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A collection of images of classic Lanchester cars, and cars that are likely to become classics, taken at numerous visits to car shows, motoring museums, motoring events and on the road when the opportunity arises.
The Lanchester Motor Company Limited was a British car manufacturer in active trade between 1899 and 1955. Though the Lanchester Motor Company Limited is still registered as an active company and accounts are filed each year, the marque has been dormant since. As of 2014 it is marked as "non-trading".
The Lanchester company was located until early 1931 at Armourer Mills, Montgomery Street, Sparkbrook, Birmingham, and afterwards at Sandy Lane, Coventry England. It was purchased by the BSA Group at the end of 1930, after which its cars were made by Daimler on Daimler's Coventry sites. So, with Daimler, Lanchester became part of Jaguar Cars in 1960.
1900
1904 Lanchester 20HP Tourer, O 1230
Image taken at British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire, on 9th August 2024.
DVLA records show the vehicle as being registered on 1st November 1961.
2687cc petrol engine.
The notice displayed with the vehicle states:
The oldest known 20HP Lanchester in existence.
The 20HP Lanchester was first shown to the public in January 1905 although by then a batch of pre-production cars had already been built. This car is believed to be one of these, and the car is therefore dated to 1904. It is certainly the oldest known 20HP model in existence. Little is known of its early history, except that it appears to have been registered in Birmingham. It was acquired for the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust in the 1980's.
While the early two-cylinder Lanchesters attracted an enthusiastic following, they were increasingly handicapped in the car market which from 1901 onwards was dominated by the new Mercedes car and its imitators, of more conventional appearance with their long bonnets and impressive radiators. The Lanchester company therefore began a gradual process of making larger, more expensive and more conventional cars.
In 1904, the company briefly offered a larger two-cylinder 18HP model, which featured an early form of the disc brake. However, this car was not commercially successful and only six were made. Furthermore, in March 1904 the company had to declare bankruptcy, and after a period of receivership, was re-constructed at the end of the year as the Lanchester Motor Company Limited.
Fred Lanchester was demoted from general manager to designer and technical consultant. The next new model, the 20HP, was still largely his work. It featured the company's first four-cylinder engine, a vertical in-line unit which was mounted in front of the front seat, between the footwells for the driver and the front passenger. The cantilever springs and tiller steering of the earlier Lanchesters were still used, although later models would adopt a conventional steering wheel. Together with a companion six-cylinder 28HP car, the 20HP continued in production until 1911.
Registration mark: O 1230. Engine: 2687cc 4cyl. Chassis number: 578. Owner: The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust. Inventory no.: 6/L.02.
DVLA records show the vehicle as being registered on 1st November 1961.
2687cc petrol engine.
The notice displayed with the vehicle states:
The oldest known 20HP Lanchester in existence.
The 20HP Lanchester was first shown to the public in January 1905 although by then a batch of pre-production cars had already been built. This car is believed to be one of these, and the car is therefore dated to 1904. It is certainly the oldest known 20HP model in existence. Little is known of its early history, except that it appears to have been registered in Birmingham. It was acquired for the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust in the 1980's.
While the early two-cylinder Lanchesters attracted an enthusiastic following, they were increasingly handicapped in the car market which from 1901 onwards was dominated by the new Mercedes car and its imitators, of more conventional appearance with their long bonnets and impressive radiators. The Lanchester company therefore began a gradual process of making larger, more expensive and more conventional cars.
In 1904, the company briefly offered a larger two-cylinder 18HP model, which featured an early form of the disc brake. However, this car was not commercially successful and only six were made. Furthermore, in March 1904 the company had to declare bankruptcy, and after a period of receivership, was re-constructed at the end of the year as the Lanchester Motor Company Limited.
Fred Lanchester was demoted from general manager to designer and technical consultant. The next new model, the 20HP, was still largely his work. It featured the company's first four-cylinder engine, a vertical in-line unit which was mounted in front of the front seat, between the footwells for the driver and the front passenger. The cantilever springs and tiller steering of the earlier Lanchesters were still used, although later models would adopt a conventional steering wheel. Together with a companion six-cylinder 28HP car, the 20HP continued in production until 1911.
