Erling Poppe

Erling Poppe (12 November 1898 – 1970)[1] was an Austrian-born English-raised motor vehicle designer who studied engineering in Birmingham, England, and designed Packman & Poppe Motorcycles, Sunbeam motorcycles and Gordon three-wheeler cars.

[5] Built in Redditch, the engine layout was an unusual in-line 500 cc twin with a shaft drive to the rear wheel.

At Gordon, Poppe designed a three-wheeled two-seater with a single front wheel.

The single-cylinder, 197 cc, Villiers engine was mounted next to the driver (RHD), outside of the body with an external chain-drive to one rear wheel.

The steel body had a folding fabric roof, and at £300 it was the cheapest car on the UK market.