Armstrong-Siddeley Cars and Autos

The Armstrong-Siddeley motor car company
This section provides access to the cars and autos manufactured under the name of the Armstrong-Siddeley motor car company. An online guide for auto enthusiasts covering old and new cars and autos. If you like car talk then you will love this website! A free, online resource with facts and company information about the cars and autos made by the Armstrong-Siddeley motor car company.

History of Armstrong-Siddeley motor car company
Armstrong Siddeley was founded in 1919 with the amalgamation of Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth and Company and the Siddeley Deasy Motor Car Co. Ltd. The 30HP was the first model built and produced in 1919 and the first car to carry the Armstrong Siddeley name, followed by the sloping V radiator and the sphinx mascot that would become symbols of the marque. One journalist described an early Armstrong Siddeley "as silent and inscrutable as the sphinx", The description touched Colonel J D Siddeley so much it was to become his trade mark and he commissioned an artist to draw the sphinx from the base of Cleopatra's needle on the Thames Embankment, London.

Car production was small scale with between one and two thousand a year between the 1920's to 1930's with a range of models from a small 12hp family vehicle to a 5 litre Siddeley Special. During the Depression in 1932 sales rose due to the modestly priced small cars.

Armstrong Siddeley introduced a preselector semi automatic gear box in 1928 that would become associated with most models of marque.

A new British car with front suspension and advanced body design was produced after the Second Wold War. Design was slow with the first new models announced on the 11 May 1945. It took till 1946 for the first production to be built. Two litre 16HP engine cars were named after famous war time aircrafts built by the company, with the likes of the Hurricane, Lancaster and Typhoon. During 1949 to 1954 the cars were updated and used an improved 2.3 litre 18HP engine, while the Typhoon sports was replaced with the Whitley saloon. However the Mulliner bodied Lancaster ceased production in 1952.

Two commercial vehicles were also produced by the Armstrong Siddeley group. These were versions of the 18HP models being a utility coupe and a station coupe, boosting a short tray and an occasional bench seat behind the front seat in its extended cab. More than half of these vehicles were exported to Australia were a few survive having bin restored and cherished by there owners. Limousines with extended chassis and cabriolets were also produced. Very few two door Hurricane drop head coupes and two door Typhoon sports saloon's survive and these perhaps are the most interesting post war models.

1952 saw the introduction of the 3.4 litre Sapphire saloon witch went on sale in 1953. These engines were advanced in design with hemispherical combustion chambers and producing 120bhp witch was developed to produce 125bhp, and with twin carburettors 150bhp was produced. A genuine 100mph was possible from the twin carburettor Sapphire. The Sapphire had a choice of preselector and synchromesh gearboxes. In 1954 the Mark 2 was introduced with an automatic version available.

The discontinued 16/18HP cars were replaced in 1956 with a smaller 234 and 236 Sapphire models. An advanced 4 cylinder version of the Sapphire engine developing 120bhp powered the 234 Sapphire giving it outstanding performance and characteristics. The 18HP was redeveloped to produce 85bhp and used in the 236 Sapphire. Both models had a 4 speed synchromesh gearbox as standard with the option of a Laycock de Normanville overdrive. Manumatic clutches were fitted to many 236 Sapphires but these were not very popular due to there unusual body styling for there time and production stopped in 1958.

The opulent Star Sapphire replaced The Sapphire in 1958 and was one of the first British cars produced with front disc brakes. The Star Sapphire was the last car produced by the company and the last one left the work shop in July 1960. 

Timeline.

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What models and types of cars and automobiles does the Armstrong-Siddeley motor car company produce?
The models and types of cars and automobiles produced by the company include those detailed on the following list. Whether you enjoy comparing cars and autos, want to conduct some research before you buy a new car or a used car or finally an automobile enthusiast who loves fast, cool, new, old, vintage, classic, antique, sports, top, muscle or exotic cars we have the info you are searching for! Select the automobile you are interested in and click the link for access to an online overview of this Armstrong-Siddeley vehicle with car guides, online facts, information, statistics, specs, specifications, design details and ratings of cars and autos.