Crossley badge The Crossley 10hp cars

 

The Crossley 10hp range was manufactured between 1931 and 1934. Approximately 1500 were made. Chassis numbers range from 10/101 to 10/1681. From 1932 the range was also sometimes referred to as "Quicksilver".

A wide variety of bodies was available until 1933. From 1933 (chassis 10/445) the range was rationalised to just two, the Buxton and Torquay saloons. The Torquay, which was styled by coachbuilder James Young, was named after the prototype of the style won the Coachwork prize at the 1933 RAC rally which finished in that town.

The Super Sports versions, available until 1933, had a tuned engine with twin carburettors and a different chassis with cruciform bracing and passing under the rear axle. A special racing versions was also made with 3 or possibly 4 being made.

The engines were made by Coventry Climax but carried Crossley badging.


BODY STYLES

Ten "Family" saloon

Crossley 10hp family saloon

£265 (1932-3)
Ten saloon "de luxe"

£288 (1932-3)
pre-selector gearbox £20 extra (1933)
sliding roof £7 10s extra

Colours available - Crossley Blue, Black or Maroon plus Atlantic Green on the "de luxe".
Upholstery - Blue, Red, Green or Brown.

The "Family" saloon had the top half covered in black fabric with safety glass windscreen.
The "de luxe" had safety glass all round and "completely paneled interior"

Ten Semi-Sports "de luxe" saloon.

Crossley 10hp saloon

£275 (1932-3)
£288 (1932-3)

Fabric finish above the waistline.
Colours available - Crossley Blue, Indigo Blue or Black.
Upholstery - Blue, Red, Green or Brown.

Safety glass all round.

Ten Super Sports 2-seat roadster.

Crossley 10hp 2seat sports Crossley Super Sport

£350 (1933)

In spite of a brochure being produced (from which this photograph comes) it is doubtful if more than the one prototype was made.

An example registered YY 5106 survived until the late 1960s when it was written off following a head-on collision.

Ten Super Sports saloon.

Crossley Super Sports Saloon

£278 (1932)
?? (1932-3) (de luxe) Super Sports version
£388 (1932)
£385 (1933)

As with the open car, and in spite of its appearance in several price lists, it is doubtful if more than the one prototype was made. After its appearance shown here at the 1932 Motor Show in London there has been no trace of it.

Ten sports 4-seat tourer

Crossley 10hp 4 door tourer

£295 (1932-3)
A "variety" of colours was available.

Ten Semi-Sports coupé

Crossley 10hp Semi-Sports Coupe

£310 (1932-3)

The Semi-Sports coupé was a fixed head model with sunroof and dummy pram hinges.

Ten convertible coupé (Tickford body)

Crosley 10hp coupe

£325 (1932-3)

The accommodation is described as having two seats in front with two "comfortable emergency" seats in the rear. There was safety glass all round.

A "variety" of colours was available.

Buxton 6-light saloon

Crossley 10hp Buxton Saloon

£278 (1933) pre-selector gearbox £20 extra
£278 (1934)

A sliding sunroof was a standard provision.

From May 1933 a factory fitted radio was available at an extra cost of £35.

Torquay 4-light saloon

Crossley 10hp Torquay

£305 (1933) pre-selector gearbox £20 extra
£305 (1934)

The Torquay had an external boot with hinge down lid. As both cars are approximately the same length the boot means the Torquay has less rear seat leg room than the Buxton.

A sliding sunroof was a standard provision.

From May 1933 a factory fitted radio was available at an extra cost of £35.


With the exception of the Tickford convertible coupé all the above are Crossley factory bodies. The chassis was also supplied to independent coachbuilders.

Colours available changed over the years. One list states the "Ten" models as available in royal blue, navy blue, dove grey, maroon and black with blue, maroon or brown leather. The 1934 price list adds that any colour is available for an extra £5.


SPECIFICATION

Coventry Climax type "OC" 1122 cc
(1097 cc on Super Sport models)
4 in-line. Monobloc
63 mm
(62.3mm on Super Sport models)
90 mm
6:1
9.8
SU downdraught, Solex side-draught from Sept 1933.
Twin RAG on the Super Sports models.
Overhead inlet, side exhaust, operated by single camshaft (possibly twin inlet valves on Super Sport models)
Pressure feed to all bearings
Coil
38 bhp (28KW) at 4250rpm
30-34 mpg (Buxton and Torquay)
67 mph (108 km)
Super Sports - 80 mph (130 km)
0-50 mph in 23 secs (4 seat tourer)
0-50 mph in 33 secs (Torquay with pre-selector gearbox)
Moss 4-speed "twin top" type with centre change or ENV type 75 pre-selector
ratios - preselector 1:1, 1.33:1, 2:1, and 3.4:1.
Manual 1:1, 1.36:1, 2.36:1 and 3.8:1.
single plate - none on pre-selector option
open shaft with metal joints
ENV spiral bevel
ratio 5.5:1 (standard)
5.33:1 (Super Sports, Torquay and Buxton)
9 feet ½ inch (2756 mm)
2-seat models 8 feet 0 inches (2438 mm)
Two-seat - 12 feet 3 inches (3734 mm)
Torquay - 13 feet 1 inches (3988 mm)
Buxton - 13 feet 3 inches (4037 mm)
4 feet 1 inches (1245 mm)
5 feet 2 inches (1575 mm)
approx 20 cwt (1000 kg) (Buxton and Torquay)
Burman Douglas worm and nut
Turning circle 40 feet 9 inches (12.4 metres)
Offset semi-elliptic springs. André friction shock absorbers.
Offset semi-elliptic springs. Underslung.
André friction shock absorbers.
Bendix cable system.
Hand brake and pedal operate on all wheels.
Bolt on "Magna" wire wheels. (Rudge Whitworth on Super Sports models)
Tyre size - 4.50/4.75 x 18
4.50 x 19 (Super Sports)