Description

1926 Armstrong-Siddeley Long 18hp van

Fully restored van including new body, chassis re-riveted; new radiator; fully rebuilt engine, gearbox and rear axle; ready for work or play

This fine van has had a busy life....we understand it started life as an open touring car, with a body by Armstrong-Siddeley's in-house coachbuilder Burlington Carriage Co. It was later converted into a Hearse by removing the body behind the B post and grafting on an old horse-dawn hearse body and then roofing over - way back in the mists of time.

It was in this condition that it arrived with the vendor who has rebuilt the car into a van, leaving no stone unturned.

It was completely dismantled and the chassis side rails repaired, along with the integral running boards which help to stiffen the chassis. It was reassembled using new rivets and the springs were dismantled, polished, re-bushed and new pins were fitted.

It still retains all the original body in front of the B posts and what would seem to be the original Reg No NS 774. A new van body in period style has been fitted.

The front axle was straightened and alignment checked before new king pins with taper roller bearings and Perrot shaft bearings. The rear axle was stripped, checked and rebuilt with new bearings where needed and the brakes were relined throughout.

The gearbox was dismantled, checked and re assembled and a new clutch plate and linings fitted.

The engine was also fully rebuilt, with a rebore, crank regrind, new bearings, pistons and valves and a new Australian-made water pump fitted. The magneto was also rebuilt.

This work was undertaken by a precision engineer, who had previously owned and run Vintage Radiators - hence the car also has a fully rebuilt radiator core!

Completely rewired two-pole including indicators and brake lights, it has also had a new fuel tank - we are advised that the only aspect of the van which is not fully functional is the fuel gauge.

Much time was spent getting the proportions of the van body correct for the period, which as can be seen was most successful. The  aluminmium over ash frame van body was painted in brown with black wings much as it could have been in period.

With nothing left to do, this fully and very nicely restored van is on the button and ready to go - whether as a perfect way to advertise your business, or appropriate transport to Beaulieu Autojumble next year.

Contact Stewart Rich 07811 767421 email stewart.rich@brightwells.com