Classic A.B.C. for sale - A.B.C. cars for sale

A.B.C.

US, 1906 – 1910

(1) Autobuggy Manufacturing Co, St Louis, Mo. 1906 – 1908

(2) A.B.C Motor Vehicle Manufacturing Co, St. Louis, Mo. 1908 - 1910

Originally known as the Autobuggy, this car was a typical high-wheel motor buggy whose excellent ground clearance made it popular in rural America. Powered by a 10/12hp 2-cylinder engine, it used a system of friction transmission by cone and two bevel wheels, one for forward movement, one for reverse. This gave a maximum speed of 30mph in either direction. Later models included more conventional roadsters with 2-or 4-cylinder air- or water-cooled engines. The company name was derived from the initials of the designer, A.B. Cole.

GB, 1920 – 1926

A.B.C. Motor Ltd, Hersham, Surrey

A.B.C engines for cyclecars (and also complete motorcycles) had been made before the war. The first production cars employed castings, stampings and forgings supplied by Harper Bean Ltd, and were fitted with a 24bhp air-cooled, flat-twin overhead-valve engine of 1.203cc designed by Granville Branshaw. Unfortunately this unit, built down to a cost, was noisy, hard to start, inefficiently lubricated and liable to breakages, especially of the very long, exposed push-rods. However, in conjunction with the car’s low weight, it made the A.B.C. exceptionally fast for its size, being capable of over 60mph with very good acceleration. The A.B.C. handled well, too. By 1925 the engine was quieter and more reliable, having been given more positive lubrication, and stronger valve gear and castings. One drawback remained; because the fuel tank filler was on top of the ‘radiator’, the tank was liable to be topped up with water by garage hands who did not recognize an air-cooled car. About 1500 A.B.C.’s were made. To the end, both electric starters and four wheel brakes were extra.

Source: Georgano Autoencyclopedie, GNG, TRN

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