The roots of Armstrong Siddeley stretch back to 1902. A montage of shifting personalities, shifting product mandates (cars and aeroplanes), reorganized corporations, and finally, absorption by Rolls-Royce in 1966 punctuate the company’s timeline. But the cars carried John Siddeley’s trademark characteristics – a sphinx hood mascot symbolizing “silent as a sphinx” operation, and a deeply “V’d” radiator grille – until the last was made in 1960. This Star Sapphire is one of very few produced in left hand drive. It was sold into the US, landing in Los Angeles where it remains today. The car is advertised here on craigslist for $29,000. Thanks to Tony Primo for finding this still-swanky saloon for us.
The Star Sapphire followed a procession of Sapphires manufactured beginning in 1955 with the four-cylinder 234. No matter the model, all but the first six-cylinder Sapphire was capable of 100 mph. The Star came from the factory with a big 3990 cc in-line six, standard with twin Stromberg carburetors. With 150 bhp on tap, this stately saloon could reach 104 mph and with servo-assisted Girling discs in front, braking was a breeze. Gearchanges are courtesy of a four-speed Borg Warner automatic. The seller notes that his car runs and drives, benefitting from a rebuild of its transmission and carburetors, and a fresh wiring harness.
There’s nothing like the interior of a British luxury car, and this one shows off its refinished wood, full set of gauges, and new bordeaux leather nicely. The steering wheel shows wear and no doubt a few more imperfections lurk but with only a handful of photos in the listing, we’ll have to withhold further judgement. The Star Sapphire was equipped with a separate heater for rear-seat passengers and de-mist vents for the rear window.
If you read the seller’s advertisement, you will note claims that this car entered the Pebble Beach Concours and “was the overall winner”. We could not corroborate that statement. It is true that the Star Sapphire, upon its introduction at the 1958 Earls Court Motor Show, won the four-door coachwork contest ahead of several more notable makes. Despite the Armstrong Siddeley Star’s elegant looks, luxury details, and reasonable performance, this model was the last of its breed, with the company buckling to a plethora of stronger competitors. The market for these cars is moribund in the US; even in England, very fine examples sell for astonishingly low prices. While I hope this example finds a sympathetic home, I think the price will need pruning.
The interior craftsmanship alone makes this limo stand out, and that it could make 105MPH in its time then brake using discs 10 years before they became a standard feature on big name American cars says a lot. Beautiful and now unique car, hope they have or can get the wheel covers too.
I agree w/ you Nev, there’s something about those polished & shiny wood dashboards that just yell “Luxury”. Very stately!
Craigslist ads mentions the car was used by the Hawker-Siddeley LA-based CEO. I would like to hear about how the car was brought over and managed to remain in LA over the years.
Me too, because I was unable to confirm that Hawker Siddeley ever had a US division at all.
The year my Armstrong Siddeley won second in class at the Forest Grove Concours there was also an airshow in Hillsborough. A pilot was killed when his Siddeley Hawker (same corporate family) crashed in a ball of flames in front of the spectators.
I can confirm that Hawker Siddeley had at least one division in the US, as I worked there for a time back in the ‘70’s. It was however in Lake Success on Long Island, not LA. Doesn’t mean they didn’t have an office elsewhere though. My company car was a Ford LTD, can’t remember any model details, except it seemed massive to my British standards at the time!
Unusually, in the mid-1950s, Armstrong Siddeley offered the same platform with 2.3 litre engines with either four or six cylinders, the former called the 234, the latter the 236. Coincidently, when Mercedes-Benz in 1973 released their facelifted “new generation /8”, in the range was both a 2.3 litre four-cylinder (a W115 badged 230.4) and a 2.3 litre six-cylinder (a W114 badged 230.6).
An elegant saloon I’ve never heard of. Thank you for featuring it.
Very nice car and you don’t see many of these on the market in the U.S. Here is another 1959 Armstrong Siddeley Star Sapphire on the east coast in lots better condition for not much more than what they are asking in this Craigslist Ad. If I was in the market for an Armstrong Siddeley Star Sapphire I would jump on the car below.
https://www.hemmings.com/auction/1959-armstrong-siddeley-star-sapphire-n-andover-ma-266346
If I were in the market I would willingly pay the extra $4k to obtain this car rather than the one here on Barn Finds. Way back in the early 1970’s a friend of my boss in South Africa had a beautiful Star Sapphire painted two tone pale yellow and black. Persian carpets in the back and left front for passengers, this one, and the one on the Hemmings auction above, are the only ones that I have ever seen since then. I now live in their home country of build, UK, but haven’t seen one here as yet. Beautiful cars that are seriously under appreciated. I remember the ride was similar to the Rolls Royce Shadow 1 of the time which a fellow club member owned.
Interesting Craigslist ad for ’59 Armstrong Siddeley – overall winner Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance circa 1982 (?).
It doesn’t pass muster per Hemmings “Every Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance Best of Show winner” by Daniel Strohl – Aug 21, 2013. 1982 winner was ’35 Mercedes-Benz 500K Special Roadster; 1983 – 1930 Isotta Fraschini Tipo 8A SS Castagna Dual Cowl Phaeton.
UKV 530 on Craigslist ad likely valid registration number in country where left hand drive desired – not valid on GOV dot UK DVLA site.
Upon seeing the first photo I immediately thought this could be the Armstrong Siddeley I saw in about 1968 or 1969 parked on Clark at Keystone, across from Burroughs High School in Burbank. It was the first and only Armstrong Siddeley I’ve ever seen, apart from the one I bought 20 years ago in Sydney, Australia. If there is even an ounce of truth or accuracy in the seller’s Cracklist ad, it might be, but frankly I find it hard to belive it is the only LHD Armstrong Siddeley in USA. Getting back to my old RHD Armstrong Siddeley, mine was a coupe utility (pickup truck) ultimately sold by Bonham’s to a very prominent jeweler and car collector.
The one and only Armstrong-Siddeley I’ve seen was in New Hope, Pennsylvania, in 1968. Darn, I should buy this and establish myself as the managing director of Armstrong-Siddeley of America!
Not a single grey poupon joke?
No connection to Rolls-Royce
I didn’t know these even existed but they are certainly nice.. and the one on Hemmings that @RickJ posted the link to is gorgeous imo. I sent the owner of this one an email with the link to that one since his ad says his is the only left hand drive too, so along with the other claims he made that appear to be bogus we’ll see if he gets back to me.