![]() ![]() The first Swift car of 1900 was a single-cylinder model using an MMC engine. After World War I ended, the cycle car company was merged with the main company as Swift of Coventry and the range was simplified. In 1902 a separate company was formed for motor vehicle production and registered as the Swift Motor Company. It experimented with its first car in 1900. In 1896 it became the Swift Cycle Company and started to make motorcycles in 1898. The sewing machine company started to make bicycles in 1869 and changed its name to Coventry Machinists Company. James was a gifted engineer and inventor, and something must have run in the genes of the Starley family since his nephew John Kemp Starley is widely credited with the invention of the safety bicycle – the forerunner of all modern cycles. The Coventry Sewing Machine Company was founded by James Starley in 1859. ![]() ![]() There is no information on the specific characteristics of the colonial Swift chassis there is simply a cryptic comment in Georgano: “Swifts were popular in several export markets…” The 1912 index for The Autocar listed an Austin 18-24 h.p. The 1923 Wolseley A9 Colonial Tourer was fitted with a “wide track chassis, extra petrol tin and carrier, magneto ignition and low rear axle ratio”. The 1915 Napier 16/22HP “Colonial” tourer had a raised chassis with greater ground clearance for use in less-developed countries. Many British manufacturers built colonial versions of their cars. Why would someone be doing this to a Swift chassis? Clearly the passenger is having fun – but that, of course, is not the primary purpose. ![]()
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