Semi Elliptic.net

Trojan PB
Car : Trojan PB
Year : 1923
Engine : horizontally-mounted 4 cylinder, two stroke
Bore and stroke : 63.5×120.7 mm
Cylinder capacity : 1523 cc
Gears : 2 forward
Brake horse power :11
Maximum speed : 34 mph
Wheelbase : 7 ft 11½ ins (2.32 m)
Suspension : front and back : cantilever leaf- springs
The most original feature of this small car was its monobloc, 2-stroke, 4- cylinder engine. It was designed by Leslie Hounsfield an at least 15,000 were built by Leyland. Three preproduction cars were ready in 1913 and a further six were ready in 1921. The design was entrusted to Leyland for production and this began properly in 1923, but in 1928 Trojan took the design back.
Another of its original features was the positioning of the engine, which was mounted horizontally beneath the front seats. Initially Hounsfield thought of having it vertically between the two seats, yet another example of the imagination and boldness of the early motor engineers. The PB’s 4-cylinder engine was also unusually flexible, delivering its 11 bhp at anywhere between 450 ad 1,200 rpm and this enabled a gearbox with just two speeds to be fitted. The engine was particularly long lasting as it had only seven moving parts.
Aiming principally for cheapness, Hounsfield maintained that the car he had designed could do without pneumatic tires. This would be a significant saving of £4. To this end the PB had disc wheels. The excellent suspension gave quite a comfortable ride. It had neither a starter nor a crank; instead it was started by pulling a lever from the driver’s seat.