1952 Armstrong Siddeley Lancaster

The Armstrong Siddeley Lancaster was a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, four-door five-seater saloon. It was made between 1945 and 1952.

On 9th May 1945 – just 24 hours after VE Day – Armstrong Siddeley announced its new peacetime line-up and the Lancaster was to be its first post-war saloon. Its engine may have been from the 1930s 16 model but in other respects, the motoring press approvingly noted how the Armstrong Siddeley Lancaster was not a warmed-over pre-war design but a fresh product. The body consisted of aluminium and steel panels fitted over a wooden frame and was built for Armstrong Siddeley by Mulliners of Birmingham.

This coachwork was mounted on a separate chassis with a front box section, a central cruciform, and rear chassis rails and steering was worm and nut. There were independent front torsion bars (a first for Armstrong Siddeley) and rear semi-elliptic leaf springs with Luvax-Girling shock absorbers. The brakes were of the hydro-mech system – front hydraulic and rear mechanical and the standard equipment included a sliding roof, a heater, deep pile carpets and leather upholstery.

In September 1949, the Armstrong Siddeley Lancaster received a larger engine. Production continued until late 1952.

The engines for the Armstrong Siddeley Lancaster were either a 1,991 S6 OHV or a 2,309cc S6 OHV unit, both with a single Stromberg carburettor. The transmission choices were either a Wilson pre-selector gearbox with a steering column lever or a four-speed all synchromesh manual box.

The Lancaster has no pretensions at being a sporting car, although the later 2.3-litre was slightly better in that regard. Its raison d'être was to provide comfortable and well-appointed transport with an innate dignity. Some owners prefer the manual transmission to the pre-selector box and all Lancasters benefit from a smooth ride and the famed Armstrong Siddeley engineering that make them so easy to drive.

Of the 3,597 Lancasters made by Armstrong Siddeley, many were sent for export and one issue facing the potential owner is that of corrosion; the chassis, wings, door bottoms and boot lid should be very carefully inspected, as should the timber framing. The owners’ club has an excellent spares backup.

Competitors for the Armstrong Siddeley Lancaster include the AC 2 Litre, the Alvis TA14, the Lea Francis 18, the Jaguar Mk V, the Lagonda 2.6-Litre, the Riley RMB, and the Triumph 1800 Town & Country Saloon/Renown.