Cdr. Sir Charles Dennistoun Burney, inventor and designer, had built the R-100 airship that despite its success was scrapped in 1931 after the Air Ministry's R-101 crash caused the British government to withdraw support for all airship development.

Burney probably only built and sold less than a dozen of his rear-engined Burney Streamlines. (One was sold to Edward, Prince of Wales). These were built to an aerodynamic design and were developed using an Alvis front-wheel drive chassis and engine. To further aid streamlining the rear track was 13 inches (33 cm) narrower than the front.

Burney took one car on a tour of US manufacturers in early 1932 to try to obtain an American licensee.

The production cars were fitted with Armstrong-Siddeley or Beverley-Barnes engines and in 1930 cost £1500.

Crossley took on a licence to built a car on these designs and at Olympia, October 1933, a rear-engined Crossley was announced at an expensive £795, half the price of the Burney. Like the Burney, it carried the spare wheel on the inside of one of the rear doors. It had conventional front-end treatment and was powered by a 2-litre Silver engine. Twenty Five were made in 1934.

Two of the Crossley cars survive, one of which is in The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.

Sir Charles Dennistoun Burney died aged 79 in Bermuda in 1968.

E-Mail: history@britishmm.co.uk