Before the First World War, the British car industry was a fragmented but rapidly evolving landscape that transitioned from a niche hobby for the elite into a significant national industry. Although British engineers were quick to notice continental developments like Karl Benz’s petrol-powered automobile (q.v.), early domestic progress was hampered by restrictive legislation like the Red Flag Act.
The Act’s repeal in 1896, celebrated by the first “Emancipation Run” to Brighton, finally allowed motor cars to be driven legally on public roads, sparking a surge of entrepreneurial activity. The 1000 mile trial of 1900, and the Crystal Palace Automobile Show of 1903 were other early waymarks.
The industry’s early foundations were deeply rooted in the existing bicycle trade, particularly in Coventry, which became the heart of British motoring. Established cycle firms expanded into vehicle production, while others were formed specifically for the new trade.
A major shift occurred just before the war when Henry Ford introduced mass production to the UK, opening a factory at Trafford Park, Manchester, in 1911. By 1913, Ford had overtaken Wolseley to become Britain’s largest manufacturer, producing over 7,000 (of 16,000 total) cars annually. Rolls-Royce and others were setting global benchmarks for luxury, but smallscale manufacture was not sustainable for many of the roughly 200 different makes launched.
Bremer
Plumber and gas-fitter Frederick Bremer built the first British four-wheeled car with an internal combustion engine. In 1894 he drive it on the roads of Walthamstow, his home town, where it still lives.
Years
1892
Engine
S1
Body Style
Open car
Production
1 + 1 (4 cyl)
Power: Weight
.
Dimensions
.
Photo: Wikipedia
Knight
Knight was stopped in a car of this model for exceeding the speed limit in Farnham in 1895: this was the first motoring offence in Britain. The follwoing year, he demonstrated it at the first small Crystal Palace Motor Exhibition
Years
1895
Engine
.
Body Style
Open car
Production
.
Power: Weight
.
Dimensions
.
Pennington Autocar
.
Years
1896
Engine
.
Body Style
Cyclecar
Production
.
Power: Weight
.
Dimensions
.
London Electrical Cab
Years
1897
Engine
.
Body Style
Horseless cab
Production
.
Power: Weight
.
Dimensions
.
Payne & Bates ‘Godiva’
Years
1901
Engine
.
Body Style
Open car
Production
.
Power: Weight
.
Dimensions
.
Albion A1 Dog Cart
Founded in 1899 in Glasgow, Albion initially focused on cars (8 – 15 HP), but focused on commercial vehicles after WWI, eventually becoming part of Leyland Trucks.
Years
1901
Engine
.
Body Style
Open car
Production
.
Power: Weight
.
Dimensions
.
Arrol Johnston Dogcart
Maker of Britain’s first car, and the world’s first off-roader! This example was driven by Shuttleworth in 1931 from the bankrupt Arrol Johnston works in a 23-hr non-stop candlelit trip from Scotland to Bedfordshire.
Years
1901
Engine
.
Body Style
.
Production
.
Power: Weight
.
Dimensions
.
Open car
Napier ‘Gordon Bennett’
Napier were the first British manufacturer to recognise the value of publicity from motorsport, and the car shown is Britain’s first oldest surviving racing car. Napier were a competitor of Rolls-Royce who just beat them to buying Bentley.
Years
1903
Engine
.
Body Style
Open racer
Production
.
Power: Weight
.
Dimensions
.
BSA
Designed by Captain E Baguley the first cars from Birmingham Small Arms were produced in various forms with capacities ranging from 2.5 to 4.2 litre. The larger cars were based on the 1907 Peking-Paris Itala.
Years
1907-1910
Engine
2.5-4.2l S4
Body Style
Tourer
Production
.
Power: Weight
.
Dimensions
.
Photo: Grace’s Guide
See also: BSA FWD Club
Siddeley-Deasy
.
Years
c. 1912
Engine
.
Body Style
Tourer
Production
.
Power: Weight
.
Dimensions
.
Photo: Flickr
Argyll 15/30
Made in the 2nd largest car factory in the world (in in Alexandria, Dunbartonshire), and known for reliability. Didn’t survive beyond 1914 after death of its founder, and patent disputes.
Years
c. 1913
Engine
.
Body Style
Tourer
Production
.
Power: Weight
.
Dimensions
.
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