Lanchester Fourteen Roadrider

Manufacturer	The Daimler Company Limited
Production	Third quarter 1937 to 1939
Model years	1938-1939
Assembly	Coventry
Predecessor	Lanchester Fourteen
Successor	Lanchester Fourteen (post-war)
Class	medium size luxury car
Body style	4-door six-light saloon 4-door four-light sports saloon
Layout	FR layout
Engine	1,809 cc (110.4 cu in) 6-cylinder in-line ohv
Transmission	4-speed preselective self-changing gearbox and Fluid Flywheel
Wheelbase	9'2" 110 in (2,800 mm) track 4'4" 52 in (1,300 mm)
Length	180 in (4,600 mm)
Width	65 in (1,700 mm)
Kerb weight	27.5 long cwt 0 qtr 0 lb (3,080 lb or 1,397 kg)
Related	Daimler New Fifteen

A new Lanchester Roadrider "breaking fresh and important ground" was announced at the beginning of October 1937. Engine chassis and body were all different and larger and independent front suspension was now provided. An optional manual syncromesh gearbox with an ordinary clutch was also available at reduced price. This car was a simpler less luxurious version of the Daimler New Fifteen sharing the two standard bodies but using a smaller engine.

Design and specifications

Transmission

Power was transmitted to the rear wheels with the usual Daimler fluid flywheel and self-changing gearbox but the final drive was now by spiral bevel. A pin roller-bearing propeller-shaft led to a half-floating spiral bevel driven back axle.

Chassis

Independent front wheel springing was provided in the form of parallel links with coil springs, radius arms and torsion bar damping. The rear half-elliptical springs also were given a torsion bar stabilizer and hydraulic shock absorbers. They were rubber-mounted to minimise vibration. The exhaust system was also insulated.

Wheelbase and track had been extended by 7½ inches and 4 inches respectively providing more body space and inter-axle seating. Steering was now by worm and double roller.

Tyres 5.75 x 16 inches.

There were Bendix mechanical brakes on all four wheels.

Standard body

The radiator case was now carried well forward of the front axle which helped to give a generous length of bonnet and, with the sweeping lines of the body, a big car appearance.. Easy clean wheels were fitted, the front seats were adjustable and the steering wheel column telescopic.

There was now a luggage boot at the back with a separate lockable compartment for a spare wheel. There were footrests for the back passengers, an electric cigarette lighter, a sunshine roof, double screen wipers, sun visors, and a new pistol-grip handbrake lever on the dash.

Performance

Makers' estimate of fuel consumption 22 mpg. Maximum speed 70 mph.

Prices

• saloon £375
• sports saloon £375

either car might be had with four-speed syncromesh gearbox and friction clutch for £350

Engine

The crankshaft ran in four bearings The engine unit had bi-axial four-point rubber mountings.

"On the offside are the horizontal carburettor, the manifolds held by brass nuts, the air-cooled dynamo with a belt drive common to the combined fan and impeller and the steering box which has worm and double roller gear.

On the nearside the vertically driven make-and-break and distributor is placed centrally and has a neat easily detachable cover over the top which also hides the sparking plugs and wiring. Here also are the water tap, the coil, pressure oil filter, dip rod, sump drain plug, starter and mechanical fuel pump"