Belsize Motors

Marshall & Company of Clayton Lane, probably Manchester's first automobile manufacturer, built its first car in 1897.

[1] The cars were very similar to the French Hurtu, itself a Benz replica, and were sold badged as Marshalls.

[1] After the First World War they followed a single model policy at first with the 15 hp of 2798 cc but this was joined in 1921 by the Belsize-Bradshaw with a 9 hp 1294 cc V-twin engine made by Dorman and designed by Granville Bradshaw that was partly air-cooled and partly oil-cooled.

[2] The latter was at last an up-to-date car with overhead valves, four-wheel brakes and a four-speed gearbox, but at £415 to £650 it was expensive when compared with the opposition.

[2] The company also tried to build a 2496 cc, straight eight engine but this probably never got past the prototype stage although it was advertised at £1050.