B.S.A.

GB, 1907 – 1926, 1933 – 1936

Birmingham Small Arms Co Ltd, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, Coventry

In 1907 the famous Midlands arms manufacturers began to make cars as a sideline. They were not entirely new to the field, having made parts for the Roots in 1897. Neither then nor later did they show much originality in their BSA cars. E.E. Baguley, formerly of Ryknield, was in charge, and later produced in 1908, a copy of the successful 40hp Itala from Italy. Other conventional, medium-sized BSA fours followed in small quantities. The major change that followed in 1911, after the company’s takeover of Daimler, was the adoption of Knight double sleeve-valve engines, as used by the latter concern, in BSA cars. These differed from Daimlers in being generally smaller and lighter. The first, the BSA Twelve of about two litres, weighed only 1.232lb in chassis form. Open bodies were of pressed steel from 1912: a single, important innovation that went largely unregarded. BSA also made the Stoneleigh, which was a BSA except for name and radiator, from then until 1914. It should nog be confused with the better-known Stoneleigh light car of the 1920s.
The first post-war BSA was a light car – an attempt to cash in on the boom in popular motoring, but superior to a great many. The BSA Ten of 1921 was powered by an air-cooled V-twin engine of modern design, with overhead valves, coil ignition, aluminium crankcase, and aluminium pistons in iron liners. This BSA developed 18bhp from a cubic capacity of 1080cc, and was made by Hotchkiss of Coventry. This power unit was smooth and though, like all of its kind, it was noisy, it was eventually made quieter by improvements. The rear axle of the BSA Ten with its underslung worm drive on Lanchester patents, was always silent. This uncharacteristic quality helped to sell the BSA Ten well until it was dropped in 1924. The next BSA’s were in fact small Daimlers, with 6-cylinder Knight double-sleeve-valve engines of under two litres. They were discontinued in 1926. From 1933 to 1936, this policy was resumed. In 1931, BSA had taken over Lanchester and introduced a line of completely new Lanchesters as cheap Daimlers. In turn, a still cheaper range christened BSA’s followed from 1933, consisting of a machine basically similar to the Lanchester: a BSA Ten but with a side-valve engine, and a BSA Light Six identical to its Lanchester opposite number. These BSA cars were made in the Daimler factory at Coventry. After 1936, no more cars came from the motor car division of BSA.

GB, 1929 – 1940

B.S.A. Cycles Ltd, Small Heath, Birmingham

In 1924 Hotchkiss, makers of proprietary engines for other car firms, were taken over by their main customer, William Morris. They had also made an excellent 1100cc, V-twin, air-cooled engine with overhead valves for the Birmingham Small Arms Company, for use in that company’s BSA light car (this engine also powered the short-lived Hotchkiss light car itself). BSA Cycles Ltd (the motor cycle division of BSA) acquired manufacturing rights in the engine to drive, in 1-litre form, the front wheels of a 3-wheeler of very modern conception with independent front suspension. This, the famous BSA Beeza, first appeared in 1929, ready for the 1930 season. In 1933 flexibility was added to the BSA’s virtues when a water-cooled 1100cc 4-cylinder sv engine became available. In the previous year, the BSA manufacturers had already tried to attract a wider market by adding a solid axle and another wheel at the rear. This became the BSA Nine in 1933. The front wheel drive BSA 4-wheeler was dropped for a season, but reappeared as the 9hp BSA Scout in 1935. From 1936 to 1940 the Scout in 1200cc BSA Ten form was the only BSA sold, the 2- and 4-cylinder 3-wheelers having been dropped in the former year. There was talk in the early 1950s of resuming production of a small BSA car with a 2-cylinder air-cooled engine, but it came to nothing.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; TRN
The information is written with the greatest of care. However, if you have any suggested amendments please contact us at office@prewarcar.com

Calthorpe

GB, 1904 – 1932

Calthorpe Motor Co Ltd, Birmingham

In 1904 G.W. Hands, a bicycle manufacturer, introduced the first Calthorpe car. It was a small, low-priced, 10hp 4-cylinder machine with shaft drive, continued as a Calthorpe 12/14hp. Bigger Calthorpe cars were made, of which the best-known was the Calthorpe 16/20, announced for 1907. The really large 28/40hp of that year was short-lived: light cars remained the Calthorpe company’s forte. Generally, they were powered by White & Poppe engines. Works teams of Calthorpe cars, based on the 12/14hp and its successor the Calthorpe 13.9hp, entered the Coupe de l’Auto races in France more consistently than any other British make, but with no success.
The car which made the Calthorpe firm’s name more than any other before World War 1 was the little Calthorpe Minor, a beautifully-made 10hp light car current from 1913 to 1915. Like all Calthorpe cars for sale, it was a conventional machine, with 4-cylinder side-valve engine and 3-speed gearbox. Hands left the Calthorpe company after the war to make the Hands light car, but the Calthorpe 10hp was continued. It was a notably good-looking and well-finished machine with a good performance, but the handsomest Calthorpe cars were its two- and four-seater sports variants, with polished aluminium bodies by Mulliner, a subsidiary company. Their alloy reciprocating parts were drilled for extra lightness and balance, permitting higher engine revolutions. These Calthorpe sports cars were good for over 60mph. A new Calthorpe for sale, the Calthorpe Twelve, followed in 1923, which was more refined but heavier and less attractive. An obscure Calthorpe 15hp six with overhead camshaft, which had been the last Hands model, was the company’s last new car. It was introduced in 1925, by which time G.W. Hands had returned to the firm. Very few Calthorpe cars were made after 1927, though motor cycle manufacture continued. The car factory was reopened in the same year as the Colmore Depot Ltd’s Morris service centre.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; TRN
The information is written with the greatest of care. However, if you have any suggested amendments please contact us at office@prewarcar.com