Short bonnet, no horsepower?

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No doubt you’ve seen the press release by Bonhams featuring the 1912 Lanchester (see column on the left). The 38hp Detachable Top Open Drive Limousine will be one of the top items in their auction, tomorrow December 1st. Before the first World War not everybody liked the Lancaster styling as many thought that a short bonnet meant no horsepower, although the Lanchester brothers always claimed that the engine was not moved back into the passenger area but that the driver and passenger area was moved forward alongside the engine. Anyway, these were highly smart cars, ranking right up there with Rolls Royce or similar upmarket cars. The black&white picture shows the custom made Lancaster while in the possession of the hugely powerful and wealthy Maharajah of Rewa. The whole limousine top and driver's canopy were separately removable so that the car could be used as an open tourer. Note that it has no left door… it was just a place to sit for a servant, who of course wasn’t allowed to travel inside with the Maharajah. There’s a lot more to tell about this fine motorcar, so listen to noted Lanchester historian Chris Clark and see it in more detail (click!)

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