Armstrong Siddeley Heritage Trust
Siddeley Autocar
John Davenport Siddeley (JDS) first became interested in the fledgling British motor car industry when he entered a 6hp Daimler in the 1900 1000 mile trial to demonstrate the qualities of the Clipper Car Tyres, JDS being MD of the Clipper Tyre Company. The car completed the trial coming second in its class, the tyres gained no award but JDS made much of the achievement through advertising. This experience gave him the motoring bug and he sold his interest in Clipper Co. to the Dunlop Tyre company.
He had developed a business relationship with the banking magnate Leopold Rothschild whose son Leonard had an interest in the fledgling motoring scene and with their help formed the Siddeley Autocar Co. in early 1902. His first step was to import a complete Peugeot car for sale to British customers. His next ste importing the mechanical parts from Peugeot and adding locally sourced bodies.
The Rothschilds had a substantial holding in Vickers Son and Maxim the parent company of the well-established Wolseley Tool and Motor Co. Ltd. and through this connection, Wolseley agreed to assemble the Siddeley Autocar using Peugeot mechanics on locally manufactured bodywork..
1902 Siddeley with twin-cylinder 6 hp Peugeot engine and mechanics with bodywork by Wolseley.
John Davenport Siddeley Motor Cars 1902 to 1914
Early Siddeley Cars
Based on his experience marketing tyres for the burgeoning cycle and infant motor car industry of the late 1890s, John D Siddeley decided that car manufacture on his own account was the way ahead. To this end he took the common route at that time of importing the mechanical parts from Peugeot and adding a locally sourced English built body.
