Amongst the large crop of originally " home-constructed " machines that sprang up in the early 'twenties the Eric Longden had distinct possibilities, and quite a number were produced for private owners. The earliest sports model was entitled the " Brooklands," and had a 90 x 85-mm. big-twin o.h.v. J.A.P. engine. Although it resembled the G.N. in many ways, it had a prop, shaft with bevel and crown-wheel rear axle. No differential was fitted, and a peculiar form of braking was used; the footbrake operated a drum on the off-side rear wheel, whilst that on the near side was worked by a hand lever
The wheels themselves were highly ingenious in that they were retained by a spring-loaded ratchet device. Quarter-elliptic springs were used all round, and a speed of 70 m.p.h. was guaranteed. A four- cylinder engine was substituted in 1922, and had a capacity of 1088-c.c. (60.5 x 95-mm.). The car did not survive very long, but a few examples were raced with varying success for many years. |
