$6,000
/ USDDescription
This is a 4-cylinder. I bought in WI last year. There is rust. I had some problems priming after it sat a while so added an electric fuel pump. It is 6v negative ground. Transmission is sort of manual sort of automatic. There is a pedal for the "gear changer". I found a Youtube video to understand how to shift. Runs and drives. Close to FM1488 and 2978. Please don't ask if it's available. It is available until listed as sold. ...
Our Take:
- Rarity and Obscureness: The 1953 Lanchester 200 is an unusual find on the American market. Lanchester, a British make, is not a brand you encounter every day on this side of the pond, especially since their production ceased in the mid-1950s. The 200 model itself was always a bit of a rare bird, as Lanchester operated under the Daimler Company, which never quite reached mass production volumes.
- Historical Significance: The Lanchester 200 from 1953 represents a unique era of automotive engineering and design with its "pre-selector" gearbox. This was a time when the post-war British auto industry was testing the waters with new technologies, many of which appeared avant-garde by today's standards. It may seem quirky compared to American cars of the same era, but it embodies the innovative spirit of British automakers at the time.
- Technical Curiosities: What you're looking at isn't your conventional automatic transmission—it's a pre-selector type, where drivers use a pedal to change gears. This approach was quite the innovation back in the day, offering a semi-automatic driving experience that predated modern automatic transmissions. The presence of a 4-cylinder engine with a unique 6v negative ground electrical system adds to its eclectic charm.
- Cultural Footprint: Lanchester was known for producing some of the most refined vehicles of its time, often associated with elegance and subtlety. While it may not have the instant name recognition of Rolls-Royce or Bentley, for those in the know, it holds a certain prestige. It's akin to finding a rare vinyl record in a world filled with digital music—there's a story, a romance to it, that just isn't available with the run-of-the-mill offerings.