BSA Scout | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | BSA Cycles Limited[1] |
Production | early 1935[1] |
Assembly | Birmingham[2] |
Body and chassis | |
Class | sports car |
Body style | open 2-seater, open 4-seater, coupé |
Layout | FMF[1] |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 1,075 cc 4-cylinder in-line sv[1] |
Transmission | three-speed manual gearbox,[1] multi-plate clutch with a worm final drive. From the differential assembly a short universally jointed propeller shaft runs out transversely to each front wheel |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2-seater 90 in (2,300 mm) 4-seater 93 in (2,400 mm)) coupé 93 in (2,400 mm) |
Length | 2-seater 135 in (3,400 mm) 4-seater 146 in (3,700 mm)) coupé 140 in (3,600 mm) |
Width | 52 in (1,300 mm) |
Height | 2-seater 54+1⁄2 in (1,380 mm) 4-seater 57 in (1,400 mm)) coupé 54+1⁄2 in (1,380 mm) |
Kerb weight | 2-seater 11 long cwt 2 qr (1,290 lb or 580 kg) 4-seater 12 long cwt 2 qr (1,400 lb or 640 kg) coupé 14 long cwt 0 qr (1,570 lb or 710 kg) |
Nine engine | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | BSA Cycles Limited |
Production | 1933? to 1936 |
Layout | |
Configuration | 4-cylinder in-line[1] |
Displacement | 1,075 cubic centimetres (66 cu in)[1] |
Cylinder bore | 60 mm (2.4 in)[1] |
Piston stroke | 95 mm (3.7 in)[1] |
Cylinder block material | cast iron, in one piece with crankcase |
Cylinder head material | cast iron, detachable |
Valvetrain | side-valve |
Combustion | |
Fuel system | Solex carburettor, mechanical pump from 10 gallon tank at rear |
Oil system | gear type pump by skew gears from crankshaft |
Cooling system | water |
Output | |
Power output | not reported Tax rating 8.9 h.p. |
Ten engine | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | BSA Cycles Limited |
Production | 1936 to 1939 |
Layout | |
Configuration | 4-cylinder in-line[3] |
Displacement | 1,203 cubic centimetres (73 cu in)[3] |
Cylinder bore | 63.5 mm (2.50 in)[3] |
Piston stroke | 95 mm (3.7 in)[3] |
Cylinder block material | cast iron, in one piece with crankcase |
Cylinder head material | cast iron, detachable |
Valvetrain | side-valve, camshaft driven by duplex chain[4] |
Combustion | |
Fuel system | Solex carburettor, (optional twin an extra five guineas), mechanical pump from 10 gallon tank at rear (6 gallons on four-seater and coupé)[4] |
Fuel type | petol (tank has a quick-action filler cap) |
Oil system | gear type pump by skew gears from crankshaft, de luxe tourer and coupé cars have an oil-pressure-warning green light on the dashboard, other cars have a pressure gauge[4] |
Cooling system | water |
Output | |
Power output | not reported Tax rating 9.8 h.p. |
The BSA Scout is a small open two-seater front-wheel drive car, manufactured and sold by subsidiaries of The Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited, launched at the beginning of April 1935. On account of its front-wheel drive and low centre of gravity it was said to be remarkably stable taking corners in safety which would be impossible with a normal design.[1] This new addition to the range of small open cars for young motorists was intended to further embellish BSA's reputation for sound design, robust construction and complete reliability.[5]
Mechanicals
At the front of the car was the engine, clutch, gearbox and a short stiff propeller shaft to the worm and spur driven differential and front wheel brake. All these mechanicals were (flexibly[6]) mounted as one unit positioned in a reverse to the usual order, the differential at the very front of the car.
Engine
The car's four-cylinder, 9 (RAC) horsepower 1,075 cc (65.6 cu in) engine and transmission had powered thousands of BSA three-wheelers over the previous five years.[1]
Transmission
The gearbox was centrally controlled by a lever in the facia providing three forward speeds and reverse[1] The propeller shafts from the differential to each wheel had flexible fabric joints and enclosed universal joints. The multi-plate clutch had two light alloy discs with cork inserts and ran in oil.[4]
Chassis
The conventionally designed chassis was made of channel section side members suitably braced by cross members.[4] Suspension was by eight quarter-elliptic springs in front—four to each wheel giving independent front springing.[1]
Rear suspension was by ordinary half-elliptical springs to a beam axle.
The single brake for the front wheels was a part of the differential unit. The rear brakes were on each wheel.[3]
Electrical equipment was six-volt and a five lamp set supplied with dip and switch control to the head lights was included.[4] The tyre size is 4+1⁄2 by 18 inches (110 mm × 460 mm).
