Lea Francis
Lea-Francis was borne out of the cycle industry, having started in 1895, venturing into building a car under licence in 1905. For the early 1920's Lea Francis started back in the car making business with a variety of models, including the six cylinder 14/40 and 16/60 models which were also supplied by Vulcan. By 1926 Meadows engines were being used (rated 12hp and 1496cc), which included the Hyper (the supercharged version - Britain's first supercharged production car - which won the TT with Kaye Don.
For 1937 Lea Francis built their newly designed 12 and 14hp cars, in relocated premises, designed by Harry Rose who had come over from Riley, and had the same Percy Riley high cam engine with short pushrods to the rockers. Post war the 14hp (1767cc) and 2 1/2 litre in estate, saloon and sports models were supplied, car production going to 1954. After this some prototypes were made which never went into production.
Lea Francis tyre sizes:
- The earliest Lea Francis models were fitted with beaded edge tyre sizes760x90 and 700x80 (which is the 26x3 size) running to 1928 with the models D,E,F and G.
- From 1925 the Lea Francis models H,I,J and K were fitted with the 450x19 tyre size.
- All the Meadows engined Lea Francis (which were offered from 1926 had the 4.50x19 tyre size right through to193.
- The 6 cylinder prewar Lea Francis models 14/40 and "16" were fitted with 500x19 tyres as standard.
- The post war Lea Francis 14, 18 and 2 1/2 litre with 16" wheels fitted the 6.00x16 tyre, and today you can have a choice of a radial 185VR16 or a cross ply 550L16 which has the dimensions which are perfect for the Lea Francis.
See full details of all these Lea Francis tyres at the links below:
