One car manufacturer, now long defunct, has always fascinated me with its boldly designed models for the well-heeled.
Armstrong-Siddeley was created in 1919 from Armstrong-Whitworth of Newcastle and Siddeley-Deasy of Coventry and started its run of amazing cars by announcing a five-litre 30hp luxury model. Despite the austerity of the times, this model continued in production until 1932.
By 1937 the company was producing a car that weighed nearly 2.5 tons (2,540kg).
It was powered by a 4.9-litre six-cylinder engine with a Hiduminium alloy block and head. Rolls-Royce had developed this alloy for its aero-engines and it was produced by the Siddeley subsidiary High Duty Alloys Ltd.
The saloon was priced at £950, while the limousine was sold for £1,360. The short chassis version could reach 90mph (145kph).
After the Second World War, the company shot into the fast lane of luxury. It was the first to introduce a new model after hostilities ended instead of simply reworking a pre-War model, as most other companies were doing.
The new models were the Lancaster four-door saloon, the Hurricane drop-head coupé and the Typhoon fixed-head coupé and the short-production Tempest.
Named after famous British aircraft of the War, these cars combined the best of traditional design with superb performance and looks. The beautifully crafted Sphynx mascot that always crowned the radiator became synonymous with quality.
From 1953 the elegant Sapphire took centre stage. It was a 3.5-litre six-cylinder saloon, and was available with a selection of transmissions.
Smaller versions of the Sapphire were produced in 1955, but were up against Jaguar in this market sector and the beautiful Sapphire and Star Sapphire were parked in the history books. Production ceased in 1960 when parent company Hawker Siddeley merged with Bristol.
I was lucky enough to be able to drive a Sapphire in my early days of motoring when a good-natured funeral director kindly allowed me to try out one of his limos to get the hang of the unusual pre-selector transmissions that were fitted to many of these cars.
I immediately took to the Sapphire. It was smoothness personified and could deliver the power when required. Another sad loss to the world of luxury motoring.
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