Lanchester
first experimental car

Why it matters

The first Lanchester of 1895 is described as the first British car. It combined a single-cylinder engine with two balanced cranks, geometrically correct steering and a sprung three-abreast body.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

Frederick Lanchester built a high-speed petrol engine running at 800 rpm with his own wick carburettor and first used it in an English-built motor boat. The car used pneumatic tyres bought from Dunlop, said to be the first motor-car tyres Dunlop made. The body seated three abreast and was sprung to make up for the lack of springs on the axles.

The original car was later rebuilt with a two-cylinder engine and a second experimental car, the Gold Medal Phaeton, followed, with a third water-cooled example after that.

Technical specifications

Engine

Transmission & drivetrain

Chassis, body & dimensions

Performance

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

1. 1
   Grace's Guide – Lanchester Engine Co Level C

   • 1 individual experimental car (first trials late 1895, on the road 1896)

   Accessed 2026-11-11
2. 2
   Lanchester - The First British Car Level B Unique Cars and Parts

   • 4¾ in x 4½ in single-cylinder with two balanced cranks
   • 4¾ in x 4½ in single-cylinder
   • his own design of wick carburetor
   • capable of 800 rpm

   Accessed 2026-11-12