LANCHESTER the first-ever, all-British gasoline car

LANCHESTER the first-ever, all-British gasoline car

The first-ever, all-British gasoline car took to the road in Birmingham in December 1895, when Frederick Lanchester fired up his prototype and eased it forward those first, historic feet.

Fred had designed the whole thing from scratch, including the centrally located single-cylinder engine. It had a three-speed gearbox, and was steered by an upright tiller. Its cantilever spring suspension and torsionally stiff chassis gave—for the times—an astounding ride. It could also do 15mph (24kph)—highly illegal at a time when cars were governed at 4mph (6kph) with an escort.

Along with his friend Jim Bishop, Henry Ford burned the midnight oil to build this, his first car, which managed without any brakes at all.

What it couldn’t do was get up hills very well. Driver and passenger were both obliged to get out and help it up all but the gentlest slopes. That didn’t deter the young British maverick, however. Two years later, a new, more powerful and superbly balanced 214ci (3,500cc) twin-cylinder engine was installed. The car could now reach18mph (29kph)

In 1899, the Lanchester Engine Company was formed with plans to make a production car. This was easily feasible because the scrupulous Lanchester had created interchangeable components between each of his prototypes.