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1905? Aster engine and chassis


Guest Alex.B

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Alex,

I know nothing about the Aster cars except what is published in books but on my first look at your pictures I thought the complex chassis stampings and connections were far to involved to be 1905.

According to the Complete Encyclopedia of Cars by G.N Georgano the Aster cars were manufactured from 1922 to 1927 with a 2618cc overhead valve motor rated at 18/50 HP.

If you have the front axle and it has no brakes it is pre 1924, if it has brakes it is later than 1924 as they became standard fitting in that year. The engines were also enlarged in that year and they were named the 20/55. The company amalgamated with Arrol-Johnston in 1927

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Alex- Your engine is older than 1910 visually. By '10 many builders were using mono-bloc cylinders or at least cast in pairs. It is a 'T' head with individual jugs and the fact that it is supported with a sub frame gives credit to being pre world war 1. I also agree with your thoughts comparing it to the 1905 photo/advertisement. It would be an ambitious project.Good luck--Bob

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This particular Aster company had a french accent, not Scottish. The Scottish car in the twenties seemed to be quite nicely built. The one I saw was a six cylinder model OHV, with a lot of aluminium in it. I would have guessed that it was between 3-4 litres displacement, but that was a long time ago.

The much earlier French Aster company largely made engines for various makes of cars, so that one could be anything, though very likely French. Some of the earliest Isotta Fraschini had single or twin cylinder Aster engines. The other maker of engines for IF was De Dion Bouton before the first four cylinder. Guiseppi Stefanini was their consultant designer, and his first 4 cylinder engine for them was a T-head with separate pots, but with completely different design detail, such as rulled or spun water jackets, and exposed camshaft drive gears that needed an oil can. Best way to get identification is to send photos to

All about Antique, Vintage and Pre-War Cars - PreWarCar. Detailed knowledge of all the French cars that used proprietry engines around that time is a very specialised area.

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Guest Alex.B

Thanks Ivan

Just an update it is type 431SZ? and serial number 11803.

It is 12/14 HP I believe

Cheers

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