BSA Scout
Nine open 2-seater 1935 series I
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | BSA Cycles Limited |
| Production | early 1935 |
| Assembly | Birmingham |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | sports car |
| Body style | open 2-seater, open 4-seater, coupé |
| Layout | front-engine, front-wheel-drive |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1,075 cc 4-cylinder in-line sv |
| Transmission | three-speed manual gearbox, multi-plate clutch with a worm final drive. From the differential assembly a short universally jointed propeller shaft runs out transversely to each front wheel |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2-seater 90 in (2,300 mm) 4-seater 93 in (2,400 mm)) coupé 93 in (2,400 mm) |
| Length | 2-seater 135 in (3,400 mm) 4-seater 146 in (3,700 mm)) coupé 140 in (3,600 mm) |
| Width | 52 in (1,300 mm) |
| Height | 2-seater 54 1⁄2 in (1,380 mm) 4-seater 57 in (1,400 mm)) coupé 54 1⁄2 in (1,380 mm) |
| Kerb weight | 2-seater 11 long cwt 2 qr (1,290 lb or 580 kg) 4-seater 12 long cwt 2 qr (1,400 lb or 640 kg) coupé 14 long cwt 0 qr (1,570 lb or 710 kg) |
| Nine engine | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | BSA Cycles Limited |
| Production | 1933? to 1936 |
| Combustion chamber | |
| Configuration | 4-cylinder in-line |
| Displacement | 1,075 cubic centimetres (66 cu in) |
| Cylinder bore | 60 mm (2.4 in) |
| Piston stroke | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Cylinder block alloy | cast iron, in one piece with crankcase |
| Cylinder head alloy | cast iron, detachable |
| Valvetrain | side-valve |
| Combustion | |
| Fuel system | Solex carburettor, mechanical pump from 10 gallon tank at rear |
| Oil system | gear type pump by skew gears from crankshaft |
| Cooling system | water |
| Output | |
| Power output | not reported Tax rating 8.9 h.p. |
| Ten engine | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | BSA Cycles Limited |
| Production | 1936 to 1939 |
| Combustion chamber | |
| Configuration | 4-cylinder in-line |
| Displacement | 1,203 cubic centimetres (73 cu in) |
| Cylinder bore | 63.5 mm (2.50 in) |
| Piston stroke | 95 mm (3.7 in) |
| Cylinder block alloy | cast iron, in one piece with crankcase |
| Cylinder head alloy | cast iron, detachable |
| Valvetrain | side-valve, camshaft driven by duplex chain |
| Combustion | |
| Fuel system | Solex carburettor, (optional twin an extra five guineas), mechanical pump from 10 gallon tank at rear (6 gallons on four-seater and coupé) |
| Fuel type | petol (tank has a quick-action filler cap) |
| Oil system | gear type pump by skew gears from crankshaft, de luxe tourer and coupé cars have an oil-pressure-warning green light on the dashboard, other cars have a pressure gauge |
| Cooling system | water |
| Output | |
| Power output | not reported Tax rating 9.8 h.p. |
The BSA Scout is a small open two-seater front-wheel drive car, manufactured and sold by subsidiaries of The Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited, launched at the beginning of April 1935. On account of its front-wheel drive and low centre of gravity it was said to be remarkably stable taking corners in safety which would be impossible with a normal design. This new addition to the range of small open cars for young motorists was intended to further embellish BSA's reputation for sound design, robust construction and complete reliability.
At the front of the car was the engine, clutch, gearbox and a short stiff propeller shaft to the worm and spur driven differential and front wheel brake. All these mechanicals were (flexibly) mounted as one unit positioned in a reverse to the usual order, the differential at the very front of the car.
The car's four-cylinder, 9 (RAC) horsepower (6.7 kW) 1,075 cc (65.6 cu in) engine and transmission had powered thousands of BSA three-wheelers over the previous five years
The gearbox was centrally controlled by a lever in the facia providing three forward speeds and reverse The propeller shafts from the differential to each wheel had flexible fabric joints and enclosed universal joints. The multi-plate clutch had two light alloy discs with cork inserts and ran in oil.
The conventionally designed chassis was made of channel section side members suitably braced by cross members. Suspension was by eight quarter-elliptic springs in front—four to each wheel giving independent front springing. Rear suspension was by ordinary half-elliptical springs to a beam axle.
The single brake for the front wheels was a part of the differential unit. The rear brakes were on each wheel.
Electrical equipment was six-volt and a five lamp set supplied with dip and switch control to the head lights was included. The tyre size is 4 1⁄2 by 18 inches (110 mm × 460 mm).
The pneumatic cushioned upholstery was leather and the frame of the body of ash panelled in aluminium. An open two-seater it had attractive and sporting lines yet with enough leg and elbow room.
During 1936 an open four-seater sports tourer body also became available at £169.10.0. and a two-seater coupé complete with recessed traffic indicators, sunshine roof and other closed car fittings: £185. These bodies became known as series 3.
A new two-seater drophead coupé was announced in August 1939 (similar to the car which won the coachwork award in the Welsh Rally. The price was to be £195
Initially (open two-seater) £149.10.0
The car was built for speeds approaching 70 mph (110 km/h). Petrol consumption was expected to be an average of 35 to 40 miles per imperial gallon (8.1 to 7.1 L/100 km; 29 to 33 mpg‑US).
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Wikipedia