Star

GB, 1898 – 1932

Star/ Starling/ Stuart

(1) Star Motor Co, Wolverhampton, Staffs., 1898 – 1902

(2) Star Engineering Co, Wolverhampton, Staffs., 1902 – 1909

(3) Star Cycle Co, Wolverhampton, Staffs., 1905 – 1909

(4) Star Engineering Co Ltd, Wolverhampton, Staffs., 1909 – 1928

(5) Star Motor Co Ltd, Wolverhampton, Staffs., 1928 – 1932

Edward Lisle Sr’s Star Motor Co, an offshoot of the Star Cycle Co, produced its first Star car in 1898, and offered the Star car for sale in the following year. The Star car was a Benz-based machine, with a single-cylinder, water-cooled 3½hp engine, belt primary drive and chain final drive. It was an improvement in that water circulation on the Star car was assisted by a pump. In 1900 there followed a 2-cylinder Star car with 3 forward speeds, still on Benz lines. 1901 brougth De Dion-engined single-cylinder Star cars, and 1902 an 8hp twin of Panhard type in addition. Other, larger Star cars of Panhard ancestry joined the 8hp, up to a 20hp four Star car. By 1904, although a De Dion-powered single and Panhard-type twin were still there, the bigger machines were of Mercédès pattern, these Star cars came with honeycomb radiators, mechanically-operated inlet valves and pressed-steel frames. All veteran Star cars up to 1914 were extremely well-made, well-furnished, conventional, rather expensive cars lacking in technical originality, showing a line of development appearance in the 1907 range. The best-known Star car of the veteran period was the excellent 15hp Star car of 1909, a shaft-driven 2.8-litre four which had become the 3-litre 15.9hp by 1914. A great variety of other Star cars, basically similar models were turned out, not only by Star but also by the Star Cycle Co. The latter, run by Edward Lisle Jr, had made motor tricycles and bicycles, and produced the Starling car in 1905. It had 2 forward speeds and a De Dion single-cylinder engine, but was otherwise of Panhard type, with armoured wood frame and chain drive. One year later the Star car company supplemented it with the more modern Stuart car, which had 2-cylinders, 3-speeds and shaft drive. This name was dropped in 1908, all models being called Starlings, but these too, disappeared in 1909 when Star cars cheaper line was entrusted to the new Brion Motor Co, a more indepented concern that was still run by Edward Lisle Jr. So popular was the Star car that its makers were among the six largest in the country before 1914.

The 15.9hp Star car was continued after World War 1, together with another sv four Star car of pre-war origin, the 20hp Star car of 3.8-litres. A modern light Star car of fashionable type, the 11.9hp, arrived in 1921. This Star car used a 1.795cc sv engine with a detachable head, made in unit with a 3-speed gearbox which had central change. By 1924, the 11.9 Star car had grown up into the 2-litre 12/25hp Star car. It shared cylinder dimensions with the 18hp Star car, which was a new 3-litre six. The 12/25 Star car could be had as a very fine fast touring car with overhead valves and 54bhp, in which form the Star car was called 12/40hp. Thereafter, the Star car range reverted to its pre-war complexity. By 1927, there were three sv Star car models and two additional and more up-to-date Star cars with overhead valves. The 14/40hp Star car, new in 1926, was a solid 2-litre, ohv machine which in spite of having only 4-cylinders and 3 forward speeds, this Star car was a notably smooth and flexible car, thanks to a 5-bearing crankshaft. The ohv 20/60hp Star car, a 2½-litre six with the same bore and stroke as the 14/40 and a 7-bearing crankshaft, was the most luxurious Star car. A light six, the popular ohv 18/50hp, joined the Star car range in 1928, the year of the Star car company’s acquisition by Guy, and replaced the 14/40 Star car for 1929. By this time, the sv Star cars had gone, leaving the two sixes. As the 18hp Star Comet and the 21hp Star Planet, these Star cars were revised with handsome bodies and very full, luxurious equipment, including one-shot chassis lubrication, thermostatically-controlled radiator shutters and a built-in jacking system. Two other engines, of 14hp (2-litres) and 24hp (3.6-litres) were also obtainable in Star cars for 1932, as alternative Comet and Planet power units. These Star car were the last new Star cars, for they were too expensive to make, and the times favoured the mass-produced economy car. Production of Star cars ended in March 1932, but the unsold stock was sold by McKenzie and Denley of Birmingham, and the Star car was quoted in the Buyer’s Guide lists until 1935.

US, 1903 – 1904

(1) Star Automobile Co, Cleveland, Ohio

(2) H.S. Moore, Cleveland, Ohio

This Star car was driven by a single-cylinder, watercooled engine of 1.9-litres, mounted beneath the front seat, with false bonnet and coil radiator in front. A champion planetary transmission and double chain drive was used on this Star car. Both two- and five-seater Star cars were made, the latter with rear entrance.

US, 1908

Star Automobile Co, Chicago, Ill.

