| Eric-Campbell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Eric, Campbell & Co Ltd Vulcan Iron Works |
| Production | 1919-1926 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1498 cc in-line 4 cylinder |
| Transmission | three speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 102 in (2,591 mm) [1] |
| Length | 144 in (3,658 mm) [1] |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | none |
The Eric-Campbell was a British car made from 1919 to 1924 by Eric-Campbell & Co Limited of Cricklewood, London. The company was formed by H Eric Orr-Ewing and Noel Campbell Macklin. [2]
Eric-Campbell was formed by H Eric Orr-Ewing and Noel Campbell Macklin. Macklin subsequently founded Silver Hawk, Invicta and Railton car manufacturers. [2] Manufacturing took place in the factory of the Handley Page aircraft company in Cricklewood London. It is estimated that as many as 500 cars might have been made. [2]
Macklin left the company in 1920 to concentrate on his Silver Hawk car and by 1921 Eric-Campbell were in financial difficulties. In 1922 production was taken over by Vulcan Iron & Metal Works Limited of Southall, Middlesex. [3] Prices were reduced and a wider range of bodies offered. In its last year of 1924, Anzani engines could be ordered as well as the Coventry-Simplex.
The new owners failed to make a success of the company and the receivers were called in during January 1926. [3]
The Eric-Campbell 10 (10/22 in 1924) was assembled from bought-in components with a Coventry-Simplex 1498 cc, four cylinder, side valve engine driving the rear wheels through a cone clutch and three speed Moss gearbox. The engine was tuned with a special camshaft and lightened pistons. Half elliptic leaf springs were fitted at the front whilst at the rear cantilever springing was used. A top speed of 55 mph was guaranteed and 60 mph claimed as possible. [2] Two seat polished aluminium bodies were fitted with a simulacrum of a Rolls-Royce radiator.
Two cars were entered in the tenth Targa Florio race in Sicily, held on 23 November 1919 and comprising 4 laps of the 108 kilometre Madonie circuit. The drivers were Cyril Snipe, who had won the 1912 event driving a SCAT 25/35, and Jack Scales (29 January 1886 – 23 October 1962) who subsequently raced for the Italian marque Chiribiri where he was known as l'Inglese Scalese (The Englishman Scales). Scales, driving car number 23 retired after 1 lap due to a broken steering arm, whilst Snipe did not complete a single lap in car number 24. [4] [5]
In April and May 1920 Violette Cordery took part in two British Motor Cycle Racing Club handicaps driving an Eric-Campbell. [6]
An 8 hp car, the 8/20, with 1075 cc engine was announced in 1924 but it seems not to have reached production. [1]
The Targa Florio was an open road endurance automobile race held in the mountains of Sicily near the island's capital of Palermo. Founded in 1906, it was the oldest sports car racing event, part of the World Sportscar Championship between 1955 and 1973. While the first races consisted of a whole tour of the island, the track length in the race's last decades was limited to the 72 kilometres (45 mi) of the Circuito Piccolo delle Madonie, which was lapped 11 times.
Ballot was a French manufacturer, initially of engines, that also made automobiles between 1919 and 1932. Édouard Ballot became well known as a designer of reliable engines. He helped Ettore Bugatti in developing his first engines.
S.P.A., was an Italian automobile, military vehicle and aero-engine manufacturer founded in Turin by Matteo Ceirano and Michele Ansaldi. It was active between 1906 and 1926. In 1908, it merged with Fabbrica Ligure Automobili Genova (FLAG) and the new company, Società Ligure Piemontese Automobili, was headquartered in Genoa while manufacturing in Turin.
Antonio Ascari was an Italian Grand Prix motor racing champion. He won four Grands Prix before his premature death at the 1925 French Grand Prix. He was the father of two-time World Champion Alberto Ascari.
Giuseppe Campari was an Italian opera singer and Grand Prix motor racing driver.
