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Lanchester Cars

I'm a bit late to these wonderful stories but I do remember Mrs Lanchester when she lived in Blenhiem Rd, Moseley. I worked as a Saturday boy in a greengrocers which she used. She would come to the shop regularly with her housekeeper and buy her fruit and veg. She was a completely charming lady who was obviously very well to do but was polite and grateful for service. An old school gentlewoman. At the time I had no idea of her connection to the Lanchester family.
 
The early years…
“1895 experiments began with a single-cylinder engine fitted into a a launch on the River Thames… The first car on the road early Sep 1896, and believed to be the first petrol 4 wheel vehicle car built in GB….The Lancaster Engine Co. Ltd. was formed in Dec 1899…starting operations at Armourer Mills, Montgomery Street, and expanding in premises in Liverpool Street...now employing over 500 men…”
(The Engineer 1904)

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What a fascinating history. I'm a bit of a petrol head for motor history especially local makes and I think I've neglected the Lanchester brand in the past. Plus
we seem to have several people on this forum with direct connection to the name.
The only Lanchester I can remember is one owned by a teacher at my senior school in the sixties. No idea what model but It was large and stately. It was rather unusual even then.
 
I didn't know to that. I've been to the (oddly named) Think Tank several times though not recently and can't remember the electric Lanchester.
Nothing wrong with plywood for the body. stronger than the gauge of steel they use on current car bodies and rust- proof.
 
Too expensive to build obviously.
Apparently, in the 1920s Lanchester also built a hybrid petrol - electric car, don't know if the pictured one is a hybrid. Nothing is new is it?
 
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