Albion

GB, 1900 – 1913

Albion Motor Car Co Ltd, Scotstoun, Glasgow

Still active as a truck manufacturers within the Leyland Group, Albion was founded at the end of 1899 by T. Blackwood Murray and Norman Fulton, late of Arrol-Johnston and their early products were dogcarts with varnished-wood bodywork much in the Arrol-Johnston idiom, with 2-cylinder opposed-piston underfloor engines, low tension magneto ignition, and Murray’s patent governor. Wheel steering replaced the tiller in 1902, and a year later Albion began production of a 16hp vertical-twin which was made for many years, usually with solid tyres, and often with shooting-brake bodywork. ‘Cars for country houses’, especially Scottish ones, were a speciality of the house, though rather less rustic was a side-valve 5.6-litre chain-driven four introduced in 1906. This 24hp model had a seven-year production run. The last Albion passenger car was a 15hp Monobloc four with side valves in a T-head and worm drive, which sold for £475 in 1912. At the end of 1913 Albion elected to concentrade on commercial vehicles, though large shooting brakes using the 15hp engine continues to be made.

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

Ansaldo

Italy, 1919 – 1936

(1) SA Ansaldo Automobili, Turin, 1919 – 1932

(2) Construzione e Vendita Automobili Ansaldo, Turin, 1932 – 1934

(3) Ansaldo – Ceva SA, Turin, 1934 – 1936

One of Italy’s biggest engineering groups, Ansaldo turned their idle aero-engine works over to Ansaldo car manufacture in 1919, their Soria-designed range being intended for volume production in competition with FIAT. The advanced 4-cylinder ohc engines contrasted with the 3-speed gearboxes, central change, wooden wheels, and austere, Chevrolet-like tourer bodywork, but even the basic 1.847cc Ansaldo 4A car was capable of 55mph, and by 1922 it had been joined by the 2-litre Ansaldo 4CS car for sale that managed 70mph on an output of 48bhp. FIAT, however, were making five times as many cars. In 1923 there came both four-wheel brakes and a six, the 2-litre Ansaldo 6A car with coil ignition. In 1926 there was even a cheap Ansaldo car for sale with 1½-litre, the Ansaldo 10 car with transverse front suspension. The 1927 Ansaldo sixes had 2.2-litre engines and four forward speeds; the latter, long with coil ignition, were found on the bigger fours by 1928. Unfortunately Soria’s resignation in 1927 left Ansaldo with no new ideas, though his final efforts reached the market in 1929 and were the company’s staples after 1930. The Ansaldo 18 for sale was merely an enlarged 2.8-litre six, but the Ansaldo 22 car for sale, was a large and luxurious 3½-litre pushrod straight-8 on an 11ft 2in wheelbase, distinguished by its disc wheels with quick-detachable rims. These were a product of Ruotificio Italiano, an Ansaldo subsidiary. In 1932 the CEVA concern was organized to take over the stock of 400 unsold Ansaldo 18 and Ansaldo 22 chassis, and these were still available, with restyled body work, as late as 1936.

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