 1950 Eighteen |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |
1951 Lea-Francis Eighteen news, pictures, and information | ||
| Tweet | ||
The Lea-Francis Company began from humble beginnings, just as many other British firms of the same era evolved. In 1895 Richard Lea and Graham Francis combined their talents for the purpose of making bicycles and soon the Lea & Francis Ltd company had been formed in Coventry, England. The creation of bicycles soon led into motorcycles. In 1903 a separate company was formed for automobile production. The 3.5-liter three-cylinder tourer was designed by Alexander Craig and it came with a very hefty price tag. Only two cars were ever created and sold; the rights were later sold to the Singer organization.
The Lea and Francis duo would return to automobile production after the close of the war. This second attempt featured a four-cylinder engine that had a more modest displacement size, but one that was better suited to the vehicle. Just over 20 examples were created; though it was not a success, the partners decided to continue with automobile production. A new design was created and it was powered by an even smaller engine. It was introduced in 1923 and was more successful than its predecessors. By the mid-1920s, the company was making a profit.
In 1924 the Lea and Francis Company explored the racing market. They created a tourer that was propelled by a four-cylinder engine that produced 10 horsepower. It was raced at the Royal Automobile Club's Six-Day Trial where it performed rather well. In the years to come, the design would evolve culminating into many sport-touring designs all powered by overhead-valve engines. To increase power, the company adapted a Rootes-type supercharger in 1927. After continual improvements in both design and to the mechanical components, a Lea-Francis car won the Ulster Tourist Trophy Race in Ireland.
When the company used the Meadows engine, such as in the car that won the Tourist Trophy, the cars were rather competitive and scored some significant victories. By the close of the 1920s, the company introduced the LFS 14/40 powered by a 1.7-liter twin-cam Vulcan-built engine. It had many problems resulting in a poor reputation for the Lea-Francis cars and diminished sales. By 1931, the company was in receivership. Mr. Francis had left the company years prior; now it was Richard Lea's turn. Production continued, though only 29 units were created in 1932. Sales would continue to drop in the years to come. By 1936, the company sold no vehicles; the assets of the company were sold.
The assets were purchased by Hugh Rose and George Leek, forming the Lea-Francis Engineering Ltd. in 1937. Between 1937 and the start of the Second World War, around a hundred examples of the Twelve and Fourteen were created.
During the War the company produced products in support of the war effort. This led to a profit which held production resume at the end of the War. In early 1946, a total of fourteen cars were created, all clothed in bodies created by the A.P Aircraft Ltd. Company. Two years later, the Eighteen sedan and two-seater sports car was introduced. These were quickly followed by station wagons known as Estate cars which would remain in production until 1954. 1954 was the year the Lea-Francis Company would leave automobile production and turn their attention to other products. In the very early 1960s, the company attempted a return to automobile production with a car known as the Lynx. It quickly disappeared and never attracted much excitement or attention.
In 1962, the company's assets were sold.
2.5-Liter Eighteen
The Lea-Francis 2.5-liter Eighteen was introduced in 1950 and offered in both Sports Roadster trim and four-door saloon. The four-cylinder 2.5-liter overhead-valve engine produced nearly 100 horsepower and was mated to a four-speed manual gearbox. The elegant bodies were suspended in place by torsion bars in the front and a rigid axle in the rear with semi-elliptic leaf springs. A top speed of 90 mph was possible with the saloon and around 100 mph with the Sports Roadster.
In 1951, the Roadsters sold for $2800 while the Saloons fetched nearly $3900. Total production for both the Fourteen and Eighteen were rather modest, with around 600 combined units produced in 1951.
By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2008
For more information and related vehicles, click hereThe Lea and Francis duo would return to automobile production after the close of the war. This second attempt featured a four-cylinder engine that had a more modest displacement size, but one that was better suited to the vehicle. Just over 20 examples were created; though it was not a success, the partners decided to continue with automobile production. A new design was created and it was powered by an even smaller engine. It was introduced in 1923 and was more successful than its predecessors. By the mid-1920s, the company was making a profit.
In 1924 the Lea and Francis Company explored the racing market. They created a tourer that was propelled by a four-cylinder engine that produced 10 horsepower. It was raced at the Royal Automobile Club's Six-Day Trial where it performed rather well. In the years to come, the design would evolve culminating into many sport-touring designs all powered by overhead-valve engines. To increase power, the company adapted a Rootes-type supercharger in 1927. After continual improvements in both design and to the mechanical components, a Lea-Francis car won the Ulster Tourist Trophy Race in Ireland.
When the company used the Meadows engine, such as in the car that won the Tourist Trophy, the cars were rather competitive and scored some significant victories. By the close of the 1920s, the company introduced the LFS 14/40 powered by a 1.7-liter twin-cam Vulcan-built engine. It had many problems resulting in a poor reputation for the Lea-Francis cars and diminished sales. By 1931, the company was in receivership. Mr. Francis had left the company years prior; now it was Richard Lea's turn. Production continued, though only 29 units were created in 1932. Sales would continue to drop in the years to come. By 1936, the company sold no vehicles; the assets of the company were sold.
