Lanchester 10hp Drophead Coupe

The Lanchester brothers are some of motoring’s true greats. Their originality, design genius, dedication to quality and refinement has never been surpassed.

If they had a blind spot it was commercial acumen, putting their principals before the ever-changing market conditions. So when they launched their new range of six and eight-cylinder 21hp and 31hp models just before the Great Depression, it was not long before the bank came knocking. In 1930, with debts of over £38,000, the company was purchased lock, stock and barrel for just £26,000 by the BSA concern. They had already acquired Daimler and moved Lanchester production to the Daimler works in Coventry. The Lanchester brothers were kept on and oversaw the introduction of a new range of smaller cars, still of high quality but better suited to the prevailing market conditions.

At the bottom of their range, the 10hp was heavily based on the forthcoming BSA Ten. Using a Daimler fluid flywheel and Wilson pre-selector, coupled to a sweet running 1203cc ohv engine, the new car appealed to the genteel upper-middle classes thanks to its luxuriously appointed bodywork and smooth stately progress. By Lanchester standards it was a strong seller, with 12,250 finding buyers.

This 1933 example was driven by the proverbial 'old lady' until at the age of 88 she was forced to give up driving. It was then taken over by an elderly gentleman who finally passed it on to a friend in London in 2007. He used it sparingly before selling it to the vendor around 12 months ago.

Fitted from new with an attractive coachbuilt two-seater Drophead Coupe body with dickey by Martin Walter of Folkstone, by all accounts it has never been restored, even retaining its original hood and fold-out luggage/hamper rack. The vendor has had the wheels refurbished and fitted new tyres, stating that it “runs and drives nicely, with the gearbox working perfectly" and adds that an electric fuel pump has been fitted although the original is still in place.

In sound running and nicely patinated condition, this is a rare and attractive open coachbuilt example of this quality marque.