Lanchester Ten

Lanchester Ten LA10
six-light saloon 1936 example
Overview
Manufacturer	The Lanchester Motor Company Limited Sandy Lane, Radford, Coventry CV1 4DX
Production	Approximately 12,250 units mid-1932 to mid 1936
Body and chassis
Body style	Catalogued: 4-door six-light saloon 4-door four-light sports saloon 2-door 2+2-seater fixed head coupé 2-door 4-seater open car by Martin Walter Chassis provided for coachbuilders
Layout	FR layout
Related	Lanchester 15/18, (Daimler Light Twenty 16/20), Daimler Fifteen, BSA Ten
Powertrain
Engine	1,203 cc (73.4 cu in) (and 1,444 cc (88.1 cu in), 1936 only) four-cylinder in-line overhead valve water-cooled
Transmission	4-speed preselective Self-changing gearbox and Fluid Flywheel through an open propellor shaft to a worm-drive for the half-floating back axle
Dimensions
Wheelbase	102 1⁄2 in (2,600 mm) track 48 1⁄2 in (1,230 mm)
Length	157 1⁄2 in (4,000 mm)
Width	57 3⁄4 in (1,470 mm)
Kerb weight	21 long cwt (2,400 lb; 1,100 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor	new model

Lanchester Eleven LA11
Six-light saloon (Car shown has an identical body but larger 14 engine)
Overview
Manufacturer	The Lanchester Motor Company Limited
Production	mid-1936 to 1939
Body and chassis
Body style	Catalogued: 4-door six-light saloon 4-door four-light sports saloon Chassis provided for coachbuilders
Layout	FR layout
Related	Lanchester Fourteen Roadrider and Daimler New Fifteen
Powertrain
Engine	1,444 cc (88.1 cu in) four-cylinder in-line overhead valve water-cooled
Transmission	4-speed preselective Self-changing gearbox and Fluid Flywheel
Dimensions
Wheelbase	102 1⁄2 in (2,600 mm) track 48 1⁄2 in (1,230 mm)
Length	157 1⁄2 in (4,000 mm)
Width	57 3⁄4 in (1,470 mm)
Kerb weight	24 long cwt 2 qr (2,740 lb or 1,240 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor	Lanchester Ten LA10
Successor	Lanchester Ten LD10

Lanchester Ten (1946–1951) LD10
Standard all-steel saloon, registered 14 April 1947
Overview
Manufacturer	The Lanchester Motor Company Limited Sandy Lane, Radford, Coventry CV1 4DX
Production	3,030 units 1946 to 1951
Powertrain
Engine	1,287 cc (78.5 cu in) overhead valve inline-four
Transmission	4-speed with preselector and Fluid Flywheel
Dimensions
Length	159 in (4,000 mm)
Width	63 in (1,600 mm)
Height	58 in (1,500 mm)
Chronology
Successor	Lanchester Fourteen

The Lanchester Ten and Lanchester Eleven were sold by The Lanchester Motor Company Limited from the Ten's announcement in September 1932 until 1951. Quite different from previous Lanchesters, the Ten was the second (it followed the Lanchester 15/18) of Lanchester's new owner's new Daimler-linked Lanchester range. The names Ten and Eleven referred to the engine's rating for the annual tax and did not relate to the engine's power output.

Part of the thinking behind BSA's acquisition of Lanchester was, in consideration of the international economic depression, to extend the BSA group's range of cars into the sectors between those filled by Daimler and the three-wheeled 'cars' of BSA Cars without affecting Daimler's super-luxury image.

Ultimately the smallest Lanchester became far too expensive for the size of car it was, few were sold and production ended in 1951.

The Lanchester Ten announced in September 1932 shared its basic chassis with the BSA Ten which would be announced the following month. The design of its four-cylinder engine it shared with the six-cylinder Lanchester 15/18 (Daimler Light Twenty 16/20), which had been in production for twelve months, and its engine represented just four-sixths of the 1805 cc Daimler Fifteen announced with this Ten. The smallest Lanchester ever produced it was also the one produced in the greatest numbers, with approximately 12,250 sold.

Additional details to those in the tables

The new engine's four-cylinder design was on the same general lines as the six-cylinder Lanchester 15/18 (not Eighteen) though with a much reduced bore and stroke taking down the swept volume from 2,504 cubic centimetres (153 cu in) to 1,203 cubic centimetres (73 cu in). Its crankshaft was provided with three main bearings. A 1287 cc, 40 b.h.p. (at 4,000 r.p.m.) version was produced, with a 7.4:1 compression ratio, and 60 lbs. ft. maximum torque at 2,000 r.p.m.

The overhead valves had single springs but there were return springs to keep the rockers to the pushrods. Engine accessories were mounted: distributor on a level with the cylinder head, the coil just in front. The petrol pump, oil filter and oil diprod were mounted aft of the distributor.