BSA
BSA was a British vehicle manufacturer that was mostly active during the first half of the 20th century. The company was based in the Midlands, where it had two production facilities. Over the years, the firm designed and manufactured 19 three and four-wheel car models, until production eventually ceased in 1940.
History and development of BSA
BSA was initially established as a vehicle manufacturer in 1907. The firm was set up by the Birmingham Small Arms Company (hence its name), which launched a motor vehicle department at its factory in Sparkwood, Birmingham. Their first motor car was sold in 1908, although the company ran into financial troubles soon afterwards. In 1910, BSA acquired Daimler, which at the time was one of the most successful motor vehicle manufacturers in the United Kingdom, along with Rover. However, and due to mismanagement, the BSA-Daimler merger was never fully implemented. Facilities were never integrated, although BSA used Daimler engines in many of its models. Two years after the merger, BSA's production facilities were moved to the group's factory in Coventry, where they remained active until 1914. Production resumed in 1921, and ten years later BSA expanded its range of vehicles with the acquisition of the Lanchester Motor Company, also based in the Midlands. As it happened with other automobile manufacturers, BSA's production chain and facilities were affected by the onset on World War II, and BSA cars were produced at their Coventry factory until 1940.
BSA's Flagship Cars
The first prototype of a BSA car was designed in 1907 and manufactured a year later. BSA's first vehicle was the 14/18, a four-cylinder engine rear wheel drive vehicle. Next was the 18/23, which had a slightly larger wheel base and which was in production until 1912. Other early four-cylinder models included the 15/20, the 20/25, and the 25/33, which were in production between 1908 and 1911. In 1912 BSA became the first and only European vehicle manufacturer to produce a body entirely made of steel. The 13/9 model was a pioneering venture that also incorporated other innovative elements, such as transverse rear springs and semi-elliptical front suspensions. In 1921, BSA launched its 10hp model, fitted with a V-twin engine. Approximately 1,000 BSA 10hp were sold between 1921 and 1925. This BSA model was also used in racing and rallies, although the 10hp was forced out of the market by competitors like Austin, which manufactured a similar model at lower prices. The first front-wheel drive BSA car (known as the 9hp) was launched into the market in 1929. This three-wheeler was one of the company's best-selling models, along with BSA's four-cylinder front-wheel drive models like the 9hp/4 and the Scout 9hp. Four-wheeler production began in 1931 with the FW32 and culminated in the production of the Scout 10hp, a 2 and 4-seat tourer/coupe that was BSA's last creation.