Napier TYPE 21 ROI-DES-BELGES TOURER

Napier built the worlds first 6 cylinder production engine and was one of Englands most prominent car manufacturers. As one of the few car manufacturers, Napier built the bodies in house.

In 1907 S.F. Edge (Napiers top salesman) sold six Napier automobiles to the Nizam of Hyderabad in India. For reasons that have never been clarified, one chassis (this example) was not delivered to the Nizam and remained in England. This chassis was fitted with a front bench seat and a large fuel tank and, together with two other Napiers, was used to drive non stop for 24 hours on the newly constructed Brooklands circuit. This was done to demonstrate the reliability of the Napier brand. Even before the official opening of Brooklands, S.F. Edge covered a distance of 2544 kilometers at an average speed of 106 km/h. This record stood for no less than 17 years. During the record attempt Edge often had to stop for new tires. However, the tire changes were carried out very quickly thanks to the use of wheels with a central nut made by BSA. The engine of the T21 officially produced 60 hp but, by increasing the engine speed, could deliver 90 hp. The engine could reach an engine speed (2500 revolutions per minute) that was as much as twice as high as the competition. In addition, the Napier T21 was equipped with the most modern high voltage ignition and pressure lubrication for the engine. The car was also praised for its good road holding. Of the total of 103 Napier T21s built, only three are still known to exist. In 2019 the Louwman Museum fitted a body on the chassis, so the Napier now looks exactly as it should have when it was originally to be delivered to the Nizam of Hyderabad. The name Roi des Belges (King of the Belgians) was at that time a popular style, named after the favorite body shape of King Leopold II of Belgium. This car belongs to the absolute top of automobile production up to 1910. Without any doubt it is one of the most sophisticated cars of its time.