Armstrong Siddeley 1919-1960 - success through partnerships and high standards
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Summary
There were around 10,000 car brands and designers - most of which have disappeared. One of these vanished brands is Armstrong Siddeley, on the market from 1919 to 1960. The Type 16 Lancaster models and the Sapphire series in particular are important contemporary witnesses. They even reached Rolls-Royce level, but the brand disappeared in 1960.
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W. G. Armstrong had manufactured cars under his name from 1902 to 1904, after which there was the Armstrong-Whitworth brand. In 1905, Colonel Siddeley succeeded Herbert Austin as chief engineer at Wolseley; this resulted in the Wolseley-Siddeley, then Siddeley and Siddeley-Deasy brands. Armstrong Siddeley was formed in 1919 through the merger of the Siddeley Deasy Motor Car Corporation with the engine division of Armstrong Whitworth & Co. The Hawker Siddeley Group was created in 1935 with the affiliation to Hawker Aircraft. Armstrong Siddeley in Coventry had already produced six-cylinder models in the 1920s. The company specialized in smaller to larger quality vehicles, even approaching the "Rolls-Royce level" with the 3.8-litre top models in the mid-thirties. Launched in 1945, the Type 16 Lancaster with a 2-liter six-cylinder engine was the first English post-war model - a six-window saloon. The range was soon supplemented by the Hurricane convertible and the Typhoon coupé (all type names of wartime aircraft). This was followed in 1952 by the Whitley saloon and the sweeping, angular Sapphire series on the tried-and-tested Underslung chassis frame. Alternatively, a more modern pontoon body with a traditional high radiator was available from 1955-57. The Sapphires were produced in many versions up to the 539 cm long representative saloon. Bristol Siddeley Engines Limited was formed in 1959; its unprofitable Motor Car Division was closed in 1960 (Bristol Siddeley went to the Rolls-Royce Group in 1966).
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