SALMSON AL Sport 1922 - for sale in UK

Salmson AL 22
Engine 4320 series E
1922
Reg. No. YL9526

I acquired the vehicle in August 2005 as a complete but non-running chassis from John Deacon. I have spent the last three years restoring the car and ironing out the usual minor teething problems, and the car is now running well.

Originally the car was supplied to BIGNAN as a running chassis direct from the SALMSON works. However when Don Hill found the car in France, it was as a chassis fitted with an early Salmson radiator and there was no body.

It was therefore decided that because of the lack of a BIGNAN radiator, to restore it as a replica of one of the team of Works Cars, Salmson entered for the Tour de France Automotive. These were fitted with Sports 4 pushrod engines with hemispherical combustion chambers, crossflow heads, domed Sports pistons and a Sports camshaft.

A brand new set of pistons of Salmson manufacture were fitted together with a new Sports camshaft supplied by John Deacon. With these fitted the engine should produce 21 bhp. which is 3 bhp. more than the standard engine. Car has 3 speed gearbox and a cone clutch together with a new C.W.P. 3.5:1 ratio.

With an all up weight of approximately 8.3 cwt. it is quite sporty. works out in the region of 53 b.h.p./ ton. The rear wheel brakes have been up-rated with cast iron drums and woven linings and the car performs well under braking.

Other useful modifications have been made to improve reliability and road holding, such as, rear shock absorbers and bracing of the connection between the radius arms and back axle, in line with findings made by John Deacon over several years ownership of Vintage Salmsons.

The valve gear has been upgraded to the method of operation of the later 8 push-rod engine, however all the original parts have been retained and are available, should they be required.

There are two sets of 4 wheels and tyres. A set of 4 beaded edge 26x3 and a set of 4 well-based for wire on tyres. For every day use well based tyres are cheaper to replace, if one is doing long journeys, as the early AL rear axle is a single shaft without a differential, and Beaded Edge tyres scrub if one corners with enthusiasm!

The body is constructed with an Ash frame covered in 2 mm. ply lathing laid diagonally with 25 mm. gaps between the laths. the whole being covered in calico and doped. This makes an extremely strong but light body, and is a technique used in the construction early aircraft bodies. It is in fact far stronger than a steel or aluminium body.

The Wings are in steel and an accurate copy of the originals and the steel bonnet has three louvres. The car has been carefully painted in two tone green cellulose paint which has been deliberately applied in a way to have a non gloss finish, in deference to its 86 years.

The bench seat is aged black leather with approx. 100 mm. pleats and a single row of buttons and the interior trim is in a heavily grained dark green period leather cloth in similar colour to the wings. as is the tonneau cover.

The dash surround and bonnet boards are in Honduras Mahogany and the dash in engined turned aluminium as original pattern.

A full compliment of top quality Jeager Chronometric instruments together with Sifam amp meter, Bosch horn button and starter button and period circular control panel. Hand throttle, choke, advance & retard lever, dip switch and indicator switch are also fitted. Several nice period items have also been fitted which finish the car of nicely.

Headlights are Ducellier and rear lights are a matching pair of quality Toby reproduction divers helmet lamps in nickle. Rubberlight Indicator lamps have been fitted unobtrusively below the front and rear wings to improve safety when driving at night and in poor visibility.

Electrics are upgraded to 12 volt Lucas Dynamo and 3 coil current voltage regulator, and a coil conversion is used, as experience proves it more reliable. The starter motor is period, of French manufacture.

Perhaps a little unfair to describe my Labour of Love as a "Bidouille"


Mike Christy
Tel: 00 44 14 53 76 28 76
mike.christy@tesco.net