E.R.A.

GB, 1934 – 1952

(1) English Racing Automobiles Ltd, Bourne, Lincs., 1934 – 1945

(2) English Racing Automobiles Ltd, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, 1946 – 1952

The ERA was produced by Raymond Mays, Humphrey Cook and Peter Berthon as a challenger in the 1500cc racing class. The ERA used a conventional chassis, a 4-speed pre-selector gearbox and a highly-developed version of the blown 6-cylinder ohv Riley engine giving 165bhp. There were 1100cc and 2-litre power units as alternatives, and with the D-series Porsche trailing-arm independent front suspension was introduced. Only 16 ERA cars were made, but the ERA car dominated the voiturette class in the hands of such drivers as Mays, B. Bira, Seaman, Fairfield, Arthur Dobson and Earl Howe. Victories outside Britain included the Eifelrenne, the Coppa Acerbo, Berne and Masaryk in 1935; the Prince Rainier Cup and Albi in 1936; the Avus, Picardie, Albi and Berne in 1937; and Picardie again in 1938. The ERA cars also dominated British road racing in their day and Raymond Mays achieved numerous fastest times at Shelsley Walsh with his ERA 2-litre car. Fifteen ERA cars still survive and are prominent in ‘historic’ racing. A sports-car project in 1937 came to nothing, but a new ERA 240bhp short-stroke six, the E-type with torsion-bar independent front suspension, a De Dion rear axle, synchromesh gearbox and streamlined body, appeared in 1939.

After World War 2 Mays and Berthon worked on the BRM V16, while ERA, now under the control of Leslie Johnson, struggled on with the unsuccessful ERA E-types until 1949. The company assisted in the design of Jowett’s 1950 ‘Jupiter’ sports car, but their last racing machine, the ERA G-type, was designed for Formula 2, and had a 150bhp 6-cylinder Bristol engine and tubular frame to the designs of David Hodkin. This final ERA product was sold to Bristol’s for testing.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; MCS

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Haynes Apperson

US, 1898 – 1904

The Haynes Apperson Co, Kokomo, Ind.

Although Elwood Haynes had built his first car in 1894, none Haynes was made for sale until he joined forces with the Apperson brothers. By the end of 1898 Haynes-Apperson cars were being made in two-, four- and six-seater models, all powered by a rear-mounted horizontally-opposed 2-cylinder engine of 3.120cc. The Haynes Apperson car had three forward speeds, spur gear transmission, and tiller steering. For three years this design of the Haynes Apperson car was made without great change, although the straight dash gave way to a sloping version. In November 1901 the Appersons left the Haynes Apperson car firm to make cars under their own name, but the Haynes-Apperson name continued on the cars for nearly three years longer. By 1903 the left-hand tiller steering had been replaced by a wheel, but this was still mounted on the left side, an unusual feature at the time on American cars. On 1904 Haynes Apperson car models the engine was moved to the front under a conventional bonnet, although it was still a horizontally-opposed twin. Prices ranged from $1.450 for a two-seater runabout to $2.550 for a five-seater tonneau. From June 1904 the Haynes Apperson cars began to be referred to as Haynes, and the 1905 cars with vertical 4-cylinder engines were always known under this name. The Haynes Apperson car company name was not changed until September 1905.

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