Figure 1.--Here we see two British children apparently on an outing into the country. Notice the black-out lights, meaning the photograph was taken during the War. The car is a Morris 10/4 Saloon car. Morris was-Britain's largest manufacturer of automobiles at the time. It would have been built in the late-1930s, probably about 1937. Automobile construction was stopped after Hitler and Stalin as allies launched the War by invading Polandf (Septenber 1939). It became very difficult for civilans to obtain gas (petrol). Gas and tires (rubber) were strictly rationed. Britain had almost no oil, but it was available from the Americans--although German U-boats took a toll on the tankers. Britain's substantial automobile industry was converted for war, and not just military vehicles. Automobile plants, as in America, played a major role in aircraft and parts production.

England was not active in thge earliest developmental stage of the automobile. The British relied on work being carried aout in France and Germany (late-19th centuyry). Humber began manufacturing in Coverntry (1890). The first all-British motorize 4-wheel vehucle was designed and built by Herbert Austin (1900). He was the manager of The Wolseley Sheep Shearing Machine Company. The next year, Austin recived support the Vickers brother (Vickers Limited), 'Colonel Tom' and Albert Vickers (1901). Austin launched what would become Wolseley Motors in Birmingham (1901). It would be Britain's largest automobile manufacturer until Ford Motors entered the picture (1913). [Church] Sunbeam also began producing cars (1901) followed by Standard in Coventry (1903), Vauxhal (1903), Rover in Comnventry (1904), Austin in Birmingham (1905), Morris in Oxford (1910), and Riley in Coventry (founded in 1890 but only began making cars in 1913). A large bumber of other groups attempted to build cars. Many came out of the bicycle industry. This of coure the origin of the first heavier than airplane--the Wright Flyer. This was simply because the bicycle sector was such an important industry at the time. Some 200 groups tred to build autombiles that first decade. Half failed. British manufacturers built 14,000 vehicles, mostly cars (1910). Ford only a few years after launching the Model-T, opened up a factory in Manchester and became the leading British automobile manufacturer, producing 7,310 cars, a small fraction of Ford's American production. We are at this time unsure how Ford affected British manufacturing, especially mass production tecniques. We do not undertand what Ford was doing in Britain. The number of cars produced seem so small compred to its Anerican production that it seems hardly worth the effort. Wolseley built 3,000 cars, Humber (2,500), Rover (1,800 and Sunbeam (1,700). A large number of smaller manufacturers brought the pre-World War I total to some 16,000 vehicles (1913). [King] Automobile manufacturing came to an abrupt halt and virtully no cars were built during the war years (1914-18). The War drove British manufcturing in the direction of the mass production techniques that had been adopted in America. The companies panies involved did not close, but got a variety of other contracts. The mumber of motor companies actually increased. One report claims that there were 183 motor commpanies (1922). The numbers were gradually winowed out by competive forces. Only 58 companies remained (1929). [Baldwin] The sector was , however dominted by Morris and Austin which produce some 60 percent of British cars. Singer was in third plce with 15 percengt. [King] The industry had expanded significantly during the 1920s. The Depression adversely affected the automotive sector, bur Britain finally exceeded French production (1932). This is a little surorising because British percapita income was the gighest in Eurppe, you would have though that British production wold have been the higest from an earlier period. British manufactuters produced 379,310 cars and and 113,946 commercial vehicles (1937). [Vanderveen] Two companies dominated British production. The leading manufacturer was Morris. William Morris to honor his industrial achievements was granted a peerage--Vicount Nuffield. He recorganized his motor vehicle holdings into the Nuffield Organization. They included Morris Motors and MG along with Wolseley and Riley. Morris produced 27 percent, Austin (24 percent), Ford (15 percent), Standard (13 percent), Rootes that had merged with Humber and Sunbeam (11 percent), Vauxhall/GM (10-percent). [King] The advent of World War II, automobile manufacturers shifted production to commercial and military vehicles (rrucks and tanks) Some plants as in Anerica were converted to aircraft and aero engine production. This was imprtant because a huge part of the Bruiish war effort was devoted to the air war.

Preliminary Steps (19th Century

England was not active in thge earliest developmental stage of the automobile. England was strong in the electrical and mechancical business. And is out of this that sector that one of the most iconic names in the British motor ector came. Henry Royce founded his electrical and mechanical company (1884). It had nothing to do with automobiles at the time. The British relied on work being carried aout in France and Germany (late-19th century). The British motor vehivle industry essentially began began with a Anglo-German friendship. Frederick Simms met Gottlieb Daimler. He secured the right to sell and manufacture Gottlieb’s high-speed gasoline (petrol) engine along with otherr related patents. Humber began manufacturing in Coverntry (1890). Simms' plans to manufacture Daimler’s engines were acquired by H.J. Lawson who began Britain's first serial-production automobile (1896). The Daimler compamy still exists in Britain, but it was basically overtaken by Jaguar.

