ALBATROS (GB) 1923-1924

ALBATROS
From My knowledge there were 2 car manufacturers who used this unusual name 1 in the United Kingdom the subject of this Blogg and other that came much later in the US

Here we examin the British manufacturer (GB=Great Britain)

References -2 cars a 8hp and 10hp were discovered in 1980 and the Magazine the 'Old Motor' gives a small but detailed information on the maker and the vehicles concerned
under a regular column feature-Worthy of Comment (Discovered section)

See: November 1980 Old Motor Page 7 Volume 2 Issue 11 and quating from the text
"Around a dozen cars produced by Croft Road Works in Coventry said to be inspiration of 1 Albert Ross" (that’s to why it took its name made in 8hp and 10hp form; parts bought in from outside suppliers ;power by Coventry Simplex; Electrics by Brolt

"news -2 cars recently surfaced a 8hp and a 10hp ; The 8hp for many years resided in a Garage of a lady driver near Cardigan together with a Bayliss-Thomas (The Bayliss as of 1980 under going restoration in Battle Sussex) and subsequently languished for many year in a cornor of the Bridgend Foundry in the centre of Cardigan thinking this was only surivor -We later met Mike Errol of South Godstone at a recent Sotherby Sale who has just completed a major restoration for a 1923 10hp found in dilapidated condition in Leeds but basically complete wearing a Chummy open 4 seater body instead Mike has modified it to 2 seater with Dickey" (1986 Throughbred & Classic Cars car hmm...) Note picture of one of suivors as found and it was written Michael Worthington-William

New Entries
10.9hp 2 seater Roadster +Rumble Seat -Charlesworth 1920-1921?? a letter to the EDitor -Details:Reader writes in that his father owned a Albatross of 1920-1921 vintage owned in the mid 1920s (but they started production 1923?*) the body was made to a special order by Charlesworth for his mother and featured a 2 seater body with a rumble seat at rear ; it was coloured yellow with black wings and running boards with a chrome radiator shell with blue badge and chrome letters ; it has wooden Sankey wheels ; rear brakes only and was powered by a 4 cylinder side valve Climax engine of 10.9hp ; single carb and drove through a 3 speed gb ; unusual feature was a very large 6v battery the width of the body fitted under the front seats ; in 1926 it was sold to Cyril Lord a former motorcycle TT rider who owned the London Road Garage in Coventry ; I understand only 5 were ever made and my father would appreciate any information as to whether his car or any others survive ; qv (pretty much word for word with some edits by me) - no photo written by Ian A Griffiths; Dawlish; Devon
See July 1984 Classic & Sportscar (GB) Page 14 Volume 3 Issue 4 Details:


#2 new Entry Follow up on July 1984 Classic & Sportscar
8 hp & 10hp discoveries
Worthy Follow up July 1984 letter inquiry on survivors there are 2 survivors ; 2 models were built an 8hp and a 10hp both with Coventry Climax engines and the firm enjoyed a very brief existence indeed in Croft Road Coventry between 1923-1924 ; open 2 and 4 seaters were built and company maintained a sales and export office at 69 Great Queen St ;Kingsway London WC2 ; the 2 models were similar and employed Brolt electrics but the smaller car eschewed a differential ; despite 2 seasons of manufacture and agents appointed in London ;Cardiff; Manchester ; Sheffield and all the principal towns in England and Scotland ; total Albatros production was about 12 cars qv; the 8hp 4 seater shown is now resident at Gwbert near Cardigan and has been owned for many years by a Mr Matthews who was originally the proprietor of the Bridge End Foundry in the centre of Cardigan ;when last seen it was standing on flat tyres on the showroom ; dusty but otherwise sound but we have not seen it for a couple of years following mr Matthews retirement ; the other car; the other car a 10hp 2 seater which surfaced 8 years ago when it was brought by Mike Erroll ; he kept ot for a year then sold it only to re-acquire it 4 years ago with a biew to restoration ; that task has bee completed in recent weeks; and it took it for its first run in the South Godstone Surrey area a few days before this column closed for press ; the restoration included a new body and a complete re-trim qv by Michael Worthington_williams
See Sept 1984 Classic & Sportscar (GB) Page 14 Volume 3 Issue 4

and in 1986 One of those cars turned up for sale in classifieds section of Throughbred & Classic Cars
A 10hp Tourer +dickey 1923
See: Dec 1986 Throughbred & Classic Cars (GB)Page 146 Volume 14 Issue 3
this car was a dealer listing and it believed it is 1/56 cars made of this light car model -This car was powered by a climax engine and was sale then for 5950 pounds sterling
The Dealer in question in 1986 was listed as and its following address
Motospot ; North Kilworth;Lutterworth LE17 6EP (I believe the dealership no longer exsists?)