Luxury and Power

Car makers saved their finest work for their richest customers. Such customers would not tolerate unreliability, and demanded cars that gave far greater performance than traditional horse-drawn carriages. They also demanded comfort—an important factor on the rough roads of the early 20th century—and luxuries such as preselect gearboxes and power steering.

Nagant Type D14/16HP Town Car, 1909

 

Origin	Belgium
Engine	2,600 cc, straight-four
Top speed	50 mph (80 km/h)

This Liege marque built its own high guality cars from 1907. The smaller 14/16hp was remarkable for its efficient sidevalve engine, which was capable of revving to 3,000 rpm.

HEDAG Electric Brougham, 1905

 

Origin	Germany
Engine	Two electric motors
Top speed	15 mph (24 km/h)

A modified horse-taxi with an electric motor in each front wheel, the Brougham had power steering, four-wheel brakes, and electric indicators. It was built under license from Kriéger of France.

Panhard & Levassor 15HP Type X21, 1905

 

Origin	France
Engine	2,614 cc, straight-six
Top speed	50 mph (80 km/h)

In 1891 Panhard and Levassor laid the foundations of the modern motor car. By 1905 they were producing remarkably guiet and smooth-running cars, such as the X21.

Regal Model NC Colonial Coupe, 1912

 

Origin	USA
Engine	3,200 cc, straight-four
Top speed	50 mph (80 km/h)

Notable for its low, “underslung” build, which placed its axles above the chassis, the Regal was a light sporting car, though hardly aerodynamic with this body style.

Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, 1906

 

Origin	UK
Engine	7,036 cc, straight-six
Top speed	63 mph (101 km/h)

Charles Rolls and Henry Royce focused on making the finest car in the world, and succeeded with this 40/50hp model. It was quiet, powerful, and superbly built.

Cadillac Model 51, 1914

 

Origin	USA
Engine	5,157 cc, V8
Top speed	55 mph (89 km/h)

Henry Leland stole a march on the opposition with the United States’ first mass-produced V8. With 70bhp, it was powerful and reliable. Sales in the first year were over 13,000.

Brooke 25/30HP Swan, 1910

 

Origin	UK
Engine	4,788 cc, straight-six
Top speed	37 mph (60 km/h)

The work of British engineer Robert Matthewson, of Calcutta, India, the Swan had a beak that sprayed water to clear a path through the crowded streets of Calcutta.

Lanchester 28HP Landaulette, 1906

 

Origin	UK
Engine	3,654 cc, straight-six
Top speed	55 mph (89 km/h)

Frederick Lanchester was a brilliant engineer whose cars were innovative and original. This car has its original convertible bodywork, mid-mounted engine, and preselect gearbox.

Peugeot Type 126 12/15HP Touring, 1910

 

Origin	France
Engine	2,200 cc, straight-four
Top speed	45 mph (72 km/h)

A family company founded in ironmongery, Peugeot was hugely successful in the early 20th century with a wide range of motor cars. Just 350 of this model were sold.

Mors 14/19HP Landaulette Town Car, 1904

 

Origin	France
Engine	3,200 cc, straight-four
Top speed	40 mph (64 km/h)

Emile Mors was building 200 cars a year in 1898, so by 1904 his chassis were well developed. This luxury model carries a coachbuilt city-car body by Rothschild of Paris.

Georges Roy 12HP, 1909

 

Origin	France
Engine	2,900 cc, straight-four
Top speed	45 mph (72 km/h)

Georges Roy, unusually, built its own car bodies. This model could be either a two- or a four-seater, the rear compartment ingeniously folding back when not required.

Thomas Flyer Model 6/40M Touring, 1910

 

Origin	USA
Engine	7,679 cc, straight-six
Top speed	67 mph (108 km/h)

Thomas made increasingly rapid and large-engined cars, and won the New York to Paris race in 1908. From 1910 to 1919 it made more luxurious models, such as this Flyer.

Argyll 15/30, 1913

 

Origin	UK
Engine	2,614 cc, straight-four
Top speed	47 mph (76 km/h)

Scotland’s biggest car maker in the Edwardian era built splendid cars, such as this sleeve-valve-engined model. It was made in a magnificent, palace-like factory in Alexandria, on the banks of Loch Lomond, Scotland.

Fiat 24/40HP, 1906

 

Origin	Italy
Engine	7,363 cc, straight-four
Top speed	53 mph (85 km/h)

Fiat produced a broad range of large-engined cars for Italy’s elite. These received weighty and luxurious bodies-though a light racer was also made for this chassis.

Daimler 28/36, 1905

 

Origin	UK
Engine	5,703 cc, straight-four
Top speed	50 mph (80 km/h)

The British Daimler company began by making replicas of German cars. By 1905, however, it had taken a strong lead in the market for quality cars with large engines and four gears, such as the 28/36.

Lancia Alpha, 1907

 

Origin	Italy
Engine	2,543 cc, straight-four
Top speed	50 mph (80 km/h)

Vincenzo Lancia founded his company in 1906, after six years racing for the Fiat factory. With a four-speed gearbox, the Alpha was a modern, well-made car in its day.

Pierce-Arrow Model 38 Park Phaeton, 1913

 

Origin	USA
Engine	6,796 cc, straight-six
Top speed	65 mph (105 km/h)

Pierce-Arrow made some of the United States’ finest cars. This model, which has an exclusive body by Studebaker, was started by pumping compressed air into its engine.

 

It is a quote. The Definitive Visual History Of The Automobile 2011