Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire (motor car)

Infobox Automobile


name=Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire
manufacturer=Armstrong Siddeley Motors
production=1952–1960 10,084 builtcite book |last=Sedgwick |first=M. |authorlink= |coauthors= Gillies.M|title=A-Z of Cars 1945-1970|year=1986 |publisher=Bay View Books |location=Devon, UK |id=ISBN 1-870979-39-7]
predecessor=
successor=none
class= executive
body_style=
engine=

"For the jet aero-engine, see Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire"

The Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire was a large post-war saloon automobile made by the British company of Armstrong Siddeley. A distinctive element of the Sapphires was the V-shaped radiator which had the winged Armstrong Siddeley sphinx motif mounted on it. On some models the sphinx sported jet engines on its sides.

There were a number of Sapphire models produced between 1952 and 1960 when the company ceased car production.

apphire 234

Infobox Automobile generation
name = Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire 234
production = 1955–1958
803 made
engine = 2,290 cc Straight-4
body_style =FR 4-door saloon
wheelbase = 111 inches (2,819 mm)cite book |last=Culshaw |first= |authorlink= |coauthors=Horrobin |title=Complete Catalogue of British Cars |year=1974 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |id=ISBN 0-333-16689-2]
length = 180 inches (4,572 mm)
width = 68.5 inches (1,734 mm)The 234 was produced from from 1955 to 1958 and used a four-cylinder 2,290 cc version of the 346 engine. The transmission was a manual four-speed gearbox with optional overdrive.

803 were produced.

apphire 236

Infobox Automobile generation
name = Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire 236


production = 1955–1957
603 made
engine = 2,310 cc Straight-6
body_style =FR 4-door saloon
wheelbase = 111 inches (2,819 mm)
length = 180 inches (4,572 mm)
width = 68.5 inches (1,734 mm)

The 236 was made between 1955 and 1957 and used the six-cylinder 2,310 cc engine previously seen in the Armstrong Siddeley Whitley. A conventional manual gearbox was available but many were fitted with a Lockheed Manumatic "clutchless" transmission.

603 were produced.

apphire 346

Infobox Automobile generation
name = Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire 346


production = 1953–1958
7,697 made
engine = 3,435 cc Straight-6
body_style = FR 4-door saloon
limousine
wheelbase = Auto in|114|0
133 inches (3,378 mm) (limousine)
length = Auto in|193|0
Auto in|212|0 (limousine)
width = Auto in|72|0
height = Auto in|63|0The 346 was the first of the Sapphires introduced late in 1952 for sale in 1953 and continuing until 1958. The six-cylinder 3,435 cc engine had hemi-spherical combustion chambers and could have optional twin Stromberg carburettors (£25 extra) which increased the output from 125 to 150 bhp (93 to 112 kW) giving a top speed in excess of Auto mph|100|0. The front suspension was independent coil springs with a rigid axle and leaf springs at the rear. The Girling hydraulic brakes used Auto in|11|0 drums all round.

The body was available as a four- or six-light (two or three windows on each side) at the same cost and with either a bench or individual front seats. The seats were finished in leather, with the dashboard and door-cappings in walnut veneer. A heater was standard.

It was introduced with the choice of a Wilson electrically-controlled "finger-tip" four-speed pre-selector gearbox as a £30 option, or four-speed synchromesh gearbox. It became available with automatic transmission (Rolls Royce four-speed) with the introduction of the Mark II in 1954.

A long-wheelbase model was launched in 1955 as a limousine version which had the pre-selector gearbox as standard, however, there was an optional four-speed manual column-change gearbox available.

A saloon with the optional twin-carburettors and synchromesh transmission tested by the British magazine "The Motor" in 1953 had a top speed of convert|100.1|mph|km/h|abbr=on and could accelerate from 0–convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on in 13.0 seconds. A fuel consumption of convert|18.7|mpgimp|L/100 km mpgus was recorded. The test car cost £1,757 including taxes.cite journal | authorlink = Unsigned |title = The Armstrong Siddeley Saphire| journal =The Motor| volume = | pages = | date = October 7 1953]

7,697 were produced.

Star Sapphire

Infobox Automobile generation
name = Armstrong Siddeley Star Sapphire


production = 1958–1960
980 made
engine = 3,990 cc Straight-6
body_style =FR 4-door saloon
limousine
wheelbase = 114 inches (2,896 mm)
135 inches (3,429 mm) (limousine)
length = 194 inches (4,928 mm)
212 inches (5,385 mm) (limousine)
width = 74 inches (1,880 mm)
height = Auto in|63.5|0The first Star Sapphire saloon prototype was built on a converted 346 Sapphire chassis. The production models replaced the Sapphire in late 1958 and continued through to the summer of 1960. The six-cylinder engine was enlarged to 3,990 cc with twin Zenith carburettors as standard and power output increased to [SAE] 165 bhp (167 hp, 123 kW), or [DIN] 145 bhp (147 hp, 108 kW).

Servo-assisted Auto in|12 |0 Girling disc brakes were used on the front wheels and power steering was added. A BorgWarner type DG automatic gearbox was usually fitted.

902 saloons were produced as well as 77 long-wheelbase cars, 73 of which were built as limousines (including 2 prototypes). The limousine version was made in 1960 only and had a single-carburettor engine and manual gearbox (the automatic gearbox was fitted to 12 examples). The remaining 4 chassis were used for 3 hearses and an ambulance. 980 Star Sapphires were produced.

A Star Saphire saloon with automatic transmission was tested by the British magazine "The Motor" in 1959. It had a top speed of convert|99.6|mph|km/h|abbr=on and could accelerate from 0–convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on in 14.8 seconds. A fuel consumption of convert|15.4|mpgimp|L/100 km mpgus was recorded. The test car cost £2,498 including taxes of £735.cite journal | authorlink = Unsigned |title = The Armstrong Siddeley Star Saphire| journal =The Motor| volume = | pages = | date = June 10, 1959]

tar Sapphire Mk. II

Infobox Automobile generation
name = Armstrong Siddeley Star Sapphire MkII


production = 1960
1 made
engine = 3,990 cc Straight-6The Mk II version did not get beyond prototype stage in 1960 and only one was produced.

References

External references

* [http://www.siddeley.com/sphinx.html Armstrong Siddeley Sphinx motif]
* [http://www.designchambers.com/wolfhound/wolfhoundASMCar3.htm retrospective history, focusing on early Sapphire engines]

*A-Z of Cars 1945-1970. Bay View Books 1986. Michael Sedgwick and Mark Gillies. ISBN 1-870979-39-7