1922 Leach Model 22A Five-Passenger Touring

UnclassifiedOn Display

Jan 10

Written By Andrew Summers

Quick Specs

4.9-liter inline-6.
N/A
N/A
218-264 (est. Leach Chassis built.)

The Tragic Decline of the Leach

The Leach, formally known as the Leach-Biltwell, was an ultra-luxurious automobile manufactured by Martin Andrew Leach, a Los Angeles-based entrepreneur who began building bodies for cars at about the same time that Earl Coachworks was in business. But while Earl Coachworks—which had been founded by the father of future GM styling boss Harley Earl—built only car bodies, Leach-Biltwell began making entire automobiles beginning in 1919, with a range of high quality, smartly styled cars that were favorites with silent film stars such as Tom Mix, Gloria Swanson, Betty Blythe, and Marcella Desmond.

At $6,500 it was one of the most expensive cars in America, but offered a kind of exclusivity that was difficult to match, even in the custom car realm. And the firm scored a product placement home run when the cars started showing up in newspapers and magazines in the company of the Hollywood superstars of the day. But the celebrating did not last long because once cars equipped with the new Miller-designed engines got into the hands of customers, they suffered catastrophic failures, and it is believed that the factory recalled all Power-Plus equipped vehicles so that their engines could be replaced with the tried and true Continental Red Seal units they had successfully used before. All subsequent Leaches were equipped with Continental engines, but even a substantial $1,000 price drop could not compensate for the damage that the Power-Plus Six engine had done to the firm’s reputation, and production came to an end in 1923.

Collection of the Petersen Automotive Museum

This vehicle featured in ‘The Vault’.

1922 Leach Model 22A Five-Passenger Touring Gallery

Vehicle Imagery may be used for personal, media editorial, or educational purposes. Please credit Petersen Automotive Museum, petersen.org, if used. Photos may not be used for commercial purposes.