Armstrong Siddeley (1945-60)

The week that World War II ended in Europe, Armstrong Siddeley introduced its first post-war models, their names of these models echoing the names of aircraft produced by the Hawker Siddeley Group (the name adopted by the company in 1935) during the war.

In 1956, the model range was expanded with the addition of the 234 (a 2.3-litre four-cylinder) and the 236 (with the older 2.3-litre six-cylinder engine). The “baby Sapphire” was at first sight a radical departure from the traditional Armstrong Siddeley appearance. However, they were too conservative when pitted against comptition such as a Jaguar 2.4 saloon, which was quicker, cheaper, and prettier.

The Armstrong Siddeley car was a casualty of the 1960 merger with Bristol; the last car left the Coventry factory in 1960.