Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire (motor car)

Last updated

Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire
Armstrong Siddeley motif - Flickr - exfordy (1).jpg
Sphinx symbol of silence
Overview
Manufacturer Armstrong Siddeley Motors Limited
Production19521960
3½ litre 7,697
4 litre 981
2¼ litre 1,406
Total 10,084 built [1]
Body and chassis
Class executive
Chronology
Successornone

The Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire is a large automobile which was produced by the British company, Armstrong Siddeley Motors Limited, from 1952 to 1960.

Contents

A distinctive element of the Sapphires was the traditional Armstrong Siddeley V-shaped radiator grille with the Sphinx motif mounted on it.

On some models the sphinx sported aircraft wings carrying tiny Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire jet engines.

Sapphire 234

Sapphire 234
Vintage Car - Armstrong Siddeley 234 Sapphire MFF 496 110612 Sandringham.jpg
Sapphire 234 sports saloon registered 1958
Overview
Production1955–1958
803 made [1]
Body and chassis
Body style 4-door saloon
Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel drive
RelatedSapphire 236
Powertrain
Engine 2,290 cc Straight-4
Transmission Manual with optional overdrive
Dimensions
Wheelbase 111 inches (2,819 mm) [2]
Length180 inches (4,572 mm)
Width68.5 inches (1,734 mm)

The Sapphire 234 and 236 were two cars identical in appearance but sold with different engines having different performance characteristics. The 234 could be purchased with wire wheels as an optional extra.

The 234 was produced from 1955 to 1958 and used a four-cylinder 2,290 cc version of the 346 engine. [3] The transmission was a manual four-speed gearbox with optional overdrive. [3]

A 100 mph car intended for the man who liked high performance. [4]

803 were produced. [3]

Sapphire 234 engine
Overview
Manufacturer Armstrong Siddeley Motors Limited
Layout
Configuration 4-cylinder in-line
Displacement 2,290 cubic centimetres (140 cu in)
Cylinder bore 90 mm (3.5 in)
Piston stroke 90 mm (3.5 in)
Valvetrain OHV
Compression ratio 7.5:1
Combustion
Fuel system Twin S.U. carburetters
Fuel typePetrol
Cooling system Water
Output
Power output 120 bhp (89 kW; 120 PS) [5]

Sapphire 236

Sapphire 236
1956 Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire 236 6-cylinder.jpg
Sapphire 236 saloon registered March 1956
Overview
Production1955–1957
603 made [1]
Body and chassis
Body style 4-door saloon
Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel drive
RelatedSapphire 234
Powertrain
Engine 2,309 cc Straight-6
Transmission Manumatic or Manual either with optional overdrive
Dimensions
Wheelbase 111 inches (2,819 mm) [2]
Length180 inches (4,572 mm)
Width68.5 inches (1,734 mm)
Chronology
Predecessor Whitley

The 236 was made between 1955 and 1957 and used the six-cylinder 2,310 cc engine previously seen in the Armstrong Siddeley Whitley. A conventional manual gearbox was available but many were fitted with a Lockheed Manumatic "clutchless" transmission. Overdrive was an option on either transmission.

This car with an 85 mph maximum was intended to be a quiet, flexible, easy-to-drive saloon. [4]

603 were produced. [3]

Sapphire 236 engine
Overview
Manufacturer Armstrong Siddeley Motors Limited
Layout
Configuration 6-cylinder in-line
Displacement 2,309 cubic centimetres (141 cu in)
Cylinder bore 70 mm (2.8 in)
Piston stroke 100 mm (3.9 in)
Valvetrain pushrod OHV
Compression ratio 7.5:1
Combustion
Fuel systemSingle downdraught Stromberg carburetter
Fuel typePetrol
Cooling system Water
Output
Power output 85 bhp (63 kW; 86 PS) [5] @4500 rpm

Sapphire 346

Sapphire 346
Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire near Biggleswade.JPG
Overview
Production1953–1958
7,697 made [1]
Body and chassis
Body style 4-door saloon
limousine
Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine 3,435 cc Straight-6
Dimensions
Wheelbase 114 in (2,896 mm) [2]
133 inches (3,378 mm) (limousine)
Length193 in (4,902 mm) [6]
212 in (5,385 mm) (limousine)
Width72 in (1,829 mm) [6]
Height63 in (1,600 mm) [6]

The 346 was the first of the Sapphires introduced late in 1952 for sale in 1953 and continuing until 1958. The six-cylinder 3,435 cc engine had hemi-spherical combustion chambers and could have optional twin Stromberg carburettors(£25 extra) [6] which increased the output from 125 to 150 bhp (93 to 112 kW) giving a top speed in excess of 100 mph (161 km/h). The front suspension was independent coil springs with a rigid axle and leaf springs at the rear. The Girling hydraulic brakes used 11 in (279 mm) drums all round. [6]

The body was available as a four- or six-light (two or three windows on each side) at the same cost and with either a bench or individual front seats. The seats were finished in leather, with the dashboard and door-cappings in walnut veneer. A heater was standard.