The assets were purchased by Hugh Rose and George Leek, forming the Lea-Francis Engineering Ltd. in 1937. Between 1937 and the start of the Second World War, around a hundred examples of the Twelve and Fourteen were created.
During the War the company produced products in support of the war effort. This led to a profit which held production resume at the end of the War. In early 1946, a total of fourteen cars were created, all clothed in bodies created by the A.P Aircraft Ltd. Company. Two years later, the Eighteen sedan and two-seater sports car was introduced. These were quickly followed by station wagons known as Estate cars which would remain in production until 1954. 1954 was the year the Lea-Francis Company would leave automobile production and turn their attention to other products. In the very early 1960s, the company attempted a return to automobile production with a car known as the Lynx. It quickly disappeared and never attracted much excitement or attention.
In 1962, the company's assets were sold.
2.5-Liter Eighteen
The Lea-Francis 2.5-liter Eighteen was introduced in 1950 and offered in both Sports Roadster trim and four-door saloon. The four-cylinder 2.5-liter overhead-valve engine produced nearly 100 horsepower and was mated to a four-speed manual gearbox. The elegant bodies were suspended in place by torsion bars in the front and a rigid axle in the rear with semi-elliptic leaf springs. A top speed of 90 mph was possible with the saloon and around 100 mph with the Sports Roadster.
In 1951, the Roadsters sold for $2800 while the Saloons fetched nearly $3900. Total production for both the Fourteen and Eighteen were rather modest, with around 600 combined units produced in 1951.
By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2008
| Created For the Urban World, All-New Ford EcoSport Embarks On Its Journey in India | |
 | •The all-new Ford EcoSport marries the manoeuvrability and fuel economy of a compact car with the practicality and robustness of an SUV in a contemporary and stylish package •Ford EcoSport offers a high driving position, superior water-wading capability and an array of smart features such as the segment-first Ford SYNC® connectivity system, making it the perfect vehicle for city driving and out-of-town exploring •Ford EcoSport will be the first vehicle in India to feature the patented 1.0L E...[Read more...] |
| Ford Adding 2,000-Plus Jobs at Kansas City Assembly to Support Surging F-150 Demand, Ford Transit Launch | |
 | •Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant will add more than 2,000 jobs to support high demand for Ford F-150 plus the planned production of the all-new Transit family of commercial vehicles starting next summer; more than 1,000 will be new hires •Ford F-Series sales up 24 percent in April and 19 percent year to date; full-size truck segment growing three times faster than industry average and is fastest-growing segment this year •Ford has reached 75 percent of its goal to create 12,000 hourly jobs ...[Read more...] |
| Ford Adding 2,000-Plus Jobs At Kansas City Assembly To Support Surging F-150 Demand, Ford Transit Launch | |
| - Ford's Kansas City Assembly Plant will add more than 2,000 jobs to support high demand for Ford F-150 plus the planned production of the all-new Transit family of commercial vehicles starting next summer; more than 1,000 will be new hires - Ford F-Series sales up 24 percent in April and 19 percent year to date; full-size truck segment growing three times faster than industry average and is fastest-growing segment this year - Ford has reached 75 percent of its goal to create 12,000 hourly jo...[Read more...] | |
| Auctions America Reunites Original Mustang Owner With His Car | |
 | Nearly five decades after Leon Fake bought a new 1965 Ford Mustang GT, the Silver Blue convertible is back in his garage thanks to the Auctions America by RM Spring Carlisle auction in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Fake was one of several bidders chasing a dream car during the April 26-27 event in which 267 collector vehicles were offered with a 53% sell-through rate for more than $2.5 million* in total sales. 'I put 85,000 miles on this Mustang and sold it,' said Fake. 'I tried to buy it back a fe...[Read more...] |
| Size Matters: EcoBoost Gives Ford the Industry Lead in Reducing Engine Size Without Giving Up Performance | |
 | •Ford offers seven vehicles with the smallest engines in their segments – more than any other competitor •Powered by EcoBoost®CO2 emissions while delivering the performance customers demand technology, Ford's smaller engines help reduce vehicle weight for better fuel economy and lower •Ford's smallest engine yet, the EcoBoost 1.0-liter three-cylinder, debuts in North America about a year from now For decades, size meant everything when it came to engines – bigger was better and there was no...[Read more...] |
 1951
Lea-Francis
models |
| Lea-Francis Fourteen |
| Similarly Sized Vehicles from 1951 |
| Delahaye Type 235 |
| Mercedes-Benz 170D |
| Pegaso Z-102 |
| Riley RM-Series |
| Lea-Francis: 1951-1960 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Other models by Lea-Francis |
| Related Articles and Event Coverage |
| Classic Sports Sunday |
| Eighteen Fourteen |
| 1950 Eighteen |
