Lanchester 10

Lanchester 10 (1900–1904)

Lanchester 10 (1900–1904)
Overview
Manufacturer	Lanchester Motor Company
Production	1900–1904
Designer	Frederick Lanchester
Body and chassis
Body style	as arranged with body builder by customer
Powertrain
Engine	4,033 cc twin cylinder air cooled
Dimensions
Wheelbase	93 in (2,400 mm)

The Lanchester Ten was the first production car offered for sale by the Lanchester Motor Company. It was designed by the eldest of the three Lanchester brothers, while the third brother, George, took responsibility for designing the production processes.

The name referred to the car’s fiscal horsepower which was a function of the cylinder diameter. Fiscal horsepower was used in the UK, as in other European countries, by government to determine how much tax they would levy on the cars’ owners. It was differently defined in each country: the common feature was that there was no arithmetical correlation between tax horse power and actual horse power. However, during the first decade of the 20th century, tax horse power values and actual power outputs were not as far apart as they became in subsequent decades, after manufacturers discovered ways to make engines more efficient.

Fiscal horsepower categories were used to name cars in many parts of Europe until well into the 1950s, and they effectively defined the class within which the car competed. Thus a Lanchester Ten from the 1950s was approximately the same size as the Ford Ten, the Morris Ten, the Standard Ten and a plethora of cars from other manufacturers carrying the "Ten" name during the same period.

Lanchester 10 (1933–1936)

Lanchester 10 (1933–1936)
Overview
Manufacturer	Lanchester Motor Company
Production	1933–1936 approx 12,250 units
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door saloon
Powertrain
Engine	1,203 cc four cylinder overhead valve water cooled 1933 – 1936 1203 cc 1,444 cc four cylinder overhead valve water cooled 1936
Dimensions
Wheelbase	102.5 in (2,600 mm)
Length	157.5 in (4,000 mm)
Width	57.75 in (1,467 mm)

By the 1930s, Lanchester had been taken over by BSA and its range had been merged with those of BSA and its Daimler brand. The Lanchester Ten that appeared in 1933 was based on the BSA 10. It incorporated a fluid flywheel and, initially, hydraulic brakes.

This was one of the smallest Lanchesters ever produced. It was also the one produced in the greatest numbers, with approximately 12,250 sold.

Lanchester 10 (1946–1951)

Lanchester 10 (1946–1951)
Overview
Manufacturer	Lanchester Motor Company
Production	1946–1951 approx 3,030 units
Powertrain
Engine	1,287 cc four cylinder overhead valve water cooled
Transmission	4-speed with preselector
Dimensions
Length	159 in (4,000 mm)
Width	63 in (1,600 mm)
Height	58 in (1,500 mm)
Chronology
Successor	Lanchester Leda

The Lanchester Ten, known as the LD10 produced after the Second World War, was presented as a compact companion model to the Daimler range, being “craftsman built” and among the smallest ever volume-produced cars from the firm. Initially produced with a steel six light body by Briggs of Dagenham, later models were fitted with coachbuilt Barker alloy bodywork. Other body variations included an Abbott-bodied DHC and Hooper bodied van.

The four cylinder ohv engine had an RAC rating of 10hp and a claimed power output of 40 bhp at 4,200 rpm. This was teamed up with an epicyclic preselector 4-speed gear box. Stopping power came from Girling mechanical brakes.

The car was believed to be exceptionally smooth in operation, with reasonable performance for its time.