It was introduced with the choice of a Wilson electrically-controlled finger-tip four-speed pre-selector gearbox as a £30 option, [6] or four-speed synchromesh gearbox. It became available with automatic transmission (a Rolls-Royce-made Hydramatic four-speed [7] ) with the introduction of the Mark II in 1954.

A long-wheelbase model was launched in 1955 as a limousine version which had the pre-selector gearbox as standard, however, there was an optional four-speed manual column-change gearbox available. It featured a longer wheelbase (extended by 21 inches or 535 mm) chassis with a body incorporating a limousine division.

Models for export to the U.S. were always delivered with twin carburettors. [8]

A saloon with the optional twin-carburettors and synchromesh transmission tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1953 had a top speed of 100.1 mph (161.1 km/h) and could accelerate from 0–60 mph (97 km/h) in 13.0 seconds. A fuel consumption of 18.7 miles per imperial gallon (15.1 L/100 km; 15.6 mpgUS) was recorded. The test car cost £1,757 including taxes. [6]

7,697 were produced.

Star Sapphire

Star Sapphire
ArmstrongSiddeleyStarSapphire.jpg
Overview
ManufacturerArmstrong Siddeley Motors Limited at
Bristol Siddeley Engines Limited, Coventry [9]
Production1958–1960
980 made [1]
Body and chassis
Body style 4-door saloon
limousine
Layout Front-engine, rear-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine 3,990 cc Straight-6
Dimensions
Wheelbase 114 inches (2,896 mm) [2]
135 inches (3,429 mm) (limousine)
Length194 inches (4,928 mm)
212 inches (5,385 mm) (limousine)
Width74 inches (1,880 mm)
Height63.5 in (1,613 mm) [10]

The Star Sapphire saloon was announced on 17 October 1958 [11] and production continued through to the summer of 1960. [9] It retained the previous model's commanding driving position. Though little changed externally, the radiator grille no longer rose to the top of the bonnet, many refinements were incorporated.

The six-cylinder engine was enlarged more than 16% to 3,990 cc with larger twin Stromberg carburettors as standard and power output increased to [SAE] 165 bhp (167 hp, 123 kW), or [DIN] 145 bhp (147 hp, 108 kW). Perhaps more important was an increase of nearly 30% in torque at 50 m.p.h. Big end and main bearings were now made of lead indium and a vibration damper fitted to the nose of the crankshaft. The compression ratio was raised to 7.5 to 1. The car could now lap the Lindley high speed track at 104 m.p.h. [11]

Interior of the Star Sapphire saloon Armstrong Siddeley Star Sapphire - Flickr - exfordy (2).jpg
Interior of the Star Sapphire saloon

Various suspension modifications had been carried out. Servo-assisted 12 in (305 mm) Girling disc brakes were now installed on the front wheels and Burman recirculating ball power steering was standardised with a turning circle reduced by 4'6". A BorgWarner type DG automatic gearbox was fitted which incorporated a lever on the facia to hold intermediate gear at 35, 45, 55, and 65 m.p.h. [11]

Door hinges were now concealed and the front doors now hinged at their leading edge. There was an independent heater for the rear passengers and demisting slots for the rear window. All features were standard, the provision of alternatives being believed to lead to an unsatisfactory compromise. [11]

902 saloons were produced, as well as 77 long-wheelbase cars, [3] 73 of which were built as limousines (including 2 prototypes). The limousine version was made in 1960 only and had a single-carburettor engine and manual gearbox (the automatic gearbox was fitted to 12 examples). The remaining 4 chassis were used for 3 hearses and an ambulance. 980 Star Sapphires were produced.

