Armstrong Siddeley Motor Cars

Armstrong Siddeley was one of the leading brands of British motor car from the 1920s to the 1960s. It created luxury cars that were renowned for their high standards.

In this comprehensive book, David Welch tells the story of the marque and its various models, sprinkled with interesting anecdotes ranging from the complex company history to remarkable journeys achieved by Armstrong Siddeley owners. This includes the early years of Armstrong Siddeley and the relationships with Herbert Austin and Lionel de Rothschild, as well as its later sale to the Hawker Aircraft Company.

The author covers the many cars developed by Armstrong Siddeley over the years, including the Siddeley 100 hp racing car produced for the 1905 Gordon Bennett Trophy, the Stoneleigh light car designed to compete with the Austin 7, the 18 hp and 30 hp, the Siddeley Special Six, the Sapphire 346 which took part in the Monte Carlo rally, and the Atalanta. The author also describes numerous other models and a plethora of coachwork styles available from the company and independent coachbuilders up to 1930.

The book also includes revolutionary inventions made by the company, such as the introduction of the pre-selector or self-changing gear box and its use in everything from tanks and buses to racing cars.

Drawing on previously unpublished photographs from the manufacturer’s archives and the author’s own collection, this is the definitive illustrated guide to one of the classic British car manufacturers of a bygone era.