S Type b

The S-Type was quickly branded the "Hyper" by Lea-Francis and is how it has been commonly referred to since. After experiements with a variety of superchargers, Lea-Francis adopted the Cozette for use in its competition cars, from which the S-Type evolved, to become the first supercharged British production car.

 

 Engine: Meadows 4ED, 1496cc Supercharged
 Wheelbase: 9' 3"
Track 4' 2"

The S type used the same basic chassis design as the O and P-Types, but with the Meadows 4ED engine set further back to give space for the Cozette supercharger behind the distinctive sloping radiator. It also had servo-assisted brakes.

Initially it was available with four-seater tourer and even saloon bodies, and later came a Weymann coupé, but the two-seater sports model, initially finished in fabric and then later in aluminium, is what many think of as a Hyper.

The car had many successes in racing, both in the hands of private owners and the factory, most notably winning the 1928 Ards TT, after which a skimpy two-seater like the competition cars was marketed, called the “TT Replica”.

In standard form, with a No.8 Cozette supercharger and relatively standard Meadows 4ED engine, the S type was capable of 85mph. The competition cars, with a No.9 Cozette, roller bearing crank-shaft and re-worked Meadows 4ED were capable of well over 100mph - one is known to have lapped Brooklands at 112.8 mph.

About 180 S types were produced of which as many as 41 may have survived in one form or another.

We know everybody knows websites use cookies, but the law requires we interfere with your browsing and put a box here so you can tell us you know and permit us to use the cookies so the site functions as it should.