The "CROSSLEY BUGATTI"

The Crossley Bugatti was manufactured between 1923 and 1925. Only 24 were made although there were plans for at least 500. Chassis numbers range from CM 1601 to 1625.

The cars were assembled from components bought in from Bugatti and it is not certain how much of the car was made in Manchester. It is reported that Gorton cars had Crossley crosses on the axles and a contemporary test reports praises the gear box and back axle as much less noisy than those of the French made cars.

BODY STYLES

Crossley Bugatti 3 seat

3 seat "cloverleaf" body
£475 (1924)

Crossley Bugatti 2 seat

2 seat body
£735 (1924)

Crossley Bugatti 4 seat

4 seat body
£775 (1924)

Crossley Bugatti coupe

4 seat coupe
£800 (1924)

The car was also available as chassis only at £575 for the Touring version or £750 for the Sports. The Sports with Two-Seated "Grand Prix" body cost £840.

The above illustrations all come from a contemporary Crossley brochure but probably represent cars of French manufacture that could be ordered through Charles Jarrott & Letts. It is not certain which bodies were fitted on the cars made at the Gorton factory but at least one four and one three seater were made.

The above prices are as quoted in the Crossley brochure. It is reported that the Manchester built cars sold for considerably less than the Molsheim ones and an article in "The Auto Motor Journal" dated December 6th, 1923 quotes a price of £350 for the chassis and £475 for the complete 3 seater.

 

SPECIFICATION

Engine/gearbox/transmission

Body/chassis

capacity

1452cc (Touring)
1496cc (Sports)

cylinders

4 monobloc

bore

68 mm (Touring)
69 mm (Sports)

stroke

100 mm

compression ratio

.

RAC Horse Power

11.5

carburettor

Zenith - supercharged by engine driven pump.

valves

overhead cam. 2 inlet and 2 exhaust per cylinder

lubrication

pressure fed to all bearings and valvegear

ignition

HT magneto. Duplex on Sports model.

max power

.

fuel consumption (typical)

40 mpg

max speed (approx)

60 mph (guaranteed)

Gears

4 forward

Clutch

Multiple metal disc in oil bath

Rear axle

3.4:1

 

wheelbase

8 feet 4 1/2 inches (Touring)
6 feet 5 inches or to specification (Sport)

length

11 feet 6 inches

track

3 feet 9 1/4 inches

width overall

.

weight

9 cwt (chassis only)

steering

Worm and nut

suspension - front

Semi elliptic springs.

suspension -rear

Inverted quarter elliptic springs.

brakes

 

Foot operated transmission brakes
Hand brake operating on rear wheels

wheels/tyres

Rudge-Whitworth wire wheels. Tyre size - 710 x 90

 

 

RETURN TO CROSSLEY CARS IN THE 1920s

© Malcolm Asquith 2002