Formerly the property of Rod Blood, President of the Veteran Motor Car Club of America, 1942-44
Formerly the property of Rod Blood, President of the Veteran Motor Car Club of America, 1942-44 1908 NAPIER 45 HP TYPE 23A SEVEN SEATER TOURING CAR Chassis No. 4234 Engine No. 3347 UK Registration: LB 5500 Engine: six-cylinder, 4" W 5" bore & stroke, 377 cu" (6,178 cc), side valve (L-head), water-cooled, dual ignition. Transmission: multi-plate clutch, 3-speed & reverse gearbox with right-hand gate change. Final drive by shaft to bevel gear back axle. Chassis: pressed steel with semi-elliptic front springs and platform rear suspension. Wheelbase 11 foot 2 inches, track 4 foot 8 inches. Brakes: internal expanding on rear wheels from right-hand lever, external-contracting on transmission from foot pedal. Wooden wheels with detachable rims, originally fitted with 880 W 120 beaded-edge tyres. Right-hand drive. Price when new: chassis: £795; complete car with touring bodywork £915. The Napier story is dominated by two individuals: Montague Napier and Selwyn Francis Edge. The former was the head of the respected precision engineering firm of D. Napier & Son that since 1808 had been in business in Lambeth, South London, and in 1900 Napier entered into an agreement with Edge that provided him with the exclusive rights to sell all of the firm's output of motorcars. These Edge vigorously promoted by publicity stunts and participation in competitions of every sort including motor racing. In the first years of the new century the most important event in the motor sport calendar became the Gordon Bennett Trophy race. It was run annually and the competing cars represented their country of origin. When Edge won the Trophy in 1902 it was a personal triumph, but also a major achievement for Napier, and the first British motor racing success. There was a surge in demand for Napiers and a large new motorcar factory was built at Acton, West London. A collaborative Napier and Edge initiative was the introduction of a six-cylinder motorcar to the 1904 range of models. Despite Edge's claims, Napier did not invent the six-cylinder engine, nor was it the first firm to use one for a motorcar, but it was the first to make the six-cylinder car a commercial success. For those that could afford them, a 'Noiseless Napier' rapidly became the English car to own. At the end of June 1907 Edge led a team of three 60hp Napiers in an assault on the World's 24-hour speed record at Brooklands track. He succeeded admirably, averaging 65.9 mph and creating a record that stood for eighteen years, whilst the other two stock cars averaged 64.1 and 63.5 mph respectively. The event achieved world-wide publicity and added to the demand for Napier motorcars and the respect in which they were held. The 45hp model, the Type 23A, was introduced in September 1908. Whereas the earlier 40hp model had a 'square' engine, that is with a 4-inch bore and stroke, the 45hp had an extra inch on the stroke to provide additional torque from the engine at low speeds. A new design of clutch and gearbox was fitted, the former a neat multiple-disc unit, whilst the gearbox provided direct drive when the top speed was engaged. The Autocar magazine of the 19th September 1908 opened its review of the 45hp car with the words: 'We are pleased this week to give publicity to the special features of this, one of the new types of Napier cars, which Messrs. S. F. Edge & Co. are putting on the market for 1909. The chassis under review is the particular model designed for the Right Honourable H. H. Asquith, the Prime Minister, the first one to be turned out at the works having been delivered to, and now being in use by, him. Lord Derby has also become possessed of two similar cars.' The journal concluded its lengthy review by commenting: 'Improvement in detail throughout their whole construction is the dominating note of the 1909 Napier models, of which this taking 45hp car is not the least interesting.' The Napier works records show that this car, Number 4134, left the Acton factory on the 30th
Formerly the property of Rod Blood, President of the Veteran Motor Car Club of America, 1942-44
Formerly the property of Rod Blood, President of the Veteran Motor Car Club of America, 1942-44 1908 NAPIER 45 HP TYPE 23A SEVEN SEATER TOURING CAR Chassis No. 4234 Engine No. 3347 UK Registration: LB 5500 Engine: six-cylinder, 4" W 5" bore & stroke, 377 cu" (6,178 cc), side valve (L-head), water-cooled, dual ignition. Transmission: multi-plate clutch, 3-speed & reverse gearbox with right-hand gate change. Final drive by shaft to bevel gear back axle. Chassis: pressed steel with semi-elliptic front springs and platform rear suspension. Wheelbase 11 foot 2 inches, track 4 foot 8 inches. Brakes: internal expanding on rear wheels from right-hand lever, external-contracting on transmission from foot pedal. Wooden wheels with detachable rims, originally fitted with 880 W 120 beaded-edge tyres. Right-hand drive. Price when new: chassis: £795; complete car with touring bodywork £915. The Napier story is dominated by two individuals: Montague Napier and Selwyn Francis Edge. The former was the head of the respected precision engineering firm of D. Napier & Son that since 1808 had been in business in Lambeth, South London, and in 1900 Napier entered into an agreement with Edge that provided him with the exclusive rights to sell all of the firm's output of motorcars. These Edge vigorously promoted by publicity stunts and participation in competitions of every sort including motor racing. In the first years of the new century the most important event in the motor sport calendar became the Gordon Bennett Trophy race. It was run annually and the competing cars represented their country of origin. When Edge won the Trophy in 1902 it was a personal triumph, but also a major achievement for Napier, and the first British motor racing success. There was a surge in demand for Napiers and a large new motorcar factory was built at Acton, West London. A collaborative Napier and Edge initiative was the introduction of a six-cylinder motorcar to the 1904 range of models. Despite Edge's claims, Napier did not invent the six-cylinder engine, nor was it the first firm to use one for a motorcar, but it was the first to make the six-cylinder car a commercial success. For those that could afford them, a 'Noiseless Napier' rapidly became the English car to own. At the end of June 1907 Edge led a team of three 60hp Napiers in an assault on the World's 24-hour speed record at Brooklands track. He succeeded admirably, averaging 65.9 mph and creating a record that stood for eighteen years, whilst the other two stock cars averaged 64.1 and 63.5 mph respectively. The event achieved world-wide publicity and added to the demand for Napier motorcars and the respect in which they were held. The 45hp model, the Type 23A, was introduced in September 1908. Whereas the earlier 40hp model had a 'square' engine, that is with a 4-inch bore and stroke, the 45hp had an extra inch on the stroke to provide additional torque from the engine at low speeds. A new design of clutch and gearbox was fitted, the former a neat multiple-disc unit, whilst the gearbox provided direct drive when the top speed was engaged. The Autocar magazine of the 19th September 1908 opened its review of the 45hp car with the words: 'We are pleased this week to give publicity to the special features of this, one of the new types of Napier cars, which Messrs. S. F. Edge & Co. are putting on the market for 1909. The chassis under review is the particular model designed for the Right Honourable H. H. Asquith, the Prime Minister, the first one to be turned out at the works having been delivered to, and now being in use by, him. Lord Derby has also become possessed of two similar cars.' The journal concluded its lengthy review by commenting: 'Improvement in detail throughout their whole construction is the dominating note of the 1909 Napier models, of which this taking 45hp car is not the least interesting.' The Napier works records show that this car, Number 4134, left the Acton factory on the 30th
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
