Editing ABC (1920 automobile)

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox automobile
| name         = ABC 12hp
| image        = Abcsupersports1926.jpg
| caption=A.B.C. 12/40 HP Super Sports 1926
| production   = 1920–27<br />1500 approx produced<ref name=AZ1920>{{cite book |last=Baldwin |first=N. |title=A-Z of Cars of the 1920s|year=1994 |publisher=Bay View Books |location=Devon, UK |isbn=1-870979-53-2}}</ref>
| engine       = 1203 or 1320 &nbsp;cc  air-cooled [[Overhead valve]]
| transmission = four speed manual
| body_style   = 2-seat [[convertible (car)|convertible]]
| wheelbase    = {{convert|102|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}<ref name=BritishCars>{{cite book |last=Culshaw |author2=Horrobin |title=Complete Catalogue of British Cars |year=1974 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |isbn=0-333-16689-2}}</ref>
| length       ={{convert|144|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}<ref name=BritishCars/>
| width        ={{convert|57|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}<ref name=BritishCars/>
}}
[[File:1926ABCSuperSports-engine.jpg|thumb|Engine in a 1926 ABC Super Sports.]]
The '''ABC''' was an English car manufactured between 1920 and 1929 by [[ABC Motors]].

It was a light car (305&nbsp;kg), powered by a 1203&nbsp;cc flat-twin, air-cooled engine designed by [[Granville Bradshaw]] (the man who was also responsible for the [[ABC Motorcycle]]). The engine however was difficult to start, loud, inefficiently lubricated, and prone to breakages, particularly the quite long, exposed push rods. Over time quality improved dramatically. Combined with the vehicle's light weight, the powerplant made the car quite fast for its size, capable of speeds approaching {{convert|60|mph}}, and boasting quite good acceleration. ABC was originally part of the [[Harper Bean]] combine, and was based in [[Hersham, Surrey]] and Harper Bean supplied castings, stampings, and forgings utilized on the first ABCs.  The car was expensive; in 1920 it sold for £414 but came down to £265 for a four seater in 1923.

The "radiator" cap was actually the fuel tank filler, which led to problems when mechanics unfamiliar with air-cooled cars topped off the fuel tank with water.

In 1925 a more refined version came featuring stronger valve gear, a better system of lubrication, and enclosed pushrods. Front-wheel brakes became an option.

The company introduced a Super Sports model in 1925 with a 1320&nbsp;cc engine. This was the only model offered for the last four years of ABC's production.

Today the ABC is fairly rare and can be seen at shows and events around England.

{{commons category}}

==See also==
* [[List of car manufacturers of the United Kingdom]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
*Jay Eyesertoff Jr, "ABC", in [[G.N. Georgano]], ed., The Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars 1885-1968  (New York: E.P. Dutton and Co., 1974), pp.&nbsp;24.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abc}}
[[Category:Cars of England]]
[[Category:Cars introduced in 1920]]
[[Category:Cars discontinued in 1927]]