Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire Price Guide

The Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire was the company’s finest hour: a large, powerful saloon with a twin-cam engine, all-synchromesh gearbox, and a level of engineering sophistication that had Jaguar looking over its shoulder. It was also the car that effectively killed the company, because it was too expensive to produce profitably.

The Car

The Sapphire 346 of 1952 used a 3.4-litre six-cylinder engine producing 120bhp, with an optional twin-cam head raising output to 150bhp. The 234 and 236 models used four-cylinder engines. A Rolls-Royce-style radiator grille, walnut dashboard, and Connolly leather trim completed a car that could cruise quietly at 100mph. Armstrong Siddeley ceased car production in 1960 to concentrate on the more profitable aerospace business, and the Sapphire was its final significant model.

Buying

The Sapphire is rare and undervalued relative to its engineering merit. The twin-cam engine is a sophisticated unit that requires knowledgeable maintenance. The Whitley is the more modest predecessor that the Sapphire replaced. Parts are sourced through the Armstrong Siddeley Owners Club, which maintains an active spares service.