Weigel Motors

Weigel Motors Ltd was a British automobile manufacturer that operated during the formative years of the motor industry, from 1907 until 1910. Based initially on Coswell Road in London, the company is chiefly remembered for entering the 1907 French Grand Prix at Dieppe. Its participation was historically notable because the cars are described as the first British-built entries to compete in a Grand Prix event. Weigel entered two cars, driven by Gregor Laxen and Pryce Harrison. The cars used exceptionally large straight-eight power units with a displacement of 14,866 cc. These engines were created by coupling two 40-horsepower engines in tandem, reflecting the experimental engineering and extreme engine sizes common in the early racing era. The company encountered financial difficulties during 1907. It was reorganized and moved from its original London premises to a new factory in Olaf Street, Latimer Road, Notting Hill. Despite the reorganization, Weigel continued to pursue competition activity. For the 1908 French Grand Prix, it entered three four-cylinder cars with 12,781 cc engines. The drivers were Pryce Harrison, Gregor Laxen, and Shannon. None of the three cars completed the race, and the unsuccessful competition program did not establish Weigel as a durable racing marque. Weigel's road-car range included 25-horsepower and 40-horsepower designs. In 1910, the company's assets were acquired by Crowdy Limited. Crowdy initially continued producing the existing Weigel designs at the Olaf Street works, making the acquisition an important transition rather than an immediate discontinuation of the cars. The successor operation later developed a 19-horsepower four-cylinder model and a 29-horsepower six-cylinder model. These later cars used dashboard-mounted radiators resembling those fitted to contemporary Renault automobiles. At the end of 1911, production moved to West Heath Works in Northfield, Birmingham. The cars produced after the move used more conventional radiator placement. The successor business subsequently went out of business, bringing the brief Weigel-associated manufacturing story to an end. Weigel Motors therefore occupies a small but distinctive place in British automotive history: it was an early British manufacturer with an ambitious, technically unusual racing program, but its financial problems, poor race results, and limited production life prevented it from becoming an enduring commercial brand.

Weigel Motors Ltd was established in Britain in 1907, during a period when automobile manufacturers were experimenting with large engines, unconventional layouts, and motor racing as a means of demonstrating technical credibility. The company operated from Coswell Road in London and quickly sought visibility through international competition. It entered two cars in the 1907 French Grand Prix at Dieppe, with Gregor Laxen and Pryce Harrison as drivers. The cars were powered by unusual 14,866 cc straight-eight engines assembled by coupling two 40-horsepower engines in tandem. Although the engineering concept was ambitious, the company experienced financial difficulties during the same year. Weigel was reorganized and moved its manufacturing operation to Olaf Street, Latimer Road, in Notting Hill. The company returned to Grand Prix competition in 1908. It entered three cars in the French Grand Prix, this time using four-cylinder engines of 12,781 cc. Harrison, Laxen, and Shannon were listed as the drivers. None of the cars finished, limiting the sporting value of the program and offering no evidence that Weigel had solved the reliability and durability challenges associated with its earlier cars. Weigel also produced road cars, including 25-horsepower and 40-horsepower models. Its manufacturing life as an independent company ended in 1910, when Crowdy Limited acquired its assets. Crowdy continued the existing Weigel designs at the Olaf Street works for a time, then expanded the range with a 19-horsepower four-cylinder model and a 29-horsepower six-cylinder model. These cars initially featured dashboard radiators influenced by contemporary Renault practice. At the end of 1911, the operation moved to West Heath Works in Northfield, Birmingham, where cars were produced with radiators in a more conventional location. The successor business eventually ceased trading. The available historical record presents Weigel as a short-lived manufacturer rather than a continuing brand. Its principal historical significance lies in its early Grand Prix participation and its unusually large engines. The company's financial instability, unsuccessful race results, and absorption of its assets prevented the development of a sustained independent automotive enterprise.

• 1911

  Production moves to Birmingham

  [1]Weigel Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  At the end of 1911, the successor operation moves to West Heath Works in Northfield, Birmingham, and adopts cars with normally located radiators.

• 1910

  Assets acquired by Crowdy Limited

  [1]Weigel Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  Crowdy Limited acquires the company's assets and continues production of the existing 25-horsepower and 40-horsepower designs.

• 1908

  Second French Grand Prix campaign

  [1]Weigel Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  Weigel enters three large four-cylinder cars in the French Grand Prix; none completes the race.

• 1907

  Company established and begins automobile production

  [1]Weigel Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  Weigel Motors Ltd begins operating as a British automobile manufacturer from Coswell Road in London.

• 1907

  First British Grand Prix entries

  [1]Weigel Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  Two Weigel cars compete in the French Grand Prix at Dieppe, powered by tandem-coupled 14,866 cc straight-eight engines.

• 1907

  Reorganization and factory move

  [1]Weigel Motorsen.wikipedia.org

  Financial difficulties lead to a company reorganization and relocation to Olaf Street in Latimer Road, Notting Hill.

An early British automobile maker positioned around high-powered engineering and motor-racing participation, though its short operating life and financial difficulties limited its commercial development.

• Passenger automobile

  25 hp Weigel

  A 25-horsepower road-car design associated with Weigel Motors. After Crowdy Limited acquired the company's assets in 1910, production of this model was initially continued at the Olaf Street works.

• Passenger automobile

  40 hp Weigel

  A 40-horsepower Weigel road-car design that continued briefly under Crowdy Limited after the 1910 asset acquisition. The model represents the company's emphasis on relatively powerful cars for its period.

• Racing automobile · 1907

  1907 French Grand Prix cars

  The two cars entered by Weigel in the 1907 French Grand Prix used exceptionally large 14,866 cc straight-eight engines. Each power unit was formed by coupling two 40-horsepower engines in tandem, an unusual approach characteristic of early high-capacity racing engineering.

• Racing automobile · 1908

  1908 French Grand Prix cars

  Weigel's three 1908 French Grand Prix entries used four-cylinder engines displacing 12,781 cc. The cars were driven by Pryce Harrison, Gregor Laxen, and Shannon, but none finished the race.

• Passenger automobile

  19 hp four-cylinder

  A four-cylinder model developed after Crowdy Limited acquired Weigel's assets. It was associated with dashboard radiator styling influenced by contemporary Renault cars.

• Passenger automobile

  29 hp six-cylinder

  A six-cylinder model developed by the successor operation after the acquisition of Weigel's assets. It initially used a dashboard-mounted radiator before later production adopted more conventional radiator placement.

• 1910

  Asset acquisition by Crowdy LimitedM&A

  Background

  Financial difficulties had weakened Weigel Motors after its early production and racing efforts.

  Action taken

  Crowdy Limited acquired the company's assets and continued manufacturing the existing 25-horsepower and 40-horsepower designs.

  Aftermath

  The Weigel-associated operation continued under new ownership, later adding 19-horsepower four-cylinder and 29-horsepower six-cylinder models before moving to Birmingham and eventually going out of business.

  Source

• 1907

  Pursuit of Grand Prix visibilityStrategy

  Background

  As a new British automobile manufacturer, Weigel used international motor racing to demonstrate its engineering capabilities and raise the company's profile.

  Action taken

  The company entered two large-engined cars in the 1907 French Grand Prix and returned with three cars for the 1908 event.

  Aftermath

  The cars did not establish a successful racing record: the 1908 entries all failed to finish, while the company also faced financial difficulties and was reorganized in 1907.

  Source

1. 1Weigel Motorsen.wikipedia.org