Early Manufacturung (1900-14)

The first all-British motorize 4-wheel vehucle was designed and built by Herbert Austin (1900). He was the manager of The Wolseley Sheep Shearing Machine Company. The next year, Austin recived support the Vickers brother (Vickers Limited), 'Colonel Tom' and Albert Vickers (1901). Austin launched what would become Wolseley Motors in Birmingham (1901). It would be Britain's largest automobile manufacturer until Ford Motors entered the picture (1913). [Church] Sunbeam also began producing cars (1901) followed by Standard in Coventry (1903), Vauxhal (1903), Royce--future Rolls-Royce (1904), Rover in Comnventry (1904), Austin in Birmingham (1905), Morris in Oxford (1910), and Riley in Coventry (founded in 1890 but only began making cars in 1913). Of particular imprtance was fledgling auto maker Herry Royce met Charles Rolls, a London dealer in high-end cars. Royce agreed to manufacture cars to be exclusively sold by Rools under Rolls-Royce brand (1904). The partnership was sucessful and the Rolls Royce was inuncorporated (1906). They introduced the six-cylinder Silver Ghost (1907). It was aclaimed as 'the best car in the world'. Son nafter Henry Ford in America would introduce the Model-T Tin Lizzie. The tw cars could nit have been more different, but these two competing visions wiold have an enormous imapct on World War II. A large number of other groups attempted to build cars. Many came out of the bicycle industry. This of coure the origin of the first heavier than airplane--the Wright Flyer. This was simply because the bicycle sector was such an important industry at the time. Some 200 groups tred to build autombiles that first decade. Half failed. British manufacturers built 14,000 vehicles, mostly cars (1910). Ford only a few years after launching the Model-T, opened up a factory in Manchester and became the leading British automobile manufacturer, producing 7,310 cars, a small fraction of Ford's American production. We are at this time unsure how Ford affected British manufacturing, especially mass production tecniques. We do not understand what Ford was doing in Britain. The number of cars prduced seem so small compred to its Anerican production that it seems hardly worth the effort. Wolseley built 3,000 cars, Humber (2,500), Rover (1,800 and Sunbeam (1,700). A karge number of smaller manufacturers brought the pre-World War I total to some 16,000 vehicles (1913). [King]

World War I (1914-18)

Automobile manufacturing came to an abrupt halt and vurtully no cars were built during the war years (1914-18). The War drove British maufcturing in the direction of the mass production vehnicles that had been adopted in America. The copanies involved did not close, but got a variety of other, war-related contracts. One of the most important war needs was aircraft engines when it became ckae athat the airplane had military importance. Britain didn't need luxury automobiles. So Royce designed an aircraft engine--the Eagle. Incredably, theeagle would privide half of the total air horsepower used by he Allies during the War. The Germans built excellet aircraft and engines. They could not match, however, the manufacturing prowess of the Allies, especuially when German war planning brought America into the picture. (This probably sounds familiar to readers studying World War II.)

Inter-War Years (1920s-30s)