Invicta is a British automobile manufacturer. The brand has been available intermittently through successive decades. Initially, the manufacturer was based in Cobham, Surrey, England, from 1925 to 1933, then in Chelsea, London, England, from 1933 to 1938 and finally in Virginia Water, Surrey, England, from 1946 to 1950. More recently, the name was revived for the Invicta S1 sports car produced between 2004 and 2012.
Pietro Bordino was an Italian racecar driver.
Ferdinando "Nando" Minoia was an Italian racing driver with an exceptionally long, distinguished and varied career. In 1907, he won the Coppa Florio driving an Isotta Fraschini. In 1923, he drove the world’s first mid-engine Grand Prix car, the Benz Tropfenwagen. In 1927, he won the inaugural Mille Miglia driving an OM. Finally, in 1931 he became the first ‘European Champion’, driving for Alfa Romeo, but without winning a single event.
Sir (Albert) Noel Campbell Macklin was an innovative British car maker and boat designer. He founded Eric-Campbell in 1919, Silver Hawk in 1920, Invicta in 1925 and Railton in 1933. In 1939 he founded Fairmile Marine and supplied boats to the Royal Navy throughout World War II, for which effort he was honoured with a knighthood.
The SCAT was an Italian automobile manufacturer from Turin, founded in 1906 by Giovanni Battista Ceirano.
The 1921 Grand Prix season saw motor racing in Europe blossom again. The French Grand Prix was held for the first time since 1914, at La Sarthe, Le Mans. and the inaugural Italian Grand Prix was held in Montichiari, near Brescia. The 3-litre formula of the AIACR, already in use at Indianapolis, was adopted by those Grand Prix meaning manufacturers could design on a common formula.
The 1923 Grand Prix season was part of a watershed year for motor racing that saw significant advances in motor-racing engineering, design and events. Fiat's chief designer, Guido Fornaca, developed the 805, the first supercharged car to win a Grand Prix. Benz appeared with the first mid-engined racer and, along with Bugatti and Voisin, produced some of the first efforts at aerodynamics on racing cars. With the United States also adopting the 2-litre formula, Harry Miller could use the smaller engine size to design the first single-seater race-car, ideally suited to American oval racing.
The 1924 Grand Prix season saw Grand Prix motor racing spread further across Europe and North America. In Italy a number of new open-road events were held. In France two new circuits were opened – at Montlhéry near Paris and Miramas near Marseille.
The 1919 Grand Prix season was the first season following the armistice that ended World War I in November 1918. European economies were struggling, and many automotive firms had to recover and retool from military production. So, there was very little racing activity as it took time for the companies and populations to recover. As the world rebuilt there were only two major races held in the year – the Indianapolis 500 and the Targa Florio.
The 1920 Grand Prix season saw further activity in motor-racing gradually increase. Europe was still recovering from the end of the war and the terrible pandemic that swept the continent. Automotive companies were gradually re-establishing themselves after re-tooling from a wartime footing and getting production lines rolling again.
Silver Hawk Motors of Cobham, Surrey, England, was a motor manufacturer from 1920 until 1921. It was founded by Sir (Albert) Noel Campbell Macklin after he parted company with his Eric-Campbell project, and before he founded both the Invicta and Railton car marques. The cars were built in a garage at Macklin's private home.
Cyril Snipe (1888-1944) was a British motor racing driver who won the 1912 Targa Florio in Sicily driving an Italian SCAT motor car.
Violette Cordery was a British racing driver and long distance record breaker.
Fabbrica Junior Torinese d'Automobili, Ceirano Junior, Junior F.J.T.A., was an Italian automobile manufacturer based in Turin which was founded by Giovanni Ceirano in 1905. The Junior, often known as F.J.T.A., was made from 1905 until 1909
Automobili Nazzaro was an Italian manufacturer of automobiles from 1911 to 1916, and 1919–1923. Founded by racing driver Felice Nazzaro it produced circa 490 vehicles in total and won both the 1913 and 1920 Targa Florios in Sicily.