VETERAN CAR GUIDE steering wheel , which was unusual at the time . Production was moved in 1901 to Willesden in London , where Cyril Begbie , the UK importer of Aster engines , assumed control of operations . He started making Century-branded , four-wheeled cars in 1903 , using English-made chassis , French gearboxes , and Aster two-cylinder engines of 8 or 12hp . Larger four cylinder , Mutel-engined models were later introduced . Production ceased in 1907 .
C . G . V Fernand Charron , Léonce Girardot and Emile Voigt were three successful Panhard racing drivers who launched their first car in 1901 from workshops in Puteaux , France . The vehicle shared many of the characteristics of Panhard , but to create a more streamlined profile , the radiator was mounted just above the dumbirons , and in front of a coal scuttle bonnet . It had a 3306cc , 15 / 20hp , four-cylinder engine with automatic inlet valves , a four-speed gearbox , and chain drive . From 1902 there was a 40hp 8616cc engined car , presenting a competitor for Panhard . The world ’ s first straight-eight was on show at the 1902 Paris Salon ( with no gearbox fitted because the engine was so flexible ), but it did not enter production . It is recorded that 196 vehicles were made in 1903 .
Cadillac In 1902 , Henry Leland , an engine and transmission manufacturer , formed the Cadillac Automobile Company in Detroit , Michigan , USA . Leland had made engines for Oldsmobile and , following a disagreement on cost , discussions with Henry Ford led to the creation of Cadillac . The first vehicle , launched at the end of 1902 , had a single cylinder , horizontal engine , two-speed epicyclic transmission and chain drive to the rear axle . At the 1903 New York Automobile Show , 2286 orders for the car were taken in the first week . The same basic design of vehicle continued until the end of 1904 , by which time the reputation of the business was firmly established .
Century Century was founded by Ralph Jackson , an Altrincham-based cycle maker , who initially made 2.25hp-engined three-wheeled forecars with a
1904 Cadillac
Clément Adolphe Clément made multiple fortunes , from cycle manufacture , the purchase of the French rights for Dunlop tyre production , and motor cars . He launched the rear-engined Clément-Gladiator in 1897 , Clément- De Dion in 1898 , and the Clément-Panhard in 1900 , which had a rear-mounted 763cc , 3.5hp inclined single cylinder engine with automatic inlet valve and hot tube ignition . A reverse gear was provided in 1899 , and in 1901 , a three-seater vis a vis was added to the twoseater , when a larger 4.5hp engine was introduced along with electric ignition . Clément became Chairman of Panhard et Levassor and married Emile Levassor ’ s widow . Clément cars were made in London from 1903 under the name Talbot .
Clément-Bayard Adolphe Clement ( later renamed Clement-Bayard after the Chevalier Bayard ) resigned from the boards of both Panhard and Gladiator in order to form Clement- Bayard in 1903 to produce cars under his own name . The marque made a full range of cars – 6hp singles , 7hp twins and 14hp , 20hp and 27hp four cylinders , all with shaft drive . Clement-Bayard made all the parts for its own vehicles , except the tyres , using largely American machine tools . Racing cars with engines up to 100hp ( 16,786cc ) were made and competed with some success .
Clement-Panhard Clément-Panhard automobiles were manufactured from 1898 . Adolphe Clément was a director of Panhard-Levassor , and when the Panhard factory could not meet the production requirements for c . 500 units of the 1898 ‘ voiture Légère ’ (‘ dog cart ’) model , he undertook manufacture under licence at his factory in Levallois-Perret .
Colliot The Colliot was made in 1901 by Deliry et Fils at Soissons , Aine , France . These voiturettes were noted for having a transversely mounted , 4.5 hp aircooled V-twin engine at the front driving through a conventional 4 speed gearbox .
44 The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run