A Philipine V-shaped Mystery (Upd.1914 Briton 14/16 De Luxe Tourer)

Looks like a Star Torpedo tourer which had a bull nose but rebranded as a "Briton" (The Briton Motor Company was formed after the Star Engineering Company took over the Star Cycle Company)

I understand this is a cca 1914 Briton 14/16 De Luxe Tourer. Only the De Luxe range had the 'bullnose' vee radiator and was about £230 more expensive than the standard range, which had a flat conventional radiator. The De Luxe cars had valanced mudguards, whereas the pared to the bone Standard cars had a simple blade pattern, cheaper to make but much less rigid.

Regards

Vintman

if reference to the Philippines was a mistake, you might consider correcting it before the article is archived. You could change it to Malay to encourage further debate.

May one ask WHY, it is a Philipine mystery, when the Photo is taken in Singapore ?
Are the lady's descendants Philipino, perhaps ?
It all adds to the Provenance.
Stuart

I agree with Larry Prange and Craig Gillingham. The primary evidence is that this car is a Briton. This is a make about which very little is known, but it was owned by the same family that owned the Star works in Wolverhampton. Star produced a new 3 litre bullnose in 1913 that was popular, and Star was a much distributed car in the then British Empire. There are at least two of these cars still around. My guess is that Briton's took over the basic Star 3 litre design and modified the radiator slightly. I would put the car no later than 1913 because of the lamps. Star introduced electrics some time in 1914.

I agree with Craig, that it must be a Briton Car. Have a closer look on the radiator sign and especially on the fixing of the spare-wheel. This looks exactly like on this ad:

http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Transport/Cars/Briton/Advert7.gif

You can see the V-shaped grill here:

http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Transport/Cars/Briton/Advert6.gif

I don't know what this car is, but I am not so sure this is Metallurgique. I cannot find one photo on the web or in my books that shows a Metallurgique having this radiator. The closest to this particular radiator shows the radiaotr fill tube attached to the sloping front of the radiator,not on the top flat of the radiator. Speaking of the flat, the flat portion of the radiator extends further back than others seen on the web.

I've no idea what it is, but I suggest a little more digging for all.

why Philippine ?

It is a 1910/14 Metallurgique despite the name on the radiator and be in the 20 to 30 HP range. The tapered scuttle tends to indicate a 1913/14 date.

It looks like a C 1910/14 Metallurgique, possibly a 20/24 or a 24/28 although the radiator badge indicates otherwise. The tapered scuttle is indicative of the later date. Odds are it was yellow or purple painted as they were popular Metallurgique colours.

Actually, it may be the 14/16hp De Luxe.

I think this is a Briton car, perhaps the 10-12hp model? I couldn't tell you what year it is.