Yet more from Allan L - solved correctly: Connaughts L3 and L3/SR

[Allan L]

Here are two cars of the same make:
Make and models please.

[SeaLion]

Two british Connaughts, a L2 under the trees and a L3 SR nearest the camera.

[Allan L]

Two british Connaughts, a L2 under the trees and a L3 SR nearest the camera.

Quite right!
I thought I could count on you for this one!

[Allan L]

The owner of these cars has just found Autopuzzles and has pointed out that the answer that SeaLion gave and which I accepted is not correct in one detail.
I'm not taking SL's point away, but there's another point available for anyone who can spot and correct the error.
For some reason I can't move the thread back to "Professional" myself.

[Ray B.]

Done.

[Allemano]

I guess it's about the car in the background, isn't it?

[Allan L]

I guess it's about the car in the background, isn't it?

That would be a good guess!

[Allemano]

Is it a Connaught at all?

[Allan L]

Is it a Connaught at all?

What do you think (remembering what's been said above)?

[Allemano]

It's been said that SL's answer was incorrect in one detail, what could mean everything...
I just asked as I can't find any Connaught with that particular coachwork.

[Allan L]

It's been said that SL's answer was incorrect in one detail, what could mean everything...
I just asked as I can't find any Connaught with that particular coachwork.

In that case it will be quite hard for you to find the answer.
One detail was what I said, and it is a very small detail which would be hard to get right just by looking at the photo (that's why I allowed SeaLion's answer without thinking), but easy to guess once you work out the options.

[Paul Jaray]

OK, then, let's work out the options:
Small detail means that is is a Connaught.
Hard to get from the pics means that is not visible.
So it has to be in what is written in SL's reply:
I'm pretty sure they are both British, so probably the L2 is a replica?

[Allan L]

OK, then, let's work out the options:
Small detail means that is is a Connaught.

:thumbsup:

Hard to get from the pics means that is not visible.

:thumbsup:

So it has to be in what is written in SL's reply:
I'm pretty sure they are both British, so probably the L2 is a replica?

You need to look at the various models that were made and see what you discover.

[Paul Jaray]

I know a L1 sport, L2 sport, A-type 2-carburettors Formula 2, L3 Sport, A-type injection Formula 2, L3 SR, ALSR Le Mans, two B-types Formula 1, the C-type and D-type.

Is that a Leacroft bodied L1?

[Allan L]

Not L1 - I can't remember that they had a model called that.

[faksta]

Sorry to be off-topic, but Allan, check your inbox, please - I've sent you a message, and I'm not sure whether you have received it or not  :-\

On subject, is it a factory built Connaught or maybe some kind of special?

[Allan L]

Sorry to be off-topic, but Allan, check your inbox, please - I've sent you a message, and I'm not sure whether you have received it or not  :-\

Yes - I've replied now.

On subject, is it a factory built Connaught or maybe some kind of special?

Yes.

[Allan L]

Time to resolve this, surely?

[Allan L]

Come on folk!
We have established that both cars are Connaughts but that I accidentally allowed L2 as the model for the one in the background which is incorrect.
It should not be beyong the assembled might of A/P to work out what it is as the choice is not great.
PJ's list a few posts up does include the right one, but it's not the L1 that he chose and which I don't remember existing!

[Paul Jaray]

L2 Sport?

From the Beaulieu:
"..Two models were offered, the L1 and the more powerful L2. There were no takers for the L1, but six L2s were made."
From Lawrence's "A-Z of Sports cars" (I know not the most accurate....)
"..At first two models were offered, L1 and L2, but all six customers opted for the more powerful L2..."

[Allan L]

No L2 was not correct.
I supposed your list says "sport" to show it's not a single-seater, but they were just called L2, L3, L3/SR, AL/SR at the time.
ref. e.g. Johnson "To Draw a Long Line"

[Paul Jaray]

You are right, I edited my reply after yours, but I imagine it can't be a L3 Sport for the same reason...

[Allan L]

You are right, I edited my reply after yours, but I imagine it can't be a L3 Sport for the same reason...

Ignore "sport" and see what happens!
The two quotations you cite are contradictory and neither mentions the L3 but the piece in the earlier Georgano Encyclopedia does.

[Paul Jaray]

I'm not sure I'm understanding.
In my list I mentioned the L1 and you wrote twice that you never heard of that model. The quotations were the sources were I read about that (and they do not seems contradictory to me :-\)...I've no direct knowledge, of course, that's why sometimes I have to rely on books.
About my guess, it was L2 Sport, then I edited to L3 Sport and after your reply fixed it again in L2 Sport.

Is it a L3 then?

[Allan L]

Yes L3 is the right one, so they are L3 and L3/SR.
L type Connaughts were developments of the Lea-Francis 14 h.p. Sports most of which had semi-elliptic front springs and a beam front axle. Just before the end of the run of Lea-Francis 14 Sports it was changed to have torsion-bar springs controlling independant front suspension and the Connaughts had the same change. So far as I understand it both L2 (beam axle) and L3 (i.f.s.) bodies were very similar:



but there was a skimpy-bodied version of the later car, the L3/SR which is the car in the foreground of the original puzzle photo.

When I set this puzzle I didn't know which car the one in the background was, and since there are more L2 than L3 with that body I got it wrong. I now know it is 7118 so is an i.f.s. car, therefore L3. I am in good company as the L2 1360, registration no. MPH 996 (as in the photo above) is captioned as L3 in C.E. Johnson's book "To Draw a Long Line"