Adamson

• Name — Adamson • Manufacturer — R Barton Adamson & Co • Production — 1912–1925 • Class — Cyclecar • Body Style — Two-seat open • Engine — See text • Transmission — 3-speed • Wheelbase — 102 in • Successor — None • Designer — Reginald Barton Adamson

The first car of 1912 was a small two-seater bullnosed cyclecar and had a 1,099 cc twin-cylinder or 1,074 cc four-cylinder engine made by Alpha of Coventry driving the rear wheels via a three-speed-and-reverse gearbox and a countershaft from which two V-belts went to the rear wheels. The engine could be started from the driving seat using a mechanical linkage. The channel section steel chassis was placed under the axles with suspension by semi-elliptic leaf springs. This arrangement allowed the car to have a low, sporting appearance. In 1914 the option of a larger four-cylinder version was added. A new model was announced in 1916 with 1330 cc four-cylinder engine, but few if any reached the public before car production ceased later that year. After the war a new company, R. Barton Adamson and Co, was formed and the 1916 four-cylinder car was resurrected with a Coventry-Simplex engine. In 1920 it cost £375, falling to £210 in 1924, but to put the price into perspective, in 1923 the Austin 7 was launched at £165.

The final cars from 1923 were the "Twin-Cars" that were effectively two sidecars side by side with the driver in the off-side and powered by a choice of air- or water-cooled 9-horsepower 1078 cc V twin-cylinder Anzani engines with chain drive mounted between the two passenger units. Production numbers are not known.