Lea-Francis 14hp Saloon

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Lea-Francis were an old-established and very successful Coventry firm producing high quality bicycles, branching out, as so many cycle makers did at the turn of the last Century, into the manufacture of horseless carriages.

After the Great War, the marque established itself with a line of cars that positioned the company at the forefront of the British sports car industry. Lea-Francis built on this reputation throughout the ‘20s and ‘30s leading to models such as the Hyper and the six-cylinder Ace of Spades.

Launched immediately post-war, the Lea-Francis 14hp Saloon was the most popular LeaF of all. Powered by a 1,767cc 4-cylinder engine with twin high-mounted camshafts, it initially delivered 65bhp, but was further developed in 1947 to give a healthy 70bhp. By 1949 the chassis had been fitted with independent front suspension to replace the old beam axle and hydro-mechanical brakes were used instead of the Girling rod brakes to ensure that the car stopped more efficiently.

Unusually for the immediate post-war period, the body retained traditional aluminium panels on an ash frame, the production of which was outsourced to local AP Aircraft Ltd who were looking around for work. The LeaF was happiest cruising at 60mph, though it could hit 75mph if required and did 25mpg on a run, but it impressed mainly due to the unfussy way in which it performed, thanks to the excellent torque and top gear performance. About 1,500 14hp Saloons were built by the time the last examples left the factory in 1954.

This 1951 model was acquired for the Stondon Collection in 1997. The document file includes a continuation buff log book which shows that it was a resident of Pembroke Dock in 1966, moving to Haverfordwest shortly after. A number of bills on file from AB Price Ltd (owner of the LeaF name today) dating from 1986 show that it had a set of new pistons fitted, the car having last been used on the road in 1994 when four new tyres were fitted for its MOT. A series of photocopied maintenance sheets and information on various Lea-Francis models will no doubt help its new owner with the recommissioning process now required.