Bodies
The pneumatic cushioned upholstery was leather and the frame of the body of ash panelled in aluminium.[4] An open two-seater it had attractive and sporting lines yet with enough leg and elbow room.[1]
During 1936 an open four-seater sports tourer body also became available at £169.10.0.[3][6] and a two-seater coupé complete with recessed traffic indicators, sunshine roof and other closed car fittings: £185.[6] These bodies became known as series 3.
A new two-seater drophead coupé was announced in August 1939 (similar to the car which won the coachwork award in the Welsh Rally. The price was to be £195[7]
Price
Initially (open two-seater) £149.10.0[1]
Performance
The car was built for speeds approaching 70 mph (110 km/h). Petrol consumption was expected to be an average of 35 to 40 miles per imperial gallon (8.1 to 7.1 L/100 km; 29 to 33 mpg‑US).[1]
Series 2 – Engine upgrade
For the October 1936 Earls Court Motor Show the engine capacity was increased to 1,203 cc (73.4 cu in).[3]
Series 3 – variants of 2
Also for the October 1936 Motor Show—either a two-seater coupé by Mulliners or a 4-seater open tourer on the same chassis as the 2-seater named series 2.[3][6]
Series 4 – August 1937
Shock absorbers were fitted all round. Front braking was now by brakes on the front wheels.[4]
- The price of the two-seater and the two-seater de luxe had been reduced to £149.10.0 and £156.10.0 respectively.[4]
- Four-seater £159.10.0[4]
- Four-seater de luxe £166.10.0[4]
- Coupé de luxe £179. The coupé was now only available with the de luxe equipment.[4]
The motoring correspondent of The Times described the two-seater as "a rakish looking body with two wide cut-away doors with cord-operated locks and pockets. The floor is flat and unobstructed, there is luggage space in the tonneau behind the squab with a cover, and the hood folds down completely when it is concealed. There is a single panel safety glass folding screen with a curved top line and the detachable side screens are stored behind the squab. The instruments are in front of the driver with a good-sized cupboard and grabrail on the left."[4]
"The coupé two-seater is of airline type and there is a bench type of seat with adjustment to the back and good luggage space behind. A sliding roof, safety glass windows, a windscreen which can be wound out, a rear blind, ventilators in the side of the scuttle, large headlamps with stone guards, a spare wheel, door locks, a sports spring steering wheel, flush fitting traffic indicators, a roof light and an inside reflecting mirror are included."[4]
Series 5
A switch to a more powerful 12-volt electrical system and to Bendix cable brakes.[8]
Series 6 – October 1938
Easy-clean (pressed steel) wheels are now fitted in place of the wire wheels. The coupé is now a 4-seater. The 9.8 engine has been redesigned, water-jacketing has been increased and a three-bearing crankshaft incorporating improved lubrication is now provided. Induction improvements include larger valves and a downdraught carburettor. The front and rear tracks are now the same—4 ft 0 in (1.22 m) and the wheelbase of all cars is now 7 ft 11+1⁄4 in (2.419 m).[9]
A new drophead coupé 2-seater was announced on 1 August 1939[10] but war broke out on 3 September and very few of these cars were made.
- series 2
open 2-seater standard,
1936 example - series 4
open 2-seater
1936 example - series 4
4-seater de luxe
1938 example - series 6
2-seater de luxe
1939 example - series 6
2-seater de luxe
1939 example - series 6
2-seater de luxe interior
1939 example
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 A New B.S.A. Car. The Times, Tuesday, 2 April 1935; pg. 6; Issue 47028
- ↑ Annual General Meeting, Birmingham Small Arms Company. The Times, Wednesday, 11 November 1936; pg. 24; Issue 47529.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 The Motor Show. The Times, Friday, 16 October 1936; pg. 7; Issue 47507.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Cars Of 1938. The Times), Monday, 30 August 1937; pg. 16; Issue 47776
- ↑ Chairman's address, AGM, Birmingham Small Arms Company. The Times, Wednesday, 13 November 1935; pg. 19; Issue 47220
- 1 2 3 4 Cars Of 1937. The Times, Monday, 14 September 1936; pg. 8; Issue 47479
- ↑ Popularity Of Open Cars. The Times, Tuesday, 1 August 1939; pg. 10; Issue 48372.
- ↑ The Times, 3 November 1937; pg. 22; Issue 47832
- ↑ The Times, Friday, 14 October 1938; pg. 7; Issue 48125
- ↑ The Times, 1 August 1939; pg. 10; Issue 48372