Star 14/40 Coupe

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Founded by the Lisle family of Wolverhampton in 1898, the Star Motor Company is largely forgotten today but was a major force in the British car industry before the First World War with more than 30 different models on offer with engines ranging from 6hp to 40hp.

In 1914, Star was the sixth largest manufacturer of cars in the UK, producing 1,000 cars per year as well as numerous commercial vehicles, all being turned out of their traditional Wolverhampton factory, with virtually every component, including the bodies, being made in-house.

Rugged and well-made, the cars were particularly successful in the Colonial markets and won many reliability trials and hill climbs in South Africa and New Zealand. During WW1, production focused on a range of commercial vehicles for the war effort, civilian car production resuming in 1919 with the continuation of their more successful pre-war models.

The cars developed, gaining overhead valves and much improved braking, production once again rising to over 1,000 cars per year. Edward Lisle shunned the concept of mass production, stating that "I would rather produce one good car per day than commit us to mass production", a misjudgment that was to cost him dearly over the next decade.

The firm was sold to Sydney Guy in 1928, a year after this fine example left the Wolverhampton works, production of all these fine cars coming to an end in 1933 – Stars were simply too expensive to make in an era which favored the mass-produced economy car.

Their midrange offering, the excellent 14/40 was made from 1926 to 1932 and was powered by a 2,121cc overhead valve 4-cylinder engine mated to a 3-speed gearbox. Extremely well-built, it was also notably smooth and flexible thanks to a massive crankshaft running in five main bearings.

First registered in March 1927, this magnificent Star 14/40 was first owned by a Percy Wootton of Shere, Surrey, as the original buff log book confirms. Not much is known about the subsequent history of the car until 2001 when it was acquired by the previous owner who treated it to a total nut-and-bolt rebuild which was to take some eight years to complete. As you can see, the results are truly spectacular and the car simply oozes quality from the sumptuous button leather interior to the whisper-quiet engine.

The restoration is extensively recorded on photographs but there are no bills on file as he did not wish to count the cost of the exercise which was undertaken for love, not profit. You can safely assume that the cost exceeded the catalogue estimate by a very large margin!

The current owner has enjoyed using the car very much, keeping it in superb condition yet giving it plenty of regular exercise. He assures us that it has very good performance for a car of this era, is easy to manage and covers long distances with ease. His research into the model has revealed that the only other Star 14/40 thought to exist by the Star Register may well have been destroyed in an Australian bush fire some years ago, although even if this is not the case, you are unlikely to come across another any time soon.

The vendor has recently concluded that he must reduce the size of his collection and has reluctantly earmarked this beautiful example as one of the cars that needs a new home. A top quality machine in beautifully restored condition, opportunities like this don't come along every day.