The Lea-Francis 14/40 was one of two six-cylinder models that Lea-Francis marketed between 1922 and 1928 under an arrangement with Vulcan of Southport. The cars were designed and built by Vulcan and sold through a shared network of dealers, while Lea-Francis supplied gearboxes and steering gear in return for the bodies.
Lea-Francis 14/40 at a glance
| Maker | Lea-Francis, Coventry |
|---|---|
| Production | 1922–1928 |
| Partner | Vulcan of Southport |
| Engine | six-cylinder, designed and built by Vulcan |
| Bodywork | supplied by Vulcan |
| In return | Lea-Francis supplied gearboxes and steering gear |
| Model name | Lea-Francis 14/40 |
| Sister model | Lea-Francis 16/60 |
| Also sold as | Vulcan |
| End of the arrangement | 1928, when Vulcan stopped making cars |
There is no separate Wikipedia article on the 14/40. This page uses the section on the Vulcan partnership in the English article on Lea-Francis; the figures and dates rest on that one source.
History of the Lea-Francis 14/40
Lea-Francis began in Coventry in 1895, when R. H. Lea and G. I. Francis started building bicycles. The firm branched out into car manufacturing in 1903 and motorcycles in 1911, built cars under licence for Singer in 1905, and from 1919 made its own cars from bought-in components.
In 1922 the company formed a business relationship with Vulcan of Southport, sharing manufacturing and dealers. Vulcan supplied bodies to Lea-Francis and received gearboxes and steering gear in return. Two six-cylinder cars designed and manufactured by Vulcan were marketed as the Lea-Francis 14/40 and 16/60, and the same cars were also sold under the Vulcan name.
The association ended in 1928, when Vulcan stopped making cars. By then Lea-Francis had begun to build a sporting image of its own, with models such as the Hyper and the Ace of Spades.
Design and features
- Vulcan engineering: the six-cylinder engine and the body were both the work of Vulcan of Southport.
- Shared production: Lea-Francis contributed gearboxes and steering gear to the same partnership.
- Shared dealers: the two firms sold through a common dealer network.
- Two names, one car: the model was sold as a Lea-Francis and as a Vulcan.
Lea-Francis 14/40 versions
- Lea-Francis 14/40: the model described here, a six-cylinder car with Vulcan bodywork.
- Lea-Francis 16/60: the larger sister model of the same arrangement.
- Vulcan versions: the same cars marketed under the Vulcan name.
The sporting side of the range in the same years is covered by the Lea-Francis Hyper and the P-type. More cars are in the Lea-Francis collection.
Sources
- Lea-Francis, English Wikipedia: Vulcan partnership, model names, dates, company history