The mumber of British motor companies actually increased. One inportant new company was Bentley founded by W.O. Bentley. The Swallow SideCar company began buildng motorcycle side cars and a few cars. This would be the origins of Jaguar (1922). One report claims that there fhere were 183 motor commpanies (1922). The numbers were gradually winowed out by competive forces. Cecil Kimber began selling cars (1923). His company was founded Morris Garages (1924). Of course the compamy with its octagon logo is better known as MG. Only 58 companies remained (1929). [Baldwin] The sector was , however dominted by Morris and Austin which produce some 60 percent of British cars. Singer was in third plce with 15 percengt. [King] Rolls Royce (RR) resumed poroducing luxury cars after the War. It also continued to build aircraft engines . The RR Eagle powered thefirst direct trans-Atlantic and the first flight to Australia using Vickers Vimy airfcraft. RR began developing the more powerful R Engine. The industry had expanded significantly during the 1920s. The Depression adversely affected the automotive sector. There were several developments. RR purchsed struggling Bently (1931). More imprtantly, RR completed its work on the R Engine and entered international speed trials. The British entry in the International Schneider Trophy seaplane competition. was powered by the R Engine. Britaibn won with a world recird speed uin excess of 400 mph (1931). New world records were set in other land ans sea competitioins. Rpyce began work on his next engine--the Merlin. He died befire it was comoleted (1933). Britain finally exceeded French production (1932). This is a little surprising because British percapita income was the highest in Eurppe, you would have though that British production wold have been the higest from an earlier period. At the imprtant London auto show, the first Jaguar appeared--the SS Jaguar 100. After World War II the company's original name (Swallow Sidecar) duiappered from the name. The SS Jaguar 100 was manufactured until the advent of World War II. British manufactuters produced 379,310 cars and and 113,946 commercial vehicles (1937). [Vanderveen] These were by far the largest runs in Europe, substabtially more than Germany. It is why Britain wa the only country to enter World War II with a fully motorized army. But even the Brirish production was only about 15 percent of thec capacity of American industry. Two companies dominated British production. The leading manufacturer was Morris. William Morris to honor his industrial achievements was granted a peerage--Vicount Nuffield. He recorganized his motor vehicle holdings into the Nuffield Organization. They included Morris Motors and MG along with Wolseley and Riley. Morris produced 27 percent, Austin (24 percent), Ford (15 percent), Standard (13 percent), Rootes that had merged with Humber and Sunbeam (11 percent), Vauxhall/GM (10-percent). [King]

World War II (1939-45)

The advent of World War II, automobile manufacturers shifted production to commercial and military vehicles (trucks and tanks) hanks to Goebells propaganda films, there is the impression that persists even toiday Hitler commanded an ultra-modern fully modern mechanized army. Nothing could be further from the truth. Actually, something like 80 percent of the German Army (Heer) was unmotorized infantry using horse-drawn carts. (The Germans used more hoeses in World war II than they did in World War I. The only country which entered World War II with a fully mechanized army was Britain.) The British battle doctrine was not as developed as the German Blitzkrieg. And much of the British Army's vehicles gad to be abandoned at Dunkirk (May 1940). But Britain had the industrial automotive capability to buld more in addition to vehicles available under American Lend Lease. British Army underwent a huge expamsion in men and vehicles. The number of vehiles increased from 0.04 to 1.50 million. The output of Britain's aitomotive industry included tanks and giant tank transporters, trucks, to jeeps, scout cars, mobile baths, and offices. Building and maintainiubng these vehicles was a massive task. The Americans did a large part of the vehicle so BVruatin could ficus much of it undystry on the air war. And unlike the Germans, thanks to the Americans, the Bitish had all the oil needed to run its vehickes, ircraft, and ships. Some autoimotive plants as in Anerica were converted to aircraft and aircraft engine production. This was imprtant because after the fall of France and the Dunkirk evacuation (June 1940), a huge part of the British war effort was devoted to the air war. It was the only to get at the Germans. And here the RR Merlin Engine powered the RAF Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire whuch defeated the Luftwaffe in the all important Battle of Britain (July-September 1940). The RR Merlin Engine not only powered fuighters, but also the bombers that brought the War home to the Geramns--most spectacularly the Avro Lancaster which appeared (1942). But the RR Merlin Engine was not only built in Britain or for RAF aircraft. The Anglo-American Alliance was the closest and most impactful in history. One of the many results was the American P-51 Mustang an airframe that became the greatest fighter of World War II when it got the RR Merlin Engine. It destroyed the Luftwaffe in the skies over German cities (early-1944). We note internet discussion of World War II which dismiss the British war effort because the German Army was largely destroyed by the Soviet Red Army in the Ostkrieg. Whilke this is true, it should be noted that the war in the West, including the Anglo-American strategic bombing campaign, forced the Germans to divert much of their industrial power to the war in West. This lft the Ostheer deep in the Doviet Union poorly supplied snd supported. This was an important factor in the Red Army victory. In a addition the destruction of the Luftwaffe by the American P-51s with Merlin engines was why the Luftrwaffe was a no-show on D-Day. And in preparayion for the future, Rolls Royce worked with Frank Whillte to develop and aero gas turbine, better known as a jet engine/ It powered Whittle's Gloster Meteor.

Post War Years

Sources

Baldwin, N. A-Z of Cars of the 1920s . Devon, UK: Bay View Books, 1994).

Church, Roy. The Rise and Decline of the British Motor Industry (Cambridge University Press: 1995).

King, Peter (1989). The Motor Men (Quiller Press: 1989).

Vanderveen, Bart H. (1973). British Cars of the Late Thirties 1935 – 1939 . (London and New York: Frederick Warne, 1973).

Created: 2:42 AM 8/19/2021
Last updated: 7:40 PM 4/23/2022