Buckingham

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Buckingham | Pre War British Sports Cars


Prior to the First World War of 1914 - 1918, the Buckingham cycle-car was virtually unbeatable in hill-climb events and sprints. As originally produced, it was merely a large edition of the simple cycle-car, depending on its speed and acceleration for a particu­larly well-designed big-twin power unit in an extremely light chassis, final drive being by belt. J. F. Buckingham, the designer, who later put an end to the Zeppelin menace by evolv­ing his famous incendiary bullet, was acknowledged to be the official hill-climbing champion of his day.

The Buckingham was redesigned after the war, but still retained the high power-weight ratio of its predecessors. The o.h.v. twin-cylinder 1096-c.c. (89 x 88-mm.) engine was air cooled and located at the front. Suspension was by transverse leaf spring at the front, and quarter-elliptic at the rear, rack-and- pinion steering being featured. Prototypes were bodied by Charlesworth in striking-looking two-seater form, but when the cars finally went into full produc­tion in 1922 a more "family" type of body was marketed, to the disappointment of many enthusiasts who had hoped for another real sports car. However, despite its more modest appearance, the "Buck" was no loiterer, and was by far a more reliable car than ever the pre-war versions were. The original two-speed transmission gave way to a three-speed gearbox of conventional design, and final drive was by crown wheel and bevel. Castor action was given to the front wheels, although a solid back end was retained.

Unfortunately, the car was marketed at a time when public interest was centering around the small four-cylinder engine, and the Buckingham went the way of the majority of the twin-cylinder cars of the period. It is worth while adding that the lusty Buckingham engines, in an era when overhead valves were apt to break off and fall down the cylinder barrel, were provided with a safety device which prevented this happening. It was also one of the first sports cars to adopt coil ignition.
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