'The Argyll Car', Peter Cowlishaw

Our talk tonight was delivered by our very own Peter Cowlishaw on 'The Argyll Car', the history of a Scottish manufacturer of luxury cars at the beginning of the 20th century.

The company's excellent and innovative engineering was paired with disastrous managing. As a consequence the company was liquidated several times with a definitive end in 1932 after they had built just about 3,000 cars.

Their first car, built in 1899, mainly a copy of a contemporary Renault, sold for £248. In comparison, the annual salary of the company's manager was £350. Innovations in gear box and engine valve designs were very advanced and carried as far as into WWI airplanes. The Argyll Works were based in Alexandria, Dunbartonshire.

In 1976 the name 'Argyll Motor Car' was revived with the intention to build and sell luxury sports cars, again mostly based on components from other manufacturers. However, this project never developed beyond a couple of prototypes.

Peter, gave an excellent, informative and entertaining account of the not very well-known history of Scottish car manufacturing. President Elect Peter gave the Club's vote of thanks.

Report by Hendrik Nahler