Armstrong Siddeley was created in 1919 by the fusion of the mighty Armstrong Whitworth engineering combine and the Coventry based Siddeley-Deasy company.

Introduced in 1929, the firm’s 12hp model helped start the 1930s fashion for small sixes.

The sidevalve engine displaced 1,236cc at first (1,434cc from 1931) and drove via a three-speed version of the firm's characteristic, Wilson-patented, pre-selector gearbox.

Mechanically the cars were conventional for the period, with semi-elliptic springs all round and mechanical brakes.

In 1934, short-wheelbase coupé and sports tourer versions arrived, the former advertised as ideal for 'Daughters of Gentlemen'.

A four-speed Wilson ’box and a vee-shaped front grille, behind which sat the flat radiator, were adopted that same year, while wire wheels were standard on the sports models.

The 12hp Sports Tourer made up the bulk of Armstrong-Siddeley's entry in the 1934 RAC Rally, that driven by Cyril Siddeley achieving second place in its class...