A twin-carburettor upgrade on the Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire 346 cost just £25 — and bumped output from 125 to 150 bhp, enough to clear 100 mph.
Median 75 hp across 38 similar cars
Lead trim: Sapphire 346 3,435 cc six (125 bhp) · up to 150 hp
Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire 346346 · 1953–1958
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FactA twin-carburettor upgrade on the Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire 346 cost just £25 — and bumped output from 125 to 150 bhp, enough to clear 100 mph.
The Sapphire 346 was the first of the Sapphire models, introduced late in 1952 for sale in 1953 and made until 1958 (7,697 made). Its six-cylinder 3,435 cc engine had hemispherical combustion chambers; optional twin Stromberg carburettors, for £25 extra, increased the output from 125 to 150 bhp, giving a top speed in excess of 100 mph (all cars for the US had twin carburettors). The front suspension was independent by coil springs, the rear a rigid axle with leaf springs, with Girling hydraulic 11 in drum brakes. The body was offered in four- or six-light versions, with leather seats, walnut veneer and a heater as standard, and it was introduced with the option of a Wilson electrically-controlled four-speed preselector gearbox (£30 extra) or a four-speed synchromesh gearbox; the 346 Mark II of 1954 was offered with a Rolls-Royce-made Hydramatic automatic, and a long-wheelbase limousine version (chassis 21 inches longer, pre-selector gearbox standard) was launched in 1955. A 1953 Motor test of a saloon with twin carburettors and synchromesh recorded 100.1 mph and 0-60 mph in 13.0 seconds (test-car price £1,757). Wheelbase 114 in (2,896 mm) (133 in limousine), length 193 in (4,902 mm) (212 in limousine), width 72 in (1,829 mm), height 63 in (1,600 mm).
Collectors Spotted in the Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
2 published trims in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sapphire 346 3,435 cc six (125 bhp) | 1953–1958 | 3.4 L Inline-6 | 125 hp | — | — | RWD | — | — |
| Sapphire 346 3,435 cc twin-carburettor six (150 bhp) | 1953–1958 | 3.4 L Inline-6 | 150 hp | — | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
The Star Sapphire's doors hinged at the front with their hinges hidden entirely — styling that looks ordinary now but was genuinely ahead of its time on a 1958 luxury saloon.
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A twin-carburettor upgrade on the Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire 346 cost just £25 — and bumped output from 125 to 150 bhp, enough to clear 100 mph.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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