L Type a

The first real sports car produced by Lea-Francis, the L-Type was was built on the same chassis as the J-Type and fitted with a Brooklands spec. Meadows 4ED engine.

 

 Engine:

 

Meadows 4ED (12/50 Brooklands) 11.9hp, 52bhp

 

 Wheelbase: 8' 9"
Track 3' 9"

Designed in late 1925, the 1926 Lea-Francis range saw a number of modifications being made to the chassis design. The newly designated J, K, L, M and N types kept the quarter elliptic rear springs, hand-brake operating on the transmission and cone clutch of the earlier models, but with improvements such as stiffer rear cross-members and improved rear spring mounting. All models, except the G Type, now came with four wheel brakes as standard.

When fitted with the then new, higher revving Meadows 4ED engine, motor cars on this chassis were designated L or M type type. The 4ED engine featured a separate aluminium crankcase and a pressure fed crankshaft mounted on three white-metalled main bearings. This with alloy connecting rods and larger ports in the cylinder head and a reasonable camshaft profile gave a more powerful and easier revving engine than the 4EB and 4EC types. In fact, while arguably a little too powerful for some of the components on the earlier Lea-Francis cars to which it was fitted, the Meadows 4ED became the engine of choice for the majority of the company’s cars from this point on.

The L Type was Lea-Francis’ first really sporting car built in significant numbers. Referred to as the 12/50 Brooklands Sports Model, the L Type had a high compression cylinder head, two Solex carburettors and a “Brooklands” camshaft, and were guaranteed to do 70mph. A Dewandre brake servo assisted the bringing of this sportting motor car to a stop and Hartford shock-absorbers on all four corners aided road holding.

Most L types were fitted with four- or two-seater sports bodies, and had wire wheels.

174 L types were built of which two have survived in the Club, although much altered; the high mortality rate probably due to the back axle being unable to cope with the power of the 4ED.

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.