BRITISH SALMSON
British Salmson cars were hand built in small quantities in the 1930s by British Salmson Aero Engineering, an aeroplane engine manufacturers set up at Raynes Park, London in 1929. Originally making aeroplane engines under license from the French company Salmson, they began manufacturing cars in 1934 based on the French Salmson S4C.
These were made to order and hand built to aero standards, with coach built bodies supplied by various local companies, including Ranalah and E J Newns (Eagle). They had four cylinder 1466cc twin overhead cam engines and a four speed gearbox with synchromesh on the top two gears. The company guaranteed a top speed of at least 70 miles an hour for the standard model (S4C 12/55) and at least 80 miles an hour for the sports versions (S4C 12/70). A selection of bodywork styles were available on the chassis including saloon and drop head coupe as well as 2 and 4 seater open tourers.
In 1936, they introduced a 6 cylinder 2598cc car unique to British Salmson, known as the 20/90 (sometimes referred to as the S6D). This carried a guaranteed top speed of 90mph, with anecdotal evidence suggesting they were capable of being pushed to over 100mph. They were offered with a choice of 2 seater sports, sports saloon or sports coupe body styles.
For 1937, they began production of a new 4 cylinder car, the S4D, based on the French model of the same name. The engine capacity was initially advertised as 1730cc, but changed early on in the production run to 1660cc, the cylinder bore being reduced from 75 to 72mm for increased reliability. Again, the S4D was available with a choice of body styles including saloon and drop head coupe, although no sports model was offered. Both the S4D and the 20/90 had independent front wheel suspension and hydraulic brakes.
All British Salmson cars were fully guaranteed for 2 years, with the engine guaranteed for 40,000 miles between rebores, and they were universally admired and renowned for the high quality and standard of the workmanship in their manufacture.
Quality didn't come cheap though - even the most affordable models in the range were well over twice the price of a mass produced car. As a luxury car manufacturer, but without the larger engine sizes and prestige name of companies like Bentley or Lagonda, they struggled to gain a large share of the market, despite their good reputation and a continual marketing presence in the motor press, at exhibitions and rallies. Manufacture of cars ceased by 1939, due mainly to the outbreak of WW2, but the company itself remained active as an engineering company until the mid 1950s.
Only around 300 cars in total were produced; about 230 of these were S4Cs, and only 12 of the highly desirable 20/90s were known to have been built. However, over 20% of these British Salmsons are known still to be in existence, including 8 of the 20/90s, which is an incredible survival rate for the small amount of cars produced.
The British Salmson Owners Club, first set up in 1952, still caters for the owners of these rare vehicles, as well as those produced by the original French Company (Societes des Moteurs Salmson), publishing a quarterly magazine, orgainising club events, providing technical data and help, in addition to a well stocked spares service for the vehicles.