VETERAN CAR GUIDE the century and featured design templates and construction instructions for cars that could be built at home. The originator was T. Hyler White. The series started in May 1899 with a tricycle featuring a 1.75hp De Dion Bouton engine. In January 1900, the first of 56 weekly parts on‘ A small car and how to build it’ appeared. To keep costs down, amateur engineers were encouraged to use second-hand materials, or to purchase components from the writer’ s friend, David J. Smith, who had a workshop in the East End of London. The number of vehicles that were successfully completed, is unknown but four vehicles survive: a Benz-type two-seater, a steam dog cart, an 8hp tonneau, and a two-cylinder car of 1907 date.
Flint Made in Flint, Michigan, USA, by ABC Hardy. In 1902, he began to make a two-seater, 8hp, single-cylinder roadster with left- or right-hand tiller steering for $ 850. He made 52 of these but ceased in 1902 because he was unwilling to pay the Seldon patent fee.
Ford Henry Ford started the Ford Motor Company in Detroit, USA in 1903. The first production car – the Model A – used a two-cylinder horizontally opposed 1645cc engine in a Runabout-type body and was initially assembled from parts supplied by Dodge Brothers and others. The Model A was discontinued in October 1904 when 670 had been made, according to the company’ s records. This model was replaced by three new ones: the larger-engined AC; the C with the same engine and a bonnet and vertical radiator, and the Model B, which was a completely new car, with a front-mounted, vertical four-cylinder engine of 4646cc, developing 24hp. Unlike the smaller Fords, it had shaft drive and a side entrance tourer body. In 1904, the company moved to a new factory and by 1905 300 employees were making 25 cars a day. By 1906, it was making 100 cars a day.
1904 Ford.
Gamage Aster Gamage’ s of Holborn, London, was a famous department store. It offered cars and a wide range of motoring accessories for both vehicles and occupants between 1903 and 1904. All the vehicles were sourced in from Lacoste et Battmann in Paris and were badged as‘ Gamage’ on arrival at the store. All vehicles had shaft drive and three-speed gearboxes, and there was a choice of De Dion Bouton or Aster single or twin cylinder engines.
Georges Richard Situated at Ivry-Port, Seine, France, the Richard Company made photographic equipment and then bicycles. Motor vehicles were made from 1897, when a Benz-type machine, complete with belt drive and three speeds, appeared. In 1901, Henri Brasier left Mors to join the Richard brothers. His arrival heralded a new regime of larger cars on Panhard lines, with two or four cylinder engines in four models, from 10hp to 40hp. At first, they were chain driven, with tubular frames on the smaller cars, but by 1904, all frames were pressed steel. The company offered a 5.5hp single cylinder voiturette for the British market in 1903, called the Pony Richard; probably a stock clearance exercise. The company gained great kudos from its victories in the 1904 and 1905 Gordon Bennett races, with their 9.9 litre, 80hp and 11.2 litre 90hp machines.
Gladiator The Société Gladiator, Seine, France, was founded by Paul Aucoq and Alexandre Darracq to make low-cost bicycles, which attracted the attention of a British consortium that included Harvey du Cros and Ernest Hooley. Light car production was underway by 1898, and by the following year Aster engines of 2.5hp and 3.5hp had been installed in the front of the tubular chassis, with a two-speed gearbox and chain drive to the rear axle. They were also sold as Clément because Adolphe Clément was on the board until 1903. By then, Gladiator was making 1000 cars a year, of which 80 percent were sold in England. From 1903, larger 10hp, twin cylinder models were available.
Haynes-Apperson The Apperson Brothers had premises at Kokomo, Indiana, USA. Elwood Haynes, a talented metallurgist who invented stainless steel, approached them to build his first car. The Haynes two-seater, with its chassis frame made of square steel tubing, had two forward speeds. Further prototypes were developed until the Haynes-Apperson Company was incorporated in May 1898. The cars were powered by 5hp engines, with a three-speed gearbox, and the‘ heavy parts’ were made of aluminium alloy. The company earned
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