Bowen [1] / Ladas (United Kingdom) - AllCarIndex

Bowen was a British automobile manufacturer founded by James Bowen in Didsbury, Manchester, around 1905. Bowen began his foray into automotive engineering in the early 1900s, conducting experiments with car designs as early as 1902 or 1903. By 1905, he had developed a prototype that was ready for public exhibition.

The company's first vehicle was showcased at the Manchester Show in February 1906. This model was a single-cylinder light car, featuring a 6 horsepower engine, a 3-speed gearbox with direct drive in top gear, and shaft final drive. It was equipped with a Rover automatic carburettor and was priced at £150. However, by the end of 1906, Bowen relocated to Edinburgh, and the business was sold to J.N. Aitken, who transitioned the company to produce bicycles and motorcycles under the name Ladas.