Lea-Francis

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lea-Francis | Pre War British Sports Cars

The marque Lea-Francis first came into the public eye with a very meritorious performance by H. E. Tatlow in a 10-h.p. car, in the last-ever R.A.C. Six Days Trial in 1924. The car was a "tuned" version of the standard car, and from that beginningthe Lea-Francis built up for itself an enviable name in the sporting world. The popular 12/40 h.p. car was introduced in 1925, and had an o.h.v. (push-rod) engine of 1496-c.c. In 1927 the concern made history by marketing a super­charged touring car. A 1,496-c.c. (69 x 100-mm.) o.h.v. Meadows four-cylinder power unit was used, having a vane-type Cozette supercharger driven at engine speed by bevel gears from the crankshaft. Incidentally, even at that date, a free-wheel was an optional extra.

Hyper-Sports Leaf



Not long afterwards the famous Hyper-Sports "Leaf" was introduced, the type which set the seal of fame on the concern's ability to produce really potent machinery. How Kaye Don won his way to victory in the 1928 Tourist Trophy Race is history. The "Hyper-Leaf" became the beau ideal of all sportsmen. The car was obviously a winner from the start. Before the T.T. adventure, Don had already shown what the car could do by coming in third in the J.C.C. 200 Miles Race at 68.93 m.p.h. Although the T.T. cars were official works entries, they were by no means special in any sense of the word. With the exception of the adoption of flexible petrol pipes, a bigger petrol tank, and small details to the bodywork to comply with the race regula­tions, the car was a true "off the showroom floor " vehicle.

Other interesting details of the "Hyper" were the fact that the fabric body was built on an ash frame, the semi-elliptic springs were devoid of shackles, the front of the springs were secured by pin-joints and the rear by rollers through which the springs passed, and a 3.75 to 1 top gear. With the latter ratio, the car could amble along at 60 m.p.h. with the engine turning over at a mere 2750 r.p.m., using 28-in. wheels. Lower ratios were also available, making the car entirely suitable also for trials. Post WW2, in October, 1947, a new open two-seater Lea-Francis was announced, with semi-streamlined coachwork. Based on the existing closed car chassis, the sports Leaf employed the now familiar four-cylinder, high-camshaft, short-pushrod, 1 litre engine with the power output stepped up to 64 b.h.p. at 5,300 r.p.m. by adopting larger-diameter inlet and exhaust ports, bigger exhaust valves, twin l.5-in. horizontal S.U. carburetters and other modifications.
Lea-Francis At The 1928 T.T. Newtonards Circuit
Kay Don (Lea-Francis) winning the 1928 T.T. over the Newtonards Circuit.
1939 Lea-Francis 1.5 Litre
1939 1.5 Litre Lea-Francis Super Sports Two-Seater.
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