WOODEN WONDERS

More than a century ago, the Lanchester brothers began producing motorcars that were years ahead of their time

- François Prins

From an early age, Frederick Lanchester showed an inventive interest in all things mechanical and by 1888, at the age of 20, had invented a pendulum governor to control the speed of an engine. He was one of eight brothers, two of whom – Frank and George – also shared his enthusiasm for mechanical objects. Frederick continued to invent and experiment and by 1894 had designed and built a 3hp single-cylinder internal combustion engine. He wanted to try it out on a horseless carriage but, due to restrictions on the roads, was unable to do so. The three brothers then joined forces and built the first all-British motorboat to try the engine.

In 1895, the brothers began work on a five-seat car, built to Frederick’s designs, but the small engine was deemed not powerful enough, so he built a 5hp unit. This car is generally accepted as the first four-wheeled all-British petrol-engine motorcar to be built and driven on UK roads. Later, in 1899, it was fitted with an 8hp Lanchester engine and driven from Birmingham to London for the Automobile Club exhibition in Richmond, Surrey.

Building on the success of the first Lanchester car, the brothers continued to experiment and develop their ideas and, in 1901, formed the Lanchester Engine Company to produce motorcars. In 1904, the business was reformed as the Lanchester Motor Company, and the expanded company produced some of the very best pre-World War One cars.