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Although the majority of Silver Hawks were produced as racing cars, the concern marketed a sports car in 1920 with a guaranteed speed of 70 m.p.h. As the Silver Hawk Co., of Cobham, had no facilities for body construction, chassis only were supplied to customers, who had the opportunity of seeing their purchases tested at Brooklands before taking delivery. The Silver Hawk had a very successful racing history, mostly in the hands of Capt. Macklin (later Sir Noel Macklin) and George Duller. Several class records were also obtained by the make, and it was undoubtedly one of the best 1.5-litre cars of its time.
The chassis was fitted with a four-cylinder Sage mono-bloc engine of the L-headed type and having a capacity of 1,498-c.c. (66 x 109.5-mm.). Aluminium pistons were used, of extreme lightness, and the conrods were of nickel steel. A pressure system of engine lubrication was adoptedDrive was via a leather-to-metal cone clutch and a centrally located three-speed gearbox to a spiral-bevel rear axle with differential. All gear wheels on the car were cut from K.E. 805 steel, whilst the front axle was constructed from chrome-vanadium steel. Steering was by worm and sector, and a transmission brake was used in addition to those operating in 10-in. drums on the rear wheels.
Frame was of channel-section, high-grade steel, and suspension was by semi-elliptic leaf springs, front and rear. Detachable Rudge-Whitworth wheels were standardised. The Silver Hawk had a name for speed and reliability, and, although relatively few cars were produced, the name is still recalled when thoroughbred sporting vehicles are being discussed. It was, of course, the forerunner of the more famous Invictas. |
