A mysterious Star from Sweden

Thank you for this interesting information.
Do you know anything about previous or current owners?

For over 60 years I have had one of this model which is a few months younger than the one in the ‘photo and I have researched this model for allof that time and I suspect have the largest archive of information. I am currently putting together all the information on this model and I have listed it in five different types. An extract from my volume is as follows:-

“I have some reservations in attempting to date these cars with any accuracy for a number of reasons, which come out in this volume.
The only significant alterations during the period covered are the changes to engine and the chassis. I have separated these changes into five types as below.

TYPE I Single-cylinder engine From November 1903
TYPE II Twin-cylinder 1902 engine From February 1904
TYPE III Twin-cylinder 1904 engine Short wheelbase From Second Quarter 1904
TYPE IV Twin-cylinder Long wheelbase redesigned chassis From late 1905
TYPE V Twin-cylinder 9-h.p. engine mechanical inlet valves. Early 1907 ?

TYPE I A Star car was announced in September 1903 having a single cylinder engine of 6 h.p. and was shown in an unfinished state at the National Show held in the Agricultural Hall in November 1903. It may have been shown at the Edinburgh Show in February 1904 , if ready. It was shown at Crystal Palace later in February 1904. What is not clear is whether it was shown at Cordingley’s Show at The Agricultural Hall in March 1904. The published catalogue lists the 6-h.p. Little Star but the only mention is of a twin-cylinder fitted with the 1902 engine. The 6-h.p. had probably been superseded at this time.

TYPE II. This version appears to have been a stop-gap using the old (1902) engine until the final design of engine became available. It is readily identified by an 8 louvre bonnet and the steering column passes through the floor and not the dashboard. Certainly two cars had been delivered before the end of March 1904 but one delivered in May 1904 would appear to be of the later, TYPE III, design. It is possible that the engine used in this version of the Little Star is not the same as the 7-h.p.(larger car) tonneau shown in March 1904 which is listed with an engine having a 4” bore and not 3½”.

TYPE III. Identified by a 10 louvre bonnet, steering column passing through the dashboard and short front dumb irons. It is possible this type was available by May19th 1904 see AF 83 and FK 62 registered in June appear to be this version.

TYPE IV The car shown at the Stanley Show in November 1905 had substantial alterations made to the chassis. The chassis is longer, the track wider, the rear springs are mounted outside instead of under the chassis and the countershaft bracket incorporates the front of the rear spring hanger pivot as well as the tie rod. The gearbox is mounted further from the clutch which is fitted to its own shaft and not as an extension to the gearbox input shaft. Later cars had an I section front axle and the honeycomb radiator appears to have become standard.

TYPE V The 9-h.p. with mechanically operated inlet valves replaced the 7-h.p. and only gets a mention in the magazine reports for the November 1907, There is no write-up and the specification can only be found in the 1908 Catalogue. It would appear that the only difference is the engine which was placed in the 7-h.p. chassis. This version appears to have been replaced by March 1908 with the 8 h.p. which had a pressed steel chassis and a different engine.

NOTE A longer wheelbase had been used for both cars and commercials pre the TYPE IV period as a longer chassis was used with the limousine shown at Crystal Palace in 1905 ( Figs25 & 27) . I have not stated the honeycomb radiator as a distinct phase as it was available in February 1904 and might have been used on Little Stars before late 1906. (See car registered T 372 Gallery No 18)”


The car in the picture, ( I have a number of pictures of it taken when it was with a previous owner) is a TYPE IV but it has the later hub nuts making it 1906 – probably in the first half.
There are some pictures of this car, as I have been led to believe, when nearly new on the Surrey Vintage Vehicle website.
Star did not fit a four-seater body on this model until the type V which used a swing seat tonneau, The car in your picture is a three seater the front passenger space being the access to the tonneau. The four-seater in Australia was supplied as a two-seater but the first owner added a tonneau – see Testimonials in the 1914 Star Catalogue.

I would also add the following comment regarding the first Star car built - I have spent days going through contemporary newspapers!

"Star Cycle Company Report for 1898
WOLVERHAMPTON CHRONICLE November 23rd 1898
The Star Cycle Company.
The second annual general meeting of the above company was held at the Victoria Hotel, Wolverhampton, on Friday (18th) afternoon..........
. ......... The shareholders would notice £300 expended in the motor-car account. That was in the nature of an investment for future trade. They had bought a motor-car and three motors, and at present were taking these as a pattern. The managing director had been to Paris, Germany and Belgium, and the company had secured the best the best form of motor-car on the market. They hoped to make satisfactory arrangements, so that they could put them on the market at such prices which would not only be of service to the public but profit to the company . "

It would be interesting to know what the make of the 3 motors were!


This implies a car could not have been completed before 1899 and there is certainly no mention of one running before April, but it could have been running a few weeks before

I hope this is of help and if the present owner of the car would lime to get in touch I can supply a copy of my "book" virtually all contemporary reports from 12 runs of the magazines of the period. Some things I cannot issue because of possible copyright issues.

Neale Lawson