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The first cars of the Imperial car make came out in two models: a 3½hp single-cylinder Imperial vis-à-vis with the engine under the seat, and a 6hp 2-cylinder with a front-mounted engine, and four-seater tonneau body. Both Imperial cars had vertical water-cooled engines. Later the Imperial car firm sold 6hp single-cylinder cars of the Lacoste et Battmann Type, of which only the bodies were built in England.
Four models of the Imperial car were made, fitted with an opposed 2-cylinder, air-cooled engine. The drive system on these Imperial cars comprised a sliding-gear transmission and shaft to the rear axle. The steering column was hinged for ease of entrance to the driver’s seat. The Imperial cars were also known as Columbus or Rodgers.
This Imperial car was an electric landaulet powered by two 3hp motors mounted in the rear wheels. The Imperial car was unusual in having integral construction of body and chassis, and was lower in build than most electric town cars.
The Imperial Roadster, a four-seater, had a 4-cylinder Rutenber engine with dual ignition. This was water-cooled and had a capacity of 5.5-litres. A 3-speed transmission was used with shaft drive on the Imperial car. The chassis had a wheelbase of 9ft and the complete Imperial car weighed 2.400lb.
This Imperial car company seems to have specialized in touring cars, having five models in one year (1910). In 1914, four Imperial car chassis were offered with 4-cylinder engines of 4.9- and 5.2-litres, and 6-cylinder 5.7- and 7-litre units. The 44hp six Imperial car cost $2.000 in its five-seater touring car form.
This Imperial car is made by a firm of lighting engineers responsible for the illumination of the Olympia Motor Shows, the Imperial car was a simple cycle car powered by a Precision 8hp V-twin engine. Final drive of the Imperial car was by belt, and with standard equipment, the Imperial car sold for £100.
Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; GNG, GMN, MCS
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