Albany (automobile)
Encyclopedia
The Albany was an English automobile
, manufactured by the Albany Motor Carriage Company in Christchurch
, Dorset from 1971 - 1997. The company was run by two brothers, Bryan and David Shepherd.
The car was designed as a veteran car, in the Edwardian style, but is not a replica of any particular marque although with some resemblance to a 1908 Buick. Early models used the engine and suspension from the Morris Minor
in a specially built tubular steel chassis. The engine was governed to allow a maximum speed of 40 mph. The car was hand built and quite expensive at £1987 before a long list of extras was added. Purchasers requiring a hood or a screen found themselves invited to pay an extra £70 or £50 for these luxuries.
From 1974 a Triumph Spitfire
1300cc engine was used and a longer wheelbase five seat option came in 1976.
Albany also made a replica 1910 AEC open air bus, based on a Ford D Series
lorry chassis, that now provides very brief quasi-vintage bus rides at the Beaulieu motor museum in Hampshire. It appeared in the 1970s remake of the film 'The 39 Steps' starring Robert Powell.
In 1973 about a car every two weeks was being produced and exports to the United States started. However, after about 12 cars were shipped the importing company failed. The price in 1974, now with a 1500cc Triumph engine had risen to £2487. By 1977 110 cars had been built.
As of 1992, the open-top Albany, featuring a 1500cc Triumph Spitfire
engine, was being built for export only.
The company closed in 1997.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
, manufactured by the Albany Motor Carriage Company in Christchurch
Christchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
, Dorset from 1971 - 1997. The company was run by two brothers, Bryan and David Shepherd.
The car was designed as a veteran car, in the Edwardian style, but is not a replica of any particular marque although with some resemblance to a 1908 Buick. Early models used the engine and suspension from the Morris Minor
Morris Minor
The Morris Minor was a British economy car that debuted at the Earls Court Motor Show, London, on 20 September 1948. Designed under the leadership of Alec Issigonis, more than 1.3 million were manufactured between 1948 and 1971...
in a specially built tubular steel chassis. The engine was governed to allow a maximum speed of 40 mph. The car was hand built and quite expensive at £1987 before a long list of extras was added. Purchasers requiring a hood or a screen found themselves invited to pay an extra £70 or £50 for these luxuries.
From 1974 a Triumph Spitfire
Triumph Spitfire
The Triumph Spitfire is a small English two-seat sports car, introduced at the London Motor Show in 1962. The vehicle was based on a design produced for Standard-Triumph in 1957 by Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti...
1300cc engine was used and a longer wheelbase five seat option came in 1976.
Albany also made a replica 1910 AEC open air bus, based on a Ford D Series
Ford D-series
The Ford D-Series was a range of middle weight trucks introduced by Ford of Britain in 1965. It replaced the Thames Trader and appears to have been envisaged as a more modern competitor to the Bedford TK produced by General Motors' UK truck subsidiary....
lorry chassis, that now provides very brief quasi-vintage bus rides at the Beaulieu motor museum in Hampshire. It appeared in the 1970s remake of the film 'The 39 Steps' starring Robert Powell.
In 1973 about a car every two weeks was being produced and exports to the United States started. However, after about 12 cars were shipped the importing company failed. The price in 1974, now with a 1500cc Triumph engine had risen to £2487. By 1977 110 cars had been built.
As of 1992, the open-top Albany, featuring a 1500cc Triumph Spitfire
Triumph Spitfire
The Triumph Spitfire is a small English two-seat sports car, introduced at the London Motor Show in 1962. The vehicle was based on a design produced for Standard-Triumph in 1957 by Italian designer Giovanni Michelotti...
engine, was being built for export only.
The company closed in 1997.