The Star Sapphire won the £4,000 four-door coachwork class at the 1958 Earls Court Motor Show ahead of a Princess limousine and a Jaguar Mark IX. [12]

A Star Sapphire saloon with automatic transmission was tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1959. It had a top speed of 99.6 mph (160.3 km/h) and could accelerate from 0–60 mph (97 km/h) in 14.8 seconds. A fuel consumption of 15.4 miles per imperial gallon (18.3 L/100 km; 12.8 mpgUS) was recorded. The test car cost £2,498 including taxes of £735. [10] By then purchase tax had been reduced by one-sixth on 8 April 1959.

Market sector

Prices including tax October 1958

Star Sapphire Mk. II

Star Sapphire MkII
Overview
Production1960
1 made [1]
Powertrain
Engine 3,990 cc Straight-6

The Mk II version did not get beyond prototype stage in 1960 and only one was produced.

In Film and Books

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austin Princess</span> Motor vehicle

The Austin Princess is a series of large luxury cars that were made by Austin and its subsidiary Vanden Plas from 1947 to 1968. The cars were also marketed under the Princess and Vanden Plas marque names.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Zephyr</span> Motor vehicle

The Ford Zephyr is an executive car manufactured by Ford of Britain from 1950 until 1972. The Zephyr and its luxury variants, the Ford Zodiac and Ford Executive, were the largest passenger cars in the British Ford range from 1950 until their replacement by the Consul and Granada models in 1972.

Armstrong Siddeley was a British engineering group that operated during the first half of the 20th century. It was formed in 1919 and is best known for the production of luxury vehicles and aircraft engines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Opel Rekord</span> Motor vehicle

The Opel Rekord is a large family car which was built in eight generations by the German car manufacturer Opel. Between 1953 and 1986, approximately ten million were sold.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Singer Gazelle</span> Motor vehicle

The Singer Gazelle name has been applied to two generations of motor cars from the British manufacturer Singer. It was positioned between the basic Hillman range and the more sporting Sunbeam versions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunbeam Rapier</span> Motor vehicle

The Sunbeam Rapier is an automobile produced by Rootes Group from 1955 until 1976, in two different body-styles, the "Series" cars and the later (1967–76) fastback shape, part of the "Arrow" range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austin Sheerline</span> Motor vehicle

The Austin Sheerline is a large luxury car produced by Austin in the United Kingdom from 1947 until 1954.

The Austin Cambridge is a medium-sized motor car range produced by the Austin Motor Company, in several generations, from September 1954 through to 1971 as cars and to 1973 as light commercials. It replaced the A40 Somerset and was entirely new, with modern unibody construction. The range had two basic body styles with the A40, A50, and early A55 using a traditional rounded shape and later A55 Mark IIs and A60s using Pininfarina styling.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MG Magnette</span> Motor vehicle

The MG Magnette is an automobile that was produced by MG between 1953 and 1968. The Magnette was manufactured in two build series, the ZA and ZB of 1953 through to 1958 and the Mark III and Mark IV of 1959 through to 1968, both using a modified Wolseley body and an Austin engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austin Westminster</span> Motor vehicle

The Austin Westminster series are large saloon and estate cars that were sold by the British manufacturer Austin from 1954, replacing the A70 Hereford. The Westminster line was produced as the A90, A95, A99, A105, and A110 until 1968 when the new Austin 3-Litre took its place. Essentially badge-engineered versions of the Farina Westminsters were also produced using the premium Wolseley and Vanden Plas marques. 101,634 Westminsters were built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humber Super Snipe</span> Motor vehicle

The Humber Super Snipe is a car which was produced from 1938 to 1967 by British-based Humber Limited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vauxhall Cresta</span> Motor vehicle

The Vauxhall Cresta is a British full-size car which was produced by Vauxhall from 1954 to 1972. The Cresta was introduced in 1954 as an upmarket version of the Vauxhall Velox, itself a six-cylinder version of the Vauxhall Wyvern. The Cresta models were the E (1954–1957), PA (1957–1962), PB (1962–1965) and PC (1965–1972). The Viscount (1966–1972) was an upmarket Cresta PC.