Star runabouts were offered in three models, selling for $500, $600 and $700 respectively. The smallest Star car was an open two-seater, and shaft drive was employed on all Star cars.

US, 1908

Model Automobile Co, Peru, Ind.

The short-lived Star car from Peru was offered in conventional 2- and 4-cylinder forms. The twin was chain-driven, while the big, expensive four Star car ($4.000) had shaft drive.

US, 1922 – 1928

Durant Motor Co of New Jersey, Elizabeth, N.J.; Lansing, Mich; Oakland, Calif.

William Crapo Durant’s Star Four was one of the most serious attempts to take away some of the Model T Ford’s market, for the cheapest practical car. Unlike the Ford, the Star car was an assembled machine.The Star car had a 2.2-litre, 4-cylinder engine by Continental, and was conventional in design in every way except the gearbox, which was separate; a feature common to all the vehicles in Durant’s empire, but very unusual in American mass-produced cars by the early 1920s. The touring Star car cost only $443 in 1923, which helped Star to be the seventh biggest seller in America that year. The Star car was sold outside the United States as the Rugby. In 1926, a 2.8-litre six Star car was introduced. Front wheel brakes appeared in 1927 but a year later the Star car make disappeared in the collapse of the Durant interests. By this time, 250 Star cars a day were being turned out. Only the Four was still called the Star car for the 1928 model year, as the Six was now known as the Durant Model 55.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; TRN, GMN, MJWW, TRN

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

Steyr

Austria, 1920 – 1940, 1953 to date

(1) Österreichische Waffenfabriks-Gesellschaft AG, Steyr, 1920 – 1926

(2) Steyr-Werke AG, Steyr, 1926 – 1935

(3) Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, Steyr, 1935 – 1940

(4) Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG, Graz, 1953 to date

As an arms factory Steyr had to look for new employment after World War 1 and put into effect an earlier plan for starting Steyr car production. In 1920 their first Steyr car model appeared under the name of Waffenauto, designed by the famous Hans Ledwinka. This Steyr car had a 6-cylinder 12/40PS ohc engine of 3.325cc capcity. This first model Steyr car laid the foundation fot the excellent reputation of Steyr cars. Ledwinka left the Steyr car company in 1921, but subsequent Steyr car models were based on his designs. The Steyr Type IV was a 4-cylinder 7/23PS 1.814cc. The Type VI Sports was very successful both as a touring and as a sports car; this Steyr car had a 6-cylinder 15/90PS 4.014cc engine, while the VI Klausen sports and racing version Steyr car was powered by a 19/145PS 4.890cc unit. A third place in the 1923 Targa Florio was one of the successes of these Steyr cars. A range of other 6-cylinder models Steyr cars followed, of which the 6/30PS, 1.560cc Type XII Steyr car was notable for its independent rear suspension, though it retained semi-elliptics at the front. In 1929 Ferdinand Porsche, who had returned to Austria after working with Mercedes, was engaged as chief engineer for Steyr cars. His first Steyr car design was the 6-cylinder, 8/40PS, 2.078cc Type XXX. However, Porsche stayed only for one year with the Steyr car company. His last design for Steyr cars was the Steyr Austria, a big 8-cylinder model of 100bhp and 5.3-litres, but this Steyr car only appeared in prototype form. The same bank was giving Steyr cars and Austro-Daimler cars financial backing and they did not want both companies to build large cars. A community of interests was formed between Steyr and Austro-Daimler in 1929, and this led to a merger in 1935. About 500 1.2-litre Opels were made under licence by Steyr cars in 1932, followed by a range of popular models of Steyr car design: the Steyr 100 (4-cylinder, 32bhp, 1.385cc), the Steyr 120 (6-cylinder, 50bhp, 1.990cc), the Steyr 200 (4-cylinder, 35bhp, 1.498cc) and the Steyr 220 (6-cylinder, 55bhp, 2.260cc), now with all wheels independently sprung. In 1936 the Type 50 Steyr car appeared with a 4-cylinder, opposed engine of 22bhp and 984cc. This Steyr car was developed into the 25bhp, 1.158cc Type 55 Steyr car in 1938. These Steyr cars were very popular and economical cars with aerodynamic integral construction, but production of Steyr cars had to cease in 1940 as a result of World War 2, after about 13.000 Steyr cars of the two types had been built.

Production of Steyr cars was not resumed after the war, but from 1949 Fiats were assembled for the Austrian market. In 1953 there was a special version of the 1900 powered by a Steyr-designed 1.997cc engine, available in 65bhp and 85bhp forms, and with a 4-speed gearbox as an alternative to the 5-speed Fiat type. In 1957 the Steyr car company started to make Fiat’s Nuova 500, with revised rear suspension and their own 493cc engine. This evolved into the hotter 650cc 650T and 650TR; the latter Steyr car was good for 85bhp and became amajor force in rallies, gaining the Pole Sobieslaw Zasada the 1966 European Championship. This exciting little Steyr car was not, however, catalogued after 1968, and 1973’s staple offering was the standard Steyr-Puch 500 in 20bhp form.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; HON

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