1926 Armstrong Siddeley 14hp Chiltern Coupe

Lot details
Registration No: PM 7646
Chassis No: 24359
Mot Expiry: Exempt

We are indebted to the late-owner's brother for the following description:
"Armstrong Siddeley started in 1919 and was formed from Siddeley Deasy and Armstrong Whitworth. Armstrong Siddeley introduced the 14 HP in May 1923, to add to the existing models of 18 HP and 30HP. The 14 HP had a four cylinder engine, rather than the six cylinder engines in the larger cars. It also had a flat radiator rather than a V shaped radiator. Armstrong Siddeley introduced the Mark II 14HP in 1925 with a number of improvements including a new chassis, four wheel brakes and semi-elliptic springs front and rear. The engine is 1852cc with overhead valves and the model has a three speed gearbox with torque tube to the back axle.
PM 7646 is the model named The Chiltern Coupe made for Armstrong Siddeley by Holbrook of Coventry. The car has a bench front seat, four dropdown windows and a dickey seat wide enough for two passengers. It was sold by the Armstrong Siddeley agents University Motors, Hove and first registered on 8 December 1926. The first owner was Dr AH Copeman, 17 Brunswick Square, Hove. By May 1928 it was owned by Rupert V Cobb, Dumpton Park, Broadstairs. Cobb is believed to have used the car until 1935 and it was then stored at Cobb Brewery in Margate until purchased by Alan White of Westgate-on-Sea in 1960. In 1963 it passed to E Bruce Watson of Broadstairs who bought it for his son Roger V Watson. It has been in the same ownership for 50 years since then.
The car has been very sympathetically restored and retains the original engine of Armstrong Siddeley's updated 1926 design. Mechanically, the car is believed to be in good condition. The body is as original including the leather hood and leather upholstery. The car was repainted in brown and black around 40 years ago and would benefit from further attention. The wings were restored and repainted in the last six years. The body panels are aluminium.
Roger Watson was the 14HP model specialist for the Armstrong Siddeley Owners Club for over 30 years and was an authority on the 14 HP. He used PM 7646 regularly, attended ASOC rallies and competed in VSCC navigation rallies and driving tests at Madresfield and Brooklands. He took part in PM 7646 in the VSCC Golden Jubilee celebration in Malvern in 1984 and 75th Anniversary week in 2009. The total mileage is not known.
The car is VSCC eligible and exempt from MOT."