Introduced at the 1934 Olympia Motor Show, the 17hp was available in three wheelbase lengths to cater for the needs of the sporting motorist, owner-driver and carriage trade (though, the majority were bodied by Armstrong-Siddeley's in-house coachbuilder 'Burlington').

Based around a sturdy ladder frame chassis equipped with all-round semi-elliptic leaf-sprung suspension and four-wheel drum brakes, the newcomer was powered by a 2394cc OHV six-cylinder engine allied to four-speed Wilson pre-selector transmission.

Marketed as "A Car of Aircraft Quality" (a nod to its parent company's vital role within the aero industry), the 17hp was notable for its stiff four-bearing crankshaft, integral block / crankcase casting and advanced water pump design.

Credited with developing some 70hp @ 3,300rpm, it was reputedly capable of circa 70mph.

Remaining in production until 1939, just 4,260 17hp cars are thought to have been made.

However, survivors are comparatively scarce.

Bodied by Salmons & ...