Waverley Cars

The Waverley name was used from the outset, and the car described as a distinctive 4-cylinder car of British design with unique suspension.^[2] These early cars used Chapuis-Dornier engines.^[1] At the 1912 Olympia show they listed two models, the 10 hp and the 12 hp, although both models at the show were the 12 hp, this having an engine with a bore of 75mm and stroke of 120mm, with inlet over exhaust layout.^[3] The unusual rear suspension was a feature of the car, and comprised two quarter-elliptic springs on either side spaced about 4 inches apart.

At the 1913 Olympia show there were 3 models, the 10 hp with four cylinder motor of 65mm bore and 130mm stroke, the 12 hp with 75mm bore and 120mm stroke, and a new high power option with an engine of 69.5mm bore and 120mm stroke. Also added to their range was a 'Colonial type' fitted with 32in Sankey wheels, and two light delivery vans of 10cwt and 14cwt load capacity.^[4]

After the war Waverley Cars reappeared in 1919 fitted with Smith's starting and lighting system, and they changed their power unit to a Coventry-Simplex engine. In 1923 they announced that for 1924 they would offer a 1500cc Burt-McCollum sleeve-valve engine as an alternative to the 1500cc Coventry-Simplex engine, they also offered either 2-wheel or 4-wheel brakes.^[5] At the 1924 show another new engine was revealed, the new 6-cylinder Coventry Climax engine of 1990cc. These 16/50 models largely with bodywork by the Carlton Carriage Company were to be the mainstay of production, though the company did try the sleeve-valve engine again in 1926, and also tried a car with a rear mounted flat-four engine.^[1]

In 1926 Waverley Cars attracted a lot of publicity as one of a few car manufacturers stating they would bring a car to the market for just £100. At the 1926 Olympia show they revealed their £100 car, a 7 hp car with an opposed twin cylinder water cooled engine and a four-seater body. The other manufacturers' cars at the show hitting the £100 target were the 8 hp Gillet, and the 10 hp Seaton-Petter, while outside the show a 7 hp Lafitte car was on show giving demonstrations, this also priced at £100.^[6] Unfortunately the thousands of orders received did not result in thousands of satisfied customers either from Gillet or Waverley - in the case of Waverley they had relied on a third-party manufacturer in part and the fixed price contract fell through, and in addition the required works expansion fell through.^[7] They stated that they would not show the £100 car at the 1927 Olympia Show unless it was in full production. In the end it was not an economic proposition.