Critchley Light car

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Critchley light car
Overview
Manufacturer Daimler Motor Company
Also called
  • Light Daimler, [1]
  • Critchley-Daimler [2] [3]
Production1899-c.1900
AssemblyCoventry, UK
Designer J. S. Critchley [4]
Body and chassis
Class light car
Layout Transverse FR
Powertrain
Engine 1,100 cc (67.1 cu in) straight-twin engine [5]
Transmission 4-speed manual
Dimensions
Kerb weight 6+34 long cwt (756 lb; 343 kg) [6]

The Critchley Light car was briefly manufactured by Daimler Company of Coventry in 1899 to find use for about 50 unwanted 4 h.p. engines shipped to Coventry by the German Daimler works at Stuttgart. [4] [6] The car was well regarded and sold well but was not intended to extend Daimler's range of high-powered expensive motorcars. As such, it was named Critchley after James S. Critchley Daimler's works manager [7]

The car was equipped with advanced features, including pneumatic tyres and wheel steering. The engine was mounted transversely, with the flywheel rotating in the direction of travel. [6] The water-cooled engine drove the rear wheels through a belt transmission. [7] The belt was tensioned by moving the engine forward or backward in the frame. The steering wheel was on a vertical column on the right side of the car, such that it could only be operated by the driver's right hand. [3]

In 1900, a redesign of the Critchley Light Car was built and sold as the "Kimberley". [8]

Notes

  1. Nixon 1946, p. 66.
  2. Nixon 1946, p. 14.
  3. 1 2 Douglas-Scott-Montagu & Burgess-Wise 1995, p. 61.
  4. 1 2 Nixon 1946, p. 65.
  5. Nixon 1946, p. 222.
  6. 1 2 3 Smith 1972, p. 9.
  7. 1 2 Thoms & Donnelly 1985, p. 64.
  8. Smith 1972, p. 12.

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References