Registration mark: O 1230. Engine: 2687cc 4cyl. Chassis number: 578. Owner: The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust. Inventory no.: 6/L.02.
1904 Lanchester 20HP Tourer, O 1230
Image taken at British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire, on 9th August 2024.
DVLA records show the vehicle as being registered on 1st November 1961.
2687cc petrol engine.
The notice displayed with the vehicle states:
The oldest known 20HP Lanchester in existence.
The 20HP Lanchester was first shown to the public in January 1905 although by then a batch of pre-production cars had already been built. This car is believed to be one of these, and the car is therefore dated to 1904. It is certainly the oldest known 20HP model in existence. Little is known of its early history, except that it appears to have been registered in Birmingham. It was acquired for the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust in the 1980's.
While the early two-cylinder Lanchesters attracted an enthusiastic following, they were increasingly handicapped in the car market which from 1901 onwards was dominated by the new Mercedes car and its imitators, of more conventional appearance with their long bonnets and impressive radiators. The Lanchester company therefore began a gradual process of making larger, more expensive and more conventional cars.
In 1904, the company briefly offered a larger two-cylinder 18HP model, which featured an early form of the disc brake. However, this car was not commercially successful and only six were made. Furthermore, in March 1904 the company had to declare bankruptcy, and after a period of receivership, was re-constructed at the end of the year as the Lanchester Motor Company Limited.
Fred Lanchester was demoted from general manager to designer and technical consultant. The next new model, the 20HP, was still largely his work. It featured the company's first four-cylinder engine, a vertical in-line unit which was mounted in front of the front seat, between the footwells for the driver and the front passenger. The cantilever springs and tiller steering of the earlier Lanchesters were still used, although later models would adopt a conventional steering wheel. Together with a companion six-cylinder 28HP car, the 20HP continued in production until 1911.
Registration mark: O 1230. Engine: 2687cc 4cyl. Chassis number: 578. Owner: The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust. Inventory no.: 6/L.02.
DVLA records show the vehicle as being registered on 1st November 1961.
2687cc petrol engine.
The notice displayed with the vehicle states:
The oldest known 20HP Lanchester in existence.
The 20HP Lanchester was first shown to the public in January 1905 although by then a batch of pre-production cars had already been built. This car is believed to be one of these, and the car is therefore dated to 1904. It is certainly the oldest known 20HP model in existence. Little is known of its early history, except that it appears to have been registered in Birmingham. It was acquired for the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust in the 1980's.
While the early two-cylinder Lanchesters attracted an enthusiastic following, they were increasingly handicapped in the car market which from 1901 onwards was dominated by the new Mercedes car and its imitators, of more conventional appearance with their long bonnets and impressive radiators. The Lanchester company therefore began a gradual process of making larger, more expensive and more conventional cars.
In 1904, the company briefly offered a larger two-cylinder 18HP model, which featured an early form of the disc brake. However, this car was not commercially successful and only six were made. Furthermore, in March 1904 the company had to declare bankruptcy, and after a period of receivership, was re-constructed at the end of the year as the Lanchester Motor Company Limited.
Fred Lanchester was demoted from general manager to designer and technical consultant. The next new model, the 20HP, was still largely his work. It featured the company's first four-cylinder engine, a vertical in-line unit which was mounted in front of the front seat, between the footwells for the driver and the front passenger. The cantilever springs and tiller steering of the earlier Lanchesters were still used, although later models would adopt a conventional steering wheel. Together with a companion six-cylinder 28HP car, the 20HP continued in production until 1911.
Registration mark: O 1230. Engine: 2687cc 4cyl. Chassis number: 578. Owner: The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust. Inventory no.: 6/L.02.
1904 Lanchester 20HP Tourer, O 1230
Image taken at British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire, on 9th August 2024.
DVLA records show the vehicle as being registered on 1st November 1961.
2687cc petrol engine.
The notice displayed with the vehicle states:
The oldest known 20HP Lanchester in existence.
