BSA cars were manufactured between 1907 and 1912 in Birmingham then until 1939 in Coventry as well as Birmingham, England. BSA had established a motor-car department in an unsuccessful effort to make use of the Sparkbrook Birmingham factory. An independent part of the same site was occupied by The Lanchester Motor Company Limited. Sales were handled by BSA Cycles Limited. After 1912, manufacture was carried out by group subsidiary Daimler in Coventry or BSA Cycles in Birmingham.
History
The first prototype car was produced in 1907. The following year, marketed under BSA Cycles Ltd, the company sold 150 automobiles and again began producing complete bicycles on its own account. By 1909, it was clear that the new motorcar department was unsuccessful, an investigation committee reporting to the BSA Board on the many failures of its management and their poor organization of production.
Daimler
Dudley Docker had joined the board in 1906 and was appointed deputy chairman of BSA in 1909. He had made a spectacular financial success of a merger of five large rolling-stock companies in 1902 and become the leader of the period's merger movement. Believing he could buy the missing management skills that could not be found within BSA, he started merger talks with The Daimler Company Limited of Coventry. Daimler and Rover were then the largest British car producers. Daimler was immensely profitable. After its capital reconstruction in 1904, Daimler's profits were 57% and 150% returns on invested capital in 1905 and 1906. The attraction for Daimler shareholders, was the apparent stability of BSA. So, in 1910, BSA purchased Daimler with BSA shares, but Docker, who negotiated the arrangements, either ignored or failed in his assessment of their consequences for the new combine. The combine was never adequately balanced or co-ordinated.[1]
Docker retired as a BSA director in 1912 and installed Lincoln Chandler on the BSA board as his replacement.
Timeline
second attempt third attempt fourth attempt
(please note some detail may not be reliable)
- 1907 to 1914 various forms with capacities ranging from 2.5 to 4.2 litre, starting in 1907 with 18/23.[5] The larger cars were based on the 1907 Peking-Paris Itala.
- 1908 Three models: 14/18, 18/23, 25/33 all with four-cylinder engines[5]
- 1910 additional 15/20 and 20/25 models—re-badged Daimlers
- 1910 (October) BSA group purchased with BSA group shares the Daimler business which would take over car manufacture.
- 1911 25/33 BSA car with Daimler engine, whole range is now 15/20, 20/25 and 25/33
Models
External links
References
- Davenport-Hines R.P.T., 2002, Dudley Docker – The Life and Times of Trade Warrior , pages 49–50, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-89400-X^
- Davenport-Hines R.P.T., 2002 Dudley Docker – The Life and Times of a Trade Warrior , page 52, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-89400-X^
- The Birmingham Small Arms Company The Times, Saturday, 1 November 1930; pg. 20; Issue 45659^
- Neelda. Mahindra Buys BSA: Motorcycles, Market, Launch & All Details