Straker-Squire

GB, 1906 – 1926

(1) S. Straker & Squire Ltd, Fishponds, Bristol, 1906 – 1918

(2) Straker-Squire Ltd, Edmonton, London N., 1918 – 1926

The first road vehicles of Sidney straker and L.R.L. Squire were steam wagons, made from 1901, followed by petrol buses. During 1906 Straker acquired the licence to make the Cornilleau-Ste Beuve car from France as the 25hp Straker-Squire- CSB. By mid-1907 a straightforward four Straker Squire car of 16/20hp was being offered under the name of Straker Squire cars. Late that year, a smaller 12/14hp Straker Squire car was added. It was the Straker Squire car company’s first wholly home-grown model, and was at first called a Shamrock, not a Straker-Squire car. The best-known of the pre-World War 1 Straker-Squire cars was certainly the 15hp Straker Squire car of 1910 – 1914, a sporting 3-litre with a 4-cylinder, sv engine and an excellent performance, this Straker Squire car was designed by AHR Fedden. In 1919 a completely new and in some respects very modern Straker Squire car was announced. This Straker Squire car was also a 6-cylinder machine with a capacity of 4-litres, still designated the 20/25hp, but this Straker Squire car had a single overhead camshaft and aluminium pistons, and to ease manufacturing problems, its cylinders were separately cast. The valve gear of the Straker Squire car was exposed. The whole unit of the Straker Squire car resembled the Rolls-Royce Eagle aero engine the Straker Squire car company had made during World War 1. In spite of an old-fashioned appearance, this was a powerful, if noisy engine that gave the Straker Squire car an 80mph performance. Brakes and steering of this Straker Squire car were suitably good. Unfortunately, even when the Straker Squire car went into production in 1921, as the 24/90hp, very few of these Straker Squire cars were made. The pre-war 15hp Straker Squire car was resurrected, and for 1923, a dull little light Straker Squire car with a 1½-litre ohv Dorman engine was added. By 1926 only the 24/90 and the light car remained, both Straker Squire cars came with hydraulic 4-wheel brakes.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; TRN  

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American Austin (Bantam)

US, 1930 – 1941

(1) American Austin Co Inc, Butler, Pa. 1930 – 1934

(2) American Bantam Car Co, Butler, Pa. 1935 – 1941

This was a license-produced Austin Seven with mirror-image engine. Chevrolet-like styling, and fixed disc wheels with detachable rims, selling in sedan form at $445. Unfortunately Americans have never been keen on sub-compacts, and rumoured orders for 180.000 American Austin cars boiled down to a trickle of sales. The make’s first year was its best, and even then only 8.558 American Austin cars were sold. There were receiverships in 1932 and 1934, and no car at all were produced in 1935 or 1936. In 1937 the American Austin was renamed the Bantam, with styling by Alexis de Sakhnoffski, a new horizontal-barred grille, pressure lubrication, mechanical pump feed, and synchromesh. The 1940 Bantam models had enlarged 800cc engines with 3-bearing crankshafts, and the range now included a four-seater convertible as well as roadsters, tourings, station wagons and light commercials, but few found buyers. In the same year the Bantam company produced the first successful Jeep prototype with 4-cylinder Continental engine for the US Army. Though the big contracts went to Willys and Ford, Bantam not only rescued themselves but abandoned car manufacture for good.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; MCS

The information is written with the greatest of care. However, if you have any suggested amendments please contact us at office@prewarcar.com