Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire 234 History

Launched in 1955, the Sapphire 234 was an unconventional offering for a luxury marque: a four-cylinder, 2,290 cc saloon derived from the 346's six-cylinder engine and tuned for performance, producing 120 bhp and capable of 100 mph with a four-speed manual gearbox (optional overdrive). It was aimed at drivers who wanted sporting character over smooth refinement.

The concept found few buyers in the prestige segment, where customers expected six-cylinder smoothness. Only 803 Sapphire 234s were built across its three-year run, making it one of the rarest Armstrong Siddeleys. Both the 234 and its six-cylinder 236 sibling were withdrawn in 1958 when Armstrong Siddeley chose to concentrate on the top-of-the-range Star Sapphire.