Lot details Registration No: VAS 487 Chassis No: 34355 Mot Expiry: June 2004
First Birmingham and, more latterly, Coventry-built Lanchesters owed nothing to the designs and patents of the other pioneer car makers, Benz and Panhard and so on, for they were products of Frederick Lanchester (1868-1946), one of the most original thinkers of the formative years of the once great British motor industry.
Although Her Majesty the Queen made her first public appearance, aged six weeks, in a Lanchester, even Royal patronage could not save the Birmingham firm from being forced into amalgamation with Daimler in Coventry, where the 14/6 chassis on offer was first laid down.
According to the vendor, this Lanchester 14/6 with Doctor's Coupe coachwork by Charlesworth - one of only two such cars made in 1938 and the only example known to have survived - was discovered in a garage in 1970 with only 8000 miles on the clock having lain unused since 1940.
Following restoration of the interior, it then spent the next twenty-five years in Sweden from where it was acquired by the current owner. The 57,000 mileage displayed when entered for this sale is believed to be the genuine total for the car from new. The current condition of the chassis is said to be excellent, the coachwork good and the blue over black paintwork average. The 1809cc 6-cylinder engine is reportedly in very good order and the 4-speed pre-selector transmission excellent. It is likely to be unique too.
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