BSA Scout
Nine open 2-seater 1935 series I
Overview
Manufacturer	BSA Cycles Limited[1]
Production	early 1935[1]
Assembly	Birmingham[2]
Body and chassis
Class	sports car
Body style	open 2-seater, open 4-seater, coupé
Layout	FMF[1]
Powertrain
Engine	1,075 cc 4-cylinder in-line sv[1]
Transmission	three-speed manual gearbox,[1] multi-plate clutch with a worm final drive. From the differential assembly a short universally jointed propeller shaft runs out transversely to each front wheel
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2-seater 90 in (2,300 mm) 4-seater 93 in (2,400 mm)) coupé 93 in (2,400 mm)
Length	2-seater 135 in (3,400 mm) 4-seater 146 in (3,700 mm)) coupé 140 in (3,600 mm)
Width	52 in (1,300 mm)
Height	2-seater 54+1⁄2 in (1,380 mm) 4-seater 57 in (1,400 mm)) coupé 54+1⁄2 in (1,380 mm)
Kerb weight	2-seater 11 long cwt 2 qr (1,290 lb or 580 kg) 4-seater 12 long cwt 2 qr (1,400 lb or 640 kg) coupé 14 long cwt 0 qr (1,570 lb or 710 kg)

The BSA Scout is a small open two-seater front-wheel drive car, manufactured and sold by subsidiaries of The Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited, launched at the beginning of April 1935. On account of its front-wheel drive and low centre of gravity it was said to be remarkably stable taking corners in safety which would be impossible with a normal design.^[1] This new addition to the range of small open cars for young motorists was intended to further embellish BSA's reputation for sound design, robust construction and complete reliability.^[5]

Mechanicals

At the front of the car was the engine, clutch, gearbox and a short stiff propeller shaft to the worm and spur driven differential and front wheel brake. All these mechanicals were (flexibly^[6]) mounted as one unit positioned in a reverse to the usual order, the differential at the very front of the car.

Engine

The car's four-cylinder, 9 (RAC) horsepower 1,075 cc (65.6 cu in) engine and transmission had powered thousands of BSA three-wheelers over the previous five years.^[1]

Transmission

The gearbox was centrally controlled by a lever in the facia providing three forward speeds and reverse^[1] The propeller shafts from the differential to each wheel had flexible fabric joints and enclosed universal joints. The multi-plate clutch had two light alloy discs with cork inserts and ran in oil.^[4]

Chassis

The conventionally designed chassis was made of channel section side members suitably braced by cross members.^[4] Suspension was by eight quarter-elliptic springs in front—four to each wheel giving independent front springing.^[1]

Rear suspension was by ordinary half-elliptical springs to a beam axle.
The single brake for the front wheels was a part of the differential unit. The rear brakes were on each wheel.^[3]

Electrical equipment was six-volt and a five lamp set supplied with dip and switch control to the head lights was included.^[4] The tyre size is 4+1⁄2 by 18 inches (110 mm × 460 mm).

Bodies

The pneumatic cushioned upholstery was leather and the frame of the body of ash panelled in aluminium.^[4] An open two-seater it had attractive and sporting lines yet with enough leg and elbow room.^[1]

During 1936 an open four-seater sports tourer body also became available at £169.10.0.^[3][6] and a two-seater coupé complete with recessed traffic indicators, sunshine roof and other closed car fittings: £185.^[6] These bodies became known as series 3.

A new two-seater drophead coupé was announced in August 1939 (similar to the car which won the coachwork award in the Welsh Rally. The price was to be £195^[7]

Price

Initially (open two-seater) £149.10.0^[1]

Performance

The car was built for speeds approaching 70 mph (110 km/h). Petrol consumption was expected to be an average of 35 to 40 miles per imperial gallon (8.1 to 7.1 L/100 km; 29 to 33 mpg_‑US).^[1]

Series 2 – Engine upgrade

For the October 1936 Earls Court Motor Show the engine capacity was increased to 1,203 cc (73.4 cu in).^[3]

Series 3 – variants of 2

Also for the October 1936 Motor Show—either a two-seater coupé by Mulliners or a 4-seater open tourer on the same chassis as the 2-seater named series 2.^[3][6]

Series 4 – August 1937

Shock absorbers were fitted all round. Front braking was now by brakes on the front wheels.^[4]

• The price of the two-seater and the two-seater de luxe had been reduced to £149.10.0 and £156.10.0 respectively.^[4]
• Four-seater £159.10.0^[4]
• Four-seater de luxe £166.10.0^[4]
• Coupé de luxe £179. The coupé was now only available with the de luxe equipment.^[4]

The motoring correspondent of The Times described the two-seater as "a rakish looking body with two wide cut-away doors with cord-operated locks and pockets. The floor is flat and unobstructed, there is luggage space in the tonneau behind the squab with a cover, and the hood folds down completely when it is concealed. There is a single panel safety glass folding screen with a curved top line and the detachable side screens are stored behind the squab. The instruments are in front of the driver with a good-sized cupboard and grabrail on the left."^[4]

"The coupé two-seater is of airline type and there is a bench type of seat with adjustment to the back and good luggage space behind. A sliding roof, safety glass windows, a windscreen which can be wound out, a rear blind, ventilators in the side of the scuttle, large headlamps with stone guards, a spare wheel, door locks, a sports spring steering wheel, flush fitting traffic indicators, a roof light and an inside reflecting mirror are included."^[4]

Series 5

A switch to a more powerful 12-volt electrical system and to Bendix cable brakes.^[8]

Series 6 – October 1938

Easy-clean (pressed steel) wheels are now fitted in place of the wire wheels. The coupé is now a 4-seater. The 9.8 engine has been redesigned, water-jacketing has been increased and a three-bearing crankshaft incorporating improved lubrication is now provided. Induction improvements include larger valves and a downdraught carburettor. The front and rear tracks are now the same—4 ft 0 in (1.22 m) and the wheelbase of all cars is now 7 ft 11+1⁄4 in (2.419 m).^[9]

A new drophead coupé 2-seater was announced on 1 August 1939^[10] but war broke out on 3 September and very few of these cars were made.

• 
  series 2
  open 2-seater standard,
  1936 example
• 
  series 4
  open 2-seater
  1936 example
• 
  series 4
  4-seater de luxe
  1938 example
• 
  series 6
  2-seater de luxe
  1939 example
• 
  series 6
  2-seater de luxe
  1939 example
• 
  series 6
  2-seater de luxe interior
  1939 example