Solved NIC#909 - 1936 David Serve Lanchester Super Sports "special" (15/18hp?)

[nicanary]

What is this car?

[nicanary]

Experts?

[Fёdor]

English

[nicanary]

English

Yes.

[barrett]

I think this is a rather horrid modern special based around a 1936 Lanchester chassis - surely the least likely basis for a sports car? I suspect it was cobbled together in Germany, as these things usually are - 'Old-timer Kranz' are guilty of this sort of thing, so I'd guess it was by them.

[nicanary]

I think this is a rather horrid modern special based around a 1936 Lanchester chassis - surely the least likely basis for a sports car? I suspect it was cobbled together in Germany, as these things usually are - 'Old-timer Kranz' are guilty of this sort of thing, so I'd guess it was by them.

You've hit the nail firmly on the head. I didn't specify the information I required so I reckon you get the point.

It's called (by the builders) a Lanchester Super Sports and it's powered by a 6-cylinder 2500cc engine, so I think it's a shortened 15/18 model. It's not the first one I've seen from that part of the world and like you, I can't understand the ethos.

[nicanary]

Rear view.

[Djetset]

At the risk of seeming like the Grinch, I believe the answer is not fully accurate. The puzzle car is based on a 1930s Lanchester, but it was built in Belgium (not Germany) in 2016 by David Serve. It is one of many bizzare pre-war Lanchester (and Chrysler and Daimler)'racers' created by David Serve. I hope this helps.

[nicanary]

Thanks Djetset. It's important that we have accurate information on this site. I hadn't bothered to return to my source to double-check.

I still agree with barrett's comments. There's at least one other Lanchester special - such an odd choice.

[Djetset]

Thanks Djetset. It's important that we have accurate information on this site. I hadn't bothered to return to my source to double-check.

I still agree with barrett's comments. There's at least one other Lanchester special - such an odd choice.

Agreed. David Serve has built many other pre-war Lanchester-based specials. I guess he uses this base as 1930s Lanchesters remain rather unloved and affordable, as do the Chryslers and some of the Daimlers of the same era Serve also commonly uses as a base for its specials.

Here's a photo of one of the other recent (and rather nicer) David Serve Lanchester specials, based on a 1933 chassis and built last year, along with an image of this car, along with the puzzle car, taken at last year's Epoque Auto at Lyon.