*One of only 902 produced *Rare, last-of-the-line flagship model *Restored in the 1990s While most motor manufacturers entered the post-war era with cars little changed from those on offer in 1939, Armstrong Siddeley was able to launch a new model immediately, announcing the Hurricane in May 1945.

A stylish, 4/5-seater, three-position drophead coupé, the Hurricane was soon joined by the mechanically similar Lancaster saloon, both cars using a developed version of the advanced, 2.0-litre overhead-valve six introduced in 1938.

(Choosing the evocative names of WW2 aircraft for its models made good sense for Armstrong Siddeley, which had built many of them – as Hawker Siddeley and Armstrong Whitworth – and supplied the engines for countless others).

In 1952 the company departed from this practice, launching the all-new '346 Sapphire' saloon, which had been developed with input from the great W O Bentley.

A large, refined six-seater, the Sapphire was an instant success despite being con...