No. 3204 a 15hp Straker Squire from 1913

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A couple of weeks ago, we published an article about how the first Straker Squire 6 arrived in Australia. Terry Parker told us he rebuilt the engine of The Kyffin Thomas car but didn’t realise that he was being assessed as a future owner of the vehicle. George Brooks sold the 1923 Straker Squire 6 to Terry. The car currently shares a garage with another 10 years younger 15 hp Straker Squire. He tells us more about the make and the 1913 Straker which keeps it company.

The beginning of Straker Squire

The beginnings of Straker Squire go back to 1896 when Sydney Straker commenced building steam lorries in Bristol, UK. The company went through several changes, and in about 1905 Squire, a wealthy London socialite joined Straker and financed the import of French CSB chassis, which Straker Squire sold until CSB closed in 1908. Roy Fedden (in 1942 Sir Roy Fedden, as a result of his aero engineering work with Bristol) joined the company and in 1908, developed a 15hp car which was successful at Brooklands, very important in those days to promote sales of their road vehicles.

From the start, SS adopted a one model policy, and their offering was a 15hp chassis on standard lines of the day. International agencies were established, several in the States of Australia. In South Australia, it was the Phoenix motor works, and Evan Kyffin-Thomas bought his 1913 15hp car from there. He owned the car until 1923 when he bought another, the 6 cylinder OHC powered car.

There was a straight side rail chassis in Australia, from the first series of Straker-built cars. It was found by the late George Brooks in Sydney, with sheets of galvanised iron covering its Buick engine. The remnants of aluminium panels following the shape of the pointy tail suggest it was Fedden’s Brooklands car. The chassis returned to the UK where it now carries a 30hp Cadillac engine.

The remains of five pre-WW1 15hp cars were found in Australia, mainly in Victoria, from which one was restored as a roadster (5168), now in UK, and another (3125) part restored roadster, still in Victoria. A tourer (519) was restored, now in the Netherlands. There are two others (556 and 3168) known to be in the UK and one (504) in the USA.

No. 3024

The one I have in South Australia is No.3024. It was partly restored by George Brooks, not finished when he passed. I had rebuilt the motor for him, and he drove it with the unfinished body in place, not upholstered or painted, and I subsequently completed the work. The engine which had been patched up was re-built and a hood made, lamps fitted etc. The car has been reliable and has performed well over 20 years.

Fedden remained interested in engine development and in 1913, converted a side valve motor to 2” overhead inlets and made the two side valves exhaust. For 1914, he produced an overhead cam 16 valve motor for the TT event. The War halted any further car development, and Straker commenced making aero engines under licence from Rolls Royce. Roy Fedden was in his element and was just hitting the straps when the war ended. Fortunately for The Allies, he saved the best for WW2, when he worked with Bristol. His radial engine designs resulted in a knighthood.

Words and photographs by Terry Parker.

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