability and exceptionally smooth for it's time. The engine number of this particular vehicle is #18557.



It is thought 3,030 examples of this model were built between 1946 and 1951. This particular vehicle, chassis L63579, was built in 1951.

With thanks to David Roots who invited me to the Classic and Sports Car Action Day at Castle Combe where these photographs were taken.

Thanks you for dropping in on today's 69 mph edition of "Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres" I hope you will join me again tomorrow ! Don't forget to come back now !

Classic and Sports Car Action Day - Castle Combe

On my way back from a couple of interviews at Sheffield Documentary Festival at the weekend I found time to accept a kind invitation from David Roots to pay a flying visit to Castle Combe for the Classic and Sports Car Action Day.



As I arrived out on the track caught a glimpse of a huge variety of vehicles ranging from a Wolsely Hornet to a gargantuan, by comparison, Ford Zodiac.



Since I was on a tight schedule I directed my attention to the even larger variety of vehicles in the car parks and paddock.



Many owners clubs were in attendance including the Ford Capri owners club who's members brought a fine variety of examples of 'The car you have always promised yourself', along to the show.



I do not remember the last time I saw a Hillman Avenger Tiger, let alone half a dozen of them !



In the running for most exotic cat at the track was this Jaguar XJ 220, first time I have seen one in the flesh.



Another model I do not recall seeing before is the Lanchester Ten.



Richard Edmonds were auctioning a selection of classic cars and commercial vehicles, including the Morris Van above, during the event, their tent was packed out with bargain hunters as I went past.



Unfortunately I did not get to hear or see this 350 CUI GTO in action complete with this cool bonnet mounted rev counter. 18 03 12, this car actually turned out to be a Pontiac LeMans Sport.



Among the interesting vehicles in the car park was this Rover V8 powered Reliant Scimitar, manufactured originally with a Ford V6.



This Alpine A110 1600 S built for competition was one of several vehicles present with an interesting history in rallying.



There was also an impressive collection of Triumphs on display almost every type of TR and a couple of Stags.

Looking forward to blogging about some of the 40 vehicles I saw in the coming weeks, my thanks to David Roots, who's Alfa powered Lenham I blogged several months ago, of the Bath & West Car Club for the invitation to attend.

Thanks for dropping in on today's Classic and Sports Car edition of 'Gettin' a lil' psycho on tyres', I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don't forget to come back now !

Lots of Red Cars - Haynes International Motor Museum

A couple of weekends ago I was in a bah humbug mood looking for something to do when a friend asked if I had ever been to the Haynes International Motor Museum, to which I had not and responded accordingly, before I knew it I was being whisked away towards Sparkford in deepest Somerset. The museum bills it's self as having the UK's largest collection of cars, numbering over 400, to which maybe added it probably has the largest collection of cars painted red ! John Haynes publisher of many DIY car repair manuals established the museum, which operates as an Educational Charitable Trust, in 1985. Apart from the accidental or otherwise concentration of red vehicles there are plenty of cars from all over the world some of which were models and or manufactures I had never heard of before. The vehicles are tightly packed at the moment, though unusually for a museum many, possibly even most, get a run round the museum grounds by the museum staff, while others can be hired for weddings and special occasions, a magnificent growling Viper got a quick blast round the museum while we were there. Plans are afoot to expand the museum is September this year and having managed to snap only 10% of the collection over the couple of hours of my visit I look forward to returning even with the building work underway, the ticket I purchased is valid for a year ! Look forward to sharing some of the stories behind these cars in future editions of 'Gettin' a little psycho on tyres', I hope you will join me again tomorrow for a trip to Silverstone. Don't forget to come back now !