COMMERCIAL CARS LTD The early years

While the later years of the company’s history is rather involved with several changes of ownership, the early years of the firm’s development are more straightforward. The origins of Commercial Cars Ltd, as the business was styled, can be traced back to 1905 and the development of a new gearbox design by engineer Charles M Linley.

Unlike other motor manufacturers in the UK, the company did not have the ‘baggage’ associated with the development and production of commercial goods carrying steam wagons and embraced the internal combustion engine from the outset. In the early 1900s, Linley worked on the development of a new constant mesh gearbox to provide motor manufacturers with an improved alternative to the crash type boxes which were being widely used by the early 1900s.

Although the development of the goods carrying motor lorry was still in its infancy, the potential of Linley’s new gearbox was immediately recognised. Entrepreneur Julian A Halford and a group of businessmen approached Linley to discuss the establishment of a new company to build a vehicle which incorporated his new gear box. Linley agreed and premises were obtained on Taybridge Road in Clapham which was only a few miles from Linley’s home. Design work began on a four-ton four-wheel motor lorry which was fitted with upright steering and metal tyred wooden wheels.

In 1903, the prototype chassis was completed and a series of successful trials with the new chassis took place of the following months. Halford and his group of investors were encouraged by the success of the