Phoenix was an English manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles and tricars (motor tricycles) active from 1903–1926. It was founded by a Belgian, Joseph van Hooydonk, at his factory in Holloway Road, North London, and named after the Phoenix Cycle Club.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Phoenix_Motors_Ltd_1920.jpg/220px-Phoenix_Motors_Ltd_1920.jpg)
The company moved from its London base to Letchworth, Hertfordshire, in 1911, but failed to survive the 1920s going into liquidation in 1924 but assembling a few more cars in the following two years.[1]
The Letchworth factory went on to be used for car manufacture by Ascot and Arab.
Production
editThe first product was a motor tricycle called the Trimo with an engine imported from the Belgian Minerva company. This was followed in 1905 by a single seat four wheeler the Quadcar with 6/7hp twin cylinder Fafnir engine.
A proper four wheel car was introduced in 1908 as the 8/10 with 8hp engine and chain drive to a three speed transmission with further chain to the rear axle.
After the move to Letchworth a larger 11.9hp model with 1496 cc 4 cylinder engine, three speed transmission and worm final drive. It had the radiator behind the engine, Approximately seven cars a week were being made by a workforce of 150 at the outbreak of World War I.[2]
The 11.9 was re-introduced in 1919 still with the scuttle radiator but changing to a more conventional front radiator in 1921. For 1922 the 11.9 was replaced by the 12/25 with Meadows 1795 cc and four speed transmission.
A small number of six cylinder cars were made in 1925.
Models
editModel | Years | Cylinders | Capacity | Wheelbase[3] | Length [3] | Production (approx) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Trimo or 6 | 1904 | single | 699 cc | |||
Quadcar | 1905-1910 | two | 804 cc | 72 in (1,829 mm) | 106 in (2,692 mm) | |
8/10 | 1908-1913 | two | 1272 cc | 84 in (2,134 mm) | 124 in (3,150 mm) | |
10/12 | 1910-1911 | two | 1872 cc | 96 in (2,438 mm) | 136 in (3,454 mm) | |
12/5 or 12.9 | 1912 | two | 1872 cc | 96 in (2,438 mm) | 136 in (3,454 mm) | |
11.9 | 1913-1922 | four | 1496 cc | 96 in (2,438 mm) or 114 in (2,896 mm) | 135 in (3,429 mm) or 169 in (4,293 mm) | 600 |
12/25 | 1925-1926 | four | 1795 cc | 108 in (2,743 mm) | 154 in (3,912 mm) | 168 |
Six or 18/45 | 1925-1926 | six | 2692 cc | 126 in (3,200 mm) | 164 in (4,166 mm) | 9 |
Other Phoenix car companies
editThe Phoenix name has been used by several British car makers including:
Phoenix Motor Works in Southport (1902-1904)
Phoenix Carriage Co in Birmingham (1905)
Phoenix Automotive of Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire
Phoenix Car Works Ltd in Pluckley, Kent
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Phoenix at motorbase.com
- ^ Georgano, N. (2000). Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. London: HMSO. ISBN 1-57958-293-1.
- ^ a b Culshaw; Horrobin (1974). Complete Catalogue of British Cars. London: Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-16689-2.