Rarest of all quality high-powered touring cars of the 1920s was the
Anglo-Belgian Beverley-Barnes, built in Barnes, South West London, in a
factory beside the Beverley Brook. Principals of the company were all
Belgian – Monsieur Dolphens, Monsieur Flamand and Count Lenaerts.
Dolphens was the engineer with Flamand and Lenaerts the financiers. The
company specialised in precision engineering and during the First World
War built under licence the French Le Rhone air-cooled rotary aero
engines for the Royal Flying Corps
The vast two acre factory incorporated all aspects of engineering and in
the immediate post-war years the company were engaged in the
manufacture of parts for the motor industry, supplying the infant
Bentley Motors Ltd. with machining facilities. Other notable customers
were Beardmore of Glasgow and Lagonda of Staines, while the company
supplied also the diesel auxiliary starter motor for the dirigible
Airship R101. In 1923 the company embarked upon motor car manufacture in
their own right under the Beverley-Barnes name.
Dolphens spearheaded this ambitious enterprise, however in a production
period ending in 1930/1931 only a handful of cars were built – estimated
numbers range from fifteen to twenty five cars in total. All
Beverley-Barnes cars featured mightily impressive straight eight
cylinder overhead camshaft engines with aluminium pistons. Beverley later supplied some of the engines to Sir Dennistoun Burney for
his Burney Streamline cars and also assembled about 12 low-chassis 4 ½
litre units for Invicta. It is thought
that these cars were developed ready to go into manufacture should the
other engineering activities of the company fall into decline.
Details of the Streamliner
The company exhibited some of its limited production at international
motor exhibitions, possibly as a promotion exercise for its other
precision engineering facilities. In October 1924 the company built its
first 30/90hp model, featuring a straight eight engine of 4,826cc,
offering a top speed in excess of 70mph.
Opposite side of the engine
Power was transmitted through a four-speed gearbox and promotional
literature referred to a chassis of exceptional width with very low
centre of gravity. Braking was assisted by a Dewandre servo-vacuum
control. 90bhp was developed at 2,700rpm.
1925 Beverley-Barnes 30/90hp 4,826cc Sports
The shape of the radiator has an almost identical form RR ... The only difference is the badge.
The prices of thise cars were not inexpensive, ranging from £1,150 for the Sports model to
£1,350 for the Saloon. Here was a car in a class of its own, offering
engineering finesse and quality. Had the company tooled up for series
production there is little doubt that these cars would have found a
ready market.
Known production of Beverley-Barnes and Beverley is 14 cars of which two
survive. One was built as an ambulance but used by glaziers for
carrying large glass panels. Seven other ‘possibles’ have been
suggested, several in chassis form only.
