The Winter Country House Sale

For Auction: 29th November 2011

1924 Crossley 19.6 hp Two-Seat Tourer with Dickey
Registration Number: ND 7114
Chassis Number: 16899
Engine Number: 16900

Crossley Brothers Limited was founded in 1904 and by 1910 had become Crossley Motors Limited. The Gorton, Manchester-based manufacturer had been the first company in Britain to make 4-stroke internal combustion engines and later built Daimler engines under licence. The first Crossley car was a chain-driven 22hp 4-cylinder model that appeared for the 1904 season, but by 1909 shaft drive replaced the chains, and 1909 saw front-wheel brakes introduced.

Despite keeping up with mechanical advances of the day, it wasn't until 1910 that the company made real inroads into the car market with the launch of the 4-litre 20hp model. Proving very popular, the model lived on in modified form until 1925, but saw significant fame as the staff car of the Royal Flying Corps, while the same 20hp chassis was widely used as the base of ambulances and light trucks.

The 19.6hp was a new model that arrived for 1921 and was a more modern design throughout, most notably with regards to the engine with its detachable cylinder head. Although it was cheaper and more fuel-efficient than its sibling 25/30hp model, it offered very similar, sparkling performance.

First registered on the 30th July 1924, ND 7114 is a rare surviving 19.6hp with open two-seater and dickey coachwork. Finished in dark green over black with black artillery wheels, this is a very well-appointed example featuring a single side-mounted spare wheel and a quality nickel-plated lighting set. The predominant feature of the car though is the v-shaped nickel-plated radiator that proudly bears the green enamelled Crossley badge and nicknamed in period the 'trout-nose'. The car is trimmed in dark green deep-buttoned leather, which is in fine condition with a nice patina, while the dash panel is in a bare aluminium finish. Instruments housed therein include C.A.V ammeter and voltmeter, a Crossley Motors branded Eureka oil pressure gauge and a Smiths Motor Accessories speedometer.

Controls were conventional for the time with a right-hand gear change and handbrake, with a central throttle, while mixture control and advance-retard controls are steering wheel mounted.

Coming directly from a deceased's estate, this quality Crossley has been in the same single ownership since at least 1963 according to correspondence in the accompanying history file. The car presently appears to be in wonderful, highly original condition and it has clearly been well-maintained over the years.

A large history file accompanies the car with a good quantity of invoices from A. Archer of Dunmow, some dating back to the early 1970s, as well as a number of expired MOT test certificates and a number of Crossley Register newsletters.

In 2002, a bill for £1203.71 from Archer's relates to some minor 'fettling' and includes refurbishing the S.E.V magneto, stripping and cleaning the Autovac and Smith carburettor, replacing tyres and carrying out an MoT. While the car has recently stood again for a while and is not presently running or MoT tested, it appears to be in very good order and is likely to respond well to recommissioning. The last MoT expired in August 2009, the engine turns freely and the car rolls easily on its wheels. A current V5C and older style V5 registration document are present.

Hammer : £21000.00