The Morris Isis name was first briefly used by Morris Motors Limited on a 6-cylinder car made from 1929 until 1931. It was resurrected on a new 6-cylinder midsize car from the British Motor Corporation in the 1950s to replace the Morris Six MS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fiat 2300</span> Motor vehicle

The Fiat 2300 is a six-cylinder executive car which was produced by Italian automotive manufacturer Fiat between 1961 and 1969. The 2300 was made as saloon, estate car and coupé. The 2300 saloon is noteworthy as in 1966 it became the first Fiat model to be available with an automatic transmission.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Standard Vanguard</span> Motor vehicle made in England

The Standard Vanguard is a car which was produced by the Standard Motor Company in Coventry, England, from 1947 until 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triumph Dolomite (1934–1940)</span> Motor vehicle

The Triumph Dolomite is a car that was produced by Triumph Motor Company from 1934 to 1940. It first appeared in 1934 as a sports car and the name was also used from 1937 on a series of sporting saloons and open cars until 1939 when the company went into receivership. A number were still sold and registered in 1940, though it is uncertain whether the receiver or new owner turned out cars from spare parts, or sold off completed cars. All except the Straight 8 featured a "waterfall" grille styled by Walter Belgrove, versions of the saloons with conventional grilles were sold as Continental models.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morris Ten</span> Motor vehicle

The Morris Ten announced 1 September 1932 is a medium-sized car introduced for 1933 as the company's offering in the important 10 hp sector of the British market. It continued through a series of variants until October 1948 when along with Morris's Twelve and Fourteen it was replaced by the 13.5 hp Morris Oxford MO.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Standard Ten</span> Motor vehicle

The Standard Ten was a model name given to several small cars produced by the British Standard Motor Company between 1906 and 1961. The name was a reference to the car's fiscal horsepower or tax horsepower, a function of the surface area of the pistons. This system quickly became obsolete as an estimate of the power produced by the engine, but it continued to be relevant as a way to classify cars for tax purposes. Like other manufacturers, Standard continued to use the name to define the approximate size of their 'Ten' model long after the origins of the name had, in Britain, become inapplicable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borgward Hansa 2400</span> German car model built 1952-1959

The Borgward Hansa 2400 was an executive six-cylinder saloon (E-segment) presented in 1951, and manufactured by the Bremen based auto-manufacturer Carl F. W. Borgward GmbH from 1952 until 1959. The car was launched as a four-door fastback saloon; a longer-wheelbase notchback version appeared a year later. The Hansa 2400 suffered from teething troubles including inadequate brakes and problems with the automatic transmission Borgward developed for it. In a small closely contested market, the large Borgwards lost out to less flamboyant models from the German south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triumph Renown</span> Motor vehicle made in England

The Triumph Renown is strictly the name given to the Triumph's large saloon car made from 1949 to 1954 but it is, in reality, part of a three-car series of the 1800, 2000 and Renown models. Together with the Triumph Roadster, they were the first vehicles to carry the Triumph badge following the company's takeover by the Standard Motor Company.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sedgwick, M.; Gillies, M. (1986). A-Z of Cars 1945-1970. Devon, UK: Bay View Books. ISBN   1-870979-39-7.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Culshaw; Horrobin (1974). Complete Catalogue of British Cars. London: Macmillan. ISBN   0-333-16689-2.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Robson, Graham (2006). A to Z British Cars 1945-1980. England: Herridge & Sons. pp.  32. ISBN   0954106393.
  4. 1 2 Britain's New Cars On Show At Earls Court. FROM OUR MOTORING CORRESPONDENT. The Times, Oct 18, 1955; pg. 11; Issue 53354.
  5. 1 2 ARMSTRONG-SIDDELEY EXTEND SAPPHIRE RANGE: Two New Cars in Specialist Class. A Motoring Correspondent. The Manchester Guardian (1901-1959) [Manchester (UK)] 18 Oct 1955: 2.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "The Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire". The Motor . 7 October 1953.
  7. Chaundy, David (April 2018), "Rolls-Royce built "Hydramatic" automatic transmission" (PDF), KDA132, p. 4, archived from the original (PDF) on 1 July 2021
  8. Robert Penn Bradly: The Original 346 Sapphire explored to great depth; Limula Pty Ltd, Bardwell Park, NSW, Australia, 2008.
  9. 1 2 Coventry Dispute Cuts Production. The Times, Monday, Feb 08, 1960; pg. 5; Issue 54689
  10. 1 2 "The Armstrong Siddeley Star Sapphire". The Motor . 10 June 1959.
  11. 1 2 3 4 New Armstrong Siddeley Car. The Times, Friday, Oct 17, 1958; pg. 4; Issue 54284.
  12. Car Coachwork Competitions.The Times, Friday, Oct 31, 1958; pg. 14; Issue 54296.
  13. Long wheelbase Sapphire limo has Arlene Dahl as passenger (at 3:05)