Armstrong Siddeley Whitley Price Guide

The Armstrong Siddeley Whitley was a refined, luxurious saloon produced from 1949 to 1954. A car for professional gentlemen who considered a Rolls-Royce ostentatious and a Jaguar vulgar.

The Car

Named after the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bomber (the company’s parent made aircraft), the Whitley used a 2.3-litre overhead-valve six-cylinder engine producing around 75bhp. A Wilson pre-selector gearbox was standard; the driver selected the next gear in advance, then dipped a pedal to engage it, a system inherited from the company’s involvement with military vehicles and buses. The body was traditional steel over ash framing. The Whitley was available as a four-door saloon and a handsome drophead coupe.

Buying

Rare and understated, the Whitley appeals to collectors who value engineering and quality over sporting performance. The pre-selector gearbox takes practice but becomes second nature. The Sapphire that succeeded it was a more modern and powerful car, but the Whitley retains a character that the later model exchanged for refinement.