The 20HP Lanchester was first shown to the public in January 1905 although by then a batch of pre-production cars had already been built. This car is believed to be one of these, and the car is therefore dated to 1904. It is certainly the oldest known 20HP model in existence. Little is known of its early history, except that it appears to have been registered in Birmingham. It was acquired for the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust in the 1980's.
While the early two-cylinder Lanchesters attracted an enthusiastic following, they were increasingly handicapped in the car market which from 1901 onwards was dominated by the new Mercedes car and its imitators, of more conventional appearance with their long bonnets and impressive radiators. The Lanchester company therefore began a gradual process of making larger, more expensive and more conventional cars.
In 1904, the company briefly offered a larger two-cylinder 18HP model, which featured an early form of the disc brake. However, this car was not commercially successful and only six were made. Furthermore, in March 1904 the company had to declare bankruptcy, and after a period of receivership, was re-constructed at the end of the year as the Lanchester Motor Company Limited.
Fred Lanchester was demoted from general manager to designer and technical consultant. The next new model, the 20HP, was still largely his work. It featured the company's first four-cylinder engine, a vertical in-line unit which was mounted in front of the front seat, between the footwells for the driver and the front passenger. The cantilever springs and tiller steering of the earlier Lanchesters were still used, although later models would adopt a conventional steering wheel. Together with a companion six-cylinder 28HP car, the 20HP continued in production until 1911.
Registration mark: O 1230. Engine: 2687cc 4cyl. Chassis number: 578. Owner: The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust. Inventory no.: 6/L.02.
DVLA records show the vehicle as being registered on 1st November 1961.
2687cc petrol engine.
The notice displayed with the vehicle states:
The oldest known 20HP Lanchester in existence.
The 20HP Lanchester was first shown to the public in January 1905 although by then a batch of pre-production cars had already been built. This car is believed to be one of these, and the car is therefore dated to 1904. It is certainly the oldest known 20HP model in existence. Little is known of its early history, except that it appears to have been registered in Birmingham. It was acquired for the Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust in the 1980's.
While the early two-cylinder Lanchesters attracted an enthusiastic following, they were increasingly handicapped in the car market which from 1901 onwards was dominated by the new Mercedes car and its imitators, of more conventional appearance with their long bonnets and impressive radiators. The Lanchester company therefore began a gradual process of making larger, more expensive and more conventional cars.
In 1904, the company briefly offered a larger two-cylinder 18HP model, which featured an early form of the disc brake. However, this car was not commercially successful and only six were made. Furthermore, in March 1904 the company had to declare bankruptcy, and after a period of receivership, was re-constructed at the end of the year as the Lanchester Motor Company Limited.
Fred Lanchester was demoted from general manager to designer and technical consultant. The next new model, the 20HP, was still largely his work. It featured the company's first four-cylinder engine, a vertical in-line unit which was mounted in front of the front seat, between the footwells for the driver and the front passenger. The cantilever springs and tiller steering of the earlier Lanchesters were still used, although later models would adopt a conventional steering wheel. Together with a companion six-cylinder 28HP car, the 20HP continued in production until 1911.
Registration mark: O 1230. Engine: 2687cc 4cyl. Chassis number: 578. Owner: The Jaguar Daimler Heritage Trust. Inventory no.: 6/L.02.
1930
1934 Lanchester LA10, YVL 456
Image taken at Appledore Classic Vehicle Show on 16th July, 2023.
First registered 9th January, 1934.
1203cc petrol engine.
First registered 9th January, 1934.
1203cc petrol engine.
1950
1951 Lanchester LD10, HCY 104
Image taken at Classic Cars on the Green, Bearsted, on 21st July, 2024.
Vehicle first registered in February 1951.
1287cc petrol engine.
Vehicle first registered in February 1951.
1287cc petrol engine.
1951 Lanchester LD10, HCY 104
Image taken at Classic Cars on the Green, Bearsted, on 21st July, 2024.
Vehicle first registered in February 1951.
1287cc petrol engine.
Vehicle first registered in February 1951.
1287cc petrol engine.
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