The Crossley 19.6 Sports was a more performance-oriented variant of the standard 19.6 model produced by Crossley Motors Ltd in the early 1920s. While Crossley was best known for producing reliable and dignified saloons and tourers, the 19.6 Sports reflected the company’s ability to blend solid engineering with a touch of sporting flair. It was designed for buyers who wanted the robustness of a large-capacity touring car but with livelier handling and a more purposeful appearance.
The car was powered by the same 3.6-litre four-cylinder engine found in the rest of the 19.6 range. Rated at 19.6 RAC horsepower for taxation purposes, the engine’s actual output was in the region of 50 brake horsepower. This provided respectable performance for the period, especially when paired with a lighter, sportier body. The engine used overhead valves and was praised for its smooth and consistent power delivery, well suited to both fast touring and more spirited driving.
To emphasise its sporting credentials, the 19.6 Sports featured a lower and sleeker body compared to the taller tourer and saloon versions. It typically had a two- or three-seat open configuration with a pointed tail, sometimes known as a “boat-tail” or “torpedo” design, giving it a rakish and aerodynamic silhouette. The bodywork was often aluminium or lightweight steel over a wooden frame, reducing weight and improving agility.
Handling was considered quite competent for a car of its size and period. The chassis remained strong and conventional, with semi-elliptic leaf spring suspension and mechanical brakes—though some sports models may have benefited from improved four-wheel braking systems, which were becoming more common by the mid-1920s. Steering was direct if somewhat heavy, and the car required a firm hand, but it offered a rewarding driving experience on the open road.
The 19.6 Sports was sometimes seen in competitive settings such as trials or long-distance endurance events. While it was not a thoroughbred racing car, its reliability and torque made it suitable for events that tested both car and driver over tough terrain. It also offered a great balance between everyday usability and occasional high-speed motoring—especially attractive to the gentleman driver of the day.
Inside, the sports version was typically trimmed in a simpler, more utilitarian fashion than its saloon sibling, with minimal upholstery and instrumentation focused on function over luxury. However, the quality of craftsmanship remained high, as was typical of Crossley’s output during this era.
Today, the Crossley 19.6 Sports is a rare and desirable vintage vehicle. Surviving examples are valued not just for their scarcity, but also for their character and mechanical charm. They represent an era when British motoring was evolving from Edwardian elegance to the more dynamic interwar style and when manufacturers like Crossley sought to demonstrate their versatility by producing cars that could perform as well as they could endure.