Lanchester merged with Daimler in 1930, which led to a change of direction for the brand – from making big luxury cars to well-appointed small ones.
In many ways, the 1932-38 Lanchester 10 was one of the world’s first compact executive cars – an upmarket name attached to a small but beautifully made car.
This, then, is the precursor to the BMW 3-Series or Jaguar XE. Luxury in a compact package and far more technologically advanced than most small saloons of its era.
It was a pricey car when new, and is one of the most usable and versatile pre-war cars of today as a result.
There are invoices and receipts for work carried out in the mid-2010s to restore the Lanchester, which had previously not been on the road since before MOT tests were digitised in at least 2005.
They document lots of rare parts acquired through specialists, some of the parts for a full engine rebuild and some pieces of trim.
It may have been a small car but the Lanchester 10 was dripping with class – gorgeous steel-rimmed instruments, quality wood fixtures and ruched door pockets are among the upper-class accoutrements, while this one also comes with a full-length opening roof.
The Lanchester was sympathetically restored over a four-year period if the parts invoices are to be believed and the quality of the workmanship is immediately apparent.
All of the panels are straight and undamaged, the paint finish is lovely, the chrome and trim is all in excellent order.
The wire wheels are the same black as the lower body and are equipped with vintage-spec radial tyres, and the chassis appears to be in excellent condition. QVlzqrvV3kUhKwEk0z3nZsgdb5ognuPd9KwhiCS4.jpeg1.74 MB
THE MECHANICS
1,141cc OHV four
Will cruise at 60mph
Pre-select transmission
Floor start
The 1932 Lanchesters came with a new Daimler-derived engine – a 1.2-litre OHV four producing 34bhp. It was enough to give the car a respectable touring speed of just over 60mph.
It came with a Daimler fluid flywheel and Wilson four-speed pre-selector gearbox, a combination it shared with other Daimler and Lanchester models of the period.
It’s a set-up that takes some getting used to, but is gloriously intuitive once you get into the groove. See also the starting procedure, which requires careful balancing of the mixture and throttle position to coax it into life via its floor starter pedal.
This is a great example of a pre-war car that oozes charm and old-fashioned appeal while at the same time being a lot more usable in modern conditions than many of its contemporaries.
A small vintage car with stacks and stacks of class. It’s also in wonderful condition in every single respect.
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