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Image of Leyland Logo[D]
Photograph of 1920 Leyland 8 (Recreation)
1920 Leyland 8 (Recreation) [D]
Photograph of 1920 Leyland 8 (Recreation)
1920 Leyland 8 (Recreation) [D]
Leyland
Leyland Motors Ltd.
King Street
Leyland
Lancashire
1920-1927

In 1917 Leyland Motors Chief Engineer John Godfrey Parry Thomas was given carte blanche to create the "Perfect Car" to compete with Rolls-Royce.

Three years later a straight eight car of 6976 cc was shown at the Olympia Motor Show with a chassis price of £2500, it was 16 feet (4.8 m) long and weighed 28 cwt (1422 kg). The press named it "The Lion of Olympia". About eighteen cars were built between 1920 and 1922 and a further car was built from spares in 1927.

In 1922 Thomas took a two-seater Speed Model and lapped Brooklands at 104.85 mph. This lead to further developments, see Leyland-Thomas for more details.