Marlborough (car)

The Marlborough was a make of car sold on the British market between 1906 and 1926. For most of its life the cars were made in France but after World War I the cars were assembled in London and an increasing number of British parts used.

The first cars were probably supplied completely built by the French company Malicet et Blin ^[1]. There seems to be some doubt over whether complete cars were imported, or components for assembly in a workshop in Notting Hill, London^[2].

The first model was a 7 hp single-cylinder engined car and was exhibited at the 1906 London Motor Show. In 1909 the shock absorber company T. B. André took control and a new range of larger cars introduced with engines ranging in size between 2210 cc and 3617 cc. A light car with 1130 cc four-cylinder engine was added to the range in 1912.

After World War I the pre-war light car was again available until replaced by a new model in 1921. This had a 1496 cc British Anzani engine. The sports version was guaranteed to exceed 60 mph^[2]. The model only lasted one year and was replaced by a smaller light car with a French 1100 cc C.I.M.E. engine which was listed until the company closed in 1926.

Marlborough-Thomas

The Marlborough name was also attached to a joint venture between André and J. G. Parry-Thomas. A handful of sports cars were built in a shed at Brooklands in 1923 and 1924. The 1493 cc four-cylinder engine had leaf spring valve gear as used on the Leyland Eight which Parry Thomas was also involved with. The car had an advanced specification with torsion bar suspension and four wheel brakes. There was also a promised version with a double overhead cam engine. The cars were advertised at £575 but few appear to have reached customers^[2].

T. B. André was also involved in the manufacture of the André car between 1933 and 1934.

References

1. ^ Georgano, N. (2000). Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. London: HMSO. ISBN 1-57958-293-1. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Baldwin, N. (1994). A-Z of Cars of the 1920s. Devon, UK: Bay View Books. ISBN 1-870979-53-2.