It took me a while, and I’m still not completely sure of the model, but I believe this is a 1948 Armstrong Siddeley Lancaster (yeah, I know, only anoraks like me would care). It is, however, straight and relatively unmolested, and the seller has it listed for sale here on craigslist. Thanks to Barn Finds reader Bill W. for sending this dusty find in! It’s located in Lacey Township, New Jersey, and the seller is looking for offers.
That first picture is one of the few good ones we have to work with. So I’ll tell you a bit about the model and marque instead. Armstrong Siddeley was always very conservative, and began after the war with this, their first model with independent front suspension. However, they kept a foot in the prewar era with brakes that were still cable-operated in the rear. How quaint? What you see here (I think) is the access to the spare tire area.
It might be a good guess that the car was taken off the road due to cooling and/or head gasket issues. This car should have the 1991 cc version of the marque’s inline six. I’m also wondering what the jointed shaft is for; possibly steering? In any case, the seller is suggesting that this become a rat rod (horror!). I can see wanting to restomod it, but I’d much rather try to put things back the way they came.
On the left, we have the typical for the time LBWD (Large British Wood Dashboard) which will either require much work by a motivated new owner or delivery to the local furniture restoration shop. On the right, we have what used to be a back seat. Needless to say, a checkbook concours restoration would have to be a labor of love, because you won’t come out for less than five digits in the interior alone.
I have that exact same windshield washer bottle in my 1967 Spitfire! At least things look relatively solid under here and apart from battery cables, pretty much left alone. Anyone out there up for this eclectic saloon?
A 6 digit interior?
Whoops! Five :-) Corrected. Thanks!
great car to customize chop the roof two door hard top and a wreaked Bentley for the drive train and running gear
I’ll ask them for $2500 to pick it up and haul it off.
Pretty sure I had a Dinky Toy version of this car in a drop head coupe!
Ad is gone,
I think the best looking pickup truck ever built was the Armstrong Siddeley Coupe Utility. “Google” it and you shall certainly see photos of my old one. The Wilson pre-selector gear box is a trip in itself too!
I like them also Brakesevro, only problem is like the current 4 door p/u the box is short. Just big enough for a cooler and small grill if the wife agrees to put the picnic basket on her lap!
I think I would go with a re-stor-o-mod
Parts would be so difficult to find, many would have to be fabricated
Cost is not worth it
Less money and have some cool looking wheels when done to go the rest-o route
IMHO
Very few if any parts not available. Great club support. I have to think you didn’t investigate at all before making your wrong assumption.
Hi Jamie. Cant you post a link to CL ad saver? What was the asking price?
Cool find :-)
Jesper, I will do that in future posts. They didn’t have an asking price, just questions…
Thanx Jamie.
The Convertible model was called the Hurricane. They were good reliable cars, with silent engines, but underpowered and a solid rear axle to bounce you down the road. The mascot, is a Sphinx – really is a 1930s piece of Deco. The coffin hood is a hint that the new buyer will be buried in it, as it cost the same to restore a Bentley and the return will be on the next Phoenix rising !
Sounds like a car Ned Flanders would own.
“C’mon kids, let’s go for a drive in the Siddeley–diddley–iddely!”
Hello Jamie,
I wonder about the MGA in the picture?
A neighbour restored a Hurricane (the drophead) in the 1970s, even rebuilt car had no real value at the time. They are minority interest and not highly-priced still.
Like Alvis, these were low volume, high middle class (ahead of any volume produced luxury car, including Jaguar, but below Alvis), conservative cars. Massively built, but for suburban England, rather than for the rest of the world. Australia and New Zealand and other “Honorary England” colonies got them too. As soon as the yoke of empire was thrown off, ex-colonial markets enthusiastically embraced Japanese products. The Japanese didn´t give you wooden interior panels, but did give a radio, reliabilty and longevity. Game over.
People. Actually I had a Armstrong Sapphaire..LHD, which was a very, very nice car…better engine at the time than a Jaguar…double brake wheel cylinders, a hemi engine..a Wilson PreSlector transmission with great interior…this one whilst not as sought after is OK…England had a AS Club very active….Of course here, those into Mustang/Camero/Whatever….can’t appreciate quality….just not in their gens…
Since I first saw one 50 plus years ago, I’ve wanted one. They were well built and high-quality cars built in small numbers. Still on my lottery win list.
Still pretty rare over here too, but just not worth the cost of restoring ?.
The (steering column) in the trunk, I think it looks more like the jack ?,as for the extra head gaskets….. Can’t beat having a few spares, you never know what / when you might need em ?.