Streamline Cars Ltd

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Two versions were made; this one had a vestigial bonnet
Two versions were made; this one had a vestigial bonnet
The Streamline was not a small car
The Streamline was not a small car
The Streamline Car in an American Magazine
The Streamline Car in an American Magazine

Streamline Cars Ltd was the company responsible for making the Burney car. Sir Charles Dennistoun Burney rose to fame as an airship designer and is best known for his work at Howden, Yorkshire, England on the R100 for Vickers. With the ending of the airship programme he used some of his ideas to create a revolutionary car which was built from 1927 at Maidenhead, Berkshire. Thirteen cars were made in total. Each one was different as they were intended as showcases for his patents rather than for serious production. The cars incorporated such features as independent suspension, hydraulic brakes, a heater and all seating within the wheelbase. The cars were rear engined with twin radiators.[1] The first car used an Alvis front wheel drive chassis effectively turned back to front but adapted so the new front wheels steered. Later cars used Beverley straight 8, Lycoming and Armstrong Siddeley engines.

The streamlined bodywork is bizarre looking and very long at just under 20 feet (6.1 m). The spare wheel was carried inside one of the rear doors which must have put an enormous strain on the hinges and door pillar. The equivalent space in the opposite door was occupied by a cocktail cabinet.

The cars were priced at around £1,500. One was bought by the Prince of Wales and another crossed the Atlantic to be exhibited at the Detroit Car Show. No Burneys are known to survive.[2]

Some of the ideas (including the location of the spare wheel) were used by Crossley Motors in their "Streamline" but this also was not a production success.

The Maidenhead factory was also used for car production by Marendaz and GWK.

Streamline Cars finally closed in 1936.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gernsback, Hugo (November 1931). "Streamline Car Carries Engine at Rear". Everyday Science and Mechanics: pg 663. Gernsback Publication.  Shows cut-away view of car.
  2. ^ Special Cable to New York Times (January 4, 1932), “Burney Will Display His Latest Auto Here”, New York Times: Automobiles pg 1 "Inventor and Streamlined Car With Rear Engine Will Sail From England Tomorrow." This will be the ninth one built; the Prince of Wales bought the fifth one.
  • Spearing, James O. (October 5, 1930), “At the Wheel”, New York Times  Report about the London automobile show that opens October 16, 1930. The main focus of this article is Sir Dennistoun Burney's Streamline.
  • Sinsabaugh, Chris (January 31, 1932), “The News From Detroit: Sir Dennistoun Burney's Streamlined Car With Motor in Read Interest Engineers - Expectations Growing”, New York Times: Automobiles pg 1  "[T]he car would have an impressive gasoline economy performance, this was borne out by the record of twenty-one miles to the Imperial gallon. The car weights 4,400 pounds and has an 80-horsepower engine."


Books
  • Nield, Dr. Bernard. The Burney Streamline Car. Howden: Howden Civic Society, 2008. ISBN: 9780955714504.