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The BSAs produced during the early thirties were the three-wheeler plus a dabble at a four wheeler, the FW32 produced for a short period only (this being the three wheeler with a dead axle and very little else changed). For 1933 they introduced the FWD T9 model plus a badge engineered Daimler/Lanchester rear wheel drive car with 1185 cc engine. At that time Daimlers had 6 or 12 cylinder engines and the only 4 cylinder Lanchester had a 1203 cc engine (presumably not very different to the later 1203 cc Scout engine). I say badge engineered but this is unkind. Correctly I should say a BSA produced on a Lanchester theme as the similarity was only superficial as wheelbase, gear box ratios, wheel size and other items were different.
For 1933 the RWD BSA cars were a 10 hp tourer and a 10 hp saloon on an 8’ 14" wheelbase, both fitted with the fluid flywheel system of transmission. The tourer was very similar to ‘our’ model T9 in looks at least. Chassis numbers started at DiOl and engine numbers had a T prefix, presumably also starting at T1O1.
For 1934 the RWD range was expanded to include a standard saloon plus Delux version, Varsity saloon, Tickford Drophead foursome saloon, Peerless coupe (by Coventry Motor Sundries) and a Tickford three seater.
The last named looked very sporty, but presumably with fluid drive lag sprints were out of the question. The engine was tuned by N A McEvoy and the body built by Jensen’s of West Bromwich and was dubbed the Alpha Beta due to its Alpha like appearance.
The basic saloon had a steel body, whilst the De Luxe version was coach built, as was the Varsity saloon and all featured the 1185 cc engine.
For 1935 there were some changes, the most significant being the introduction of a six cylinder engine (what other companies were building 2, 4 & 6 cylindered cars at the same time!?) This engine was 1378 cc OHV with integral cylinder and head arrangement (can anyone explain?) with a four bearing crank. There were four models offered with the same 6 cylinder engine standard saloon, streamlined saloon, fixed head coupe and sports saloon. In addition three models were produced with the 4 cylinder engine, a standard saloon, coach built saloon and light coach built saloon.
And so it goes on, or does it? For 1936 the range was unaltered with the exception of a 4 cylinder 1330 cc engine on some models, but with a massive reduction in price. All six cylinder models were reduced at least £40 and all four cylinder cars by at least a whopping £80. This obviously was the writing on the wall and as Michael Sedgwick describes it the ‘meaningless complexity" had to stop. In the spring of 1936 production ceased for all models, including our three wheelers, but with the exception of the Scout. After this date BSA cars were restricted solely to the FWD Scout in various forms and the fluid flywheel market was left exclusively to more expensive Daimler and Lanchesters.
So ended the production of BSA RWD cars. Post War saw the BSA group centralising car production on the Daimler and Lanchester companies and a move away from the low cost towards the medium and high cost market.
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