The Swift Motor Company made Swift Cars in Coventry, England from 1900 to 1931. Originating as a sewing machine and cycle company Swift made their first single cylinder car in 1900 using an MMC engine. It had an unusual transmission system involving an unsprung two ratio rear axle. This proved unreliable and was replaced by a more conventional layout in 1903. The first Swift engined car was the twin cylinder 7, later 10, horse power of 1904. This was shortly afterwards joined by the four cylinder 12/14 which continued in a bewildering number of guises until the first world war. In 1904 a single cylinder 700 cc cyclecar was produced by a separate company the Swift Cycle Company Ltd. In the years 1909-11 another single cylinder 7hp car was manufactured, this time with 1100 cc. This car was also sold by Austin as the first Austin 7. A larger car, the 15, with 3 litre engine was added to the range in 1913 and this continued to just post war. After WW1 the Cycle Car company was merged with the main company as Swift of Coventry. The range was simplified with the excellent 1100 cc 10 continuing and joined by a 2 litre 12 with a 4 speed gearbox. A new 10 was launched in 1923 as the Q type with coil ignition, electric starting, optional front wheel brakes and a top speed of 55mph. Standard front wheel brakes were added in 1926 and the engine was bored out to 1190 cc to become the P type. the engine grew again to 1307 cc in 1929 when the car became the P2. The 12 was replaced by the 12/35 in 1925 with front wheel brakes, plate clutch plus an increase of 24 inches in the wheelbase. The final Swift car was the 1930 Cadet which was an attempt to compete with the £100 cars. This had an 850 cc Coventry Climax engine and a price of £149 for the tourer and £165 for the saloon but Swift was too small to compete with the like of Ford and Morris and closed in 1931.
Quinton Works
The Quinton Works with frontages on Quinton Road and Mile Lane in Cheylesmore, Coventry, originally built in 1890 for S & B Gorton for cycle manufacture, was acquired in 1905 by the Swift Motor Company, who made a motor cycle and a motor tricycle in 1898, and a conventional car by 1901 in their Cheylesmore Works in Little Park Street, but needed more factory space.[1] The frontages of the Quinton Works have been preserved and the building is now used as a hotel.
References
- ^ A brief history of Swift Motor vehicles. The Swift Club. Retrieved on 7 September 2007.
