ABC [1] (United Kingdom) - AllCarIndex

A.B.C. Motors (1920) Ltd was a British automotive manufacturer based in Hersham, Surrey, with origins tracing back to a small factory in Redbridge, near Southampton, where motorboat and aero engines were produced prior to World War I. In 1911, the company relocated to Brooklands to be closer to other aircraft manufacturers and subsequently expanded its offerings to include flat-twin engines for motorcycles and cyclecars. The production of complete motorcycles was handled by A.B.C. Road Motors Ltd, which also manufactured aero engines during the war, including notable models such as the Dragonfly, Gnat, and Wasp.

In 1919, A.B.C. introduced the Scootamota, one of the earliest motor scooters. The following year, A.B.C. Motors (1920) Ltd was established to produce aero engines, motorcycles, and a new light car, all powered by flat-twin engines designed by Granville Bradshaw, who had been associated with the company since 1910. The light car featured a 1203cc air-cooled overhead valve engine, a four-speed gearbox, and shaft drive to a spiral bevel rear axle. Various models were produced, including two- and four-seater tourers and a Super Sports variant with a 1320cc engine. Despite their performance, the vehicles suffered from rough and noisy engines, which were prone to reliability issues, particularly with breaking pushrods.

Although A.B.C. Motors aimed to produce 5,000 vehicles annually, actual production fell short, with only about 1,500 units manufactured before the company ceased production around 1925, despite remaining listed until 1927. In 1929, A.B.C. produced a single aeroplane, the Robin, and continued to manufacture aero engines. From 1932, the company developed a flat-twin auxiliary engine designed by Lord Ridley, which became widely used during World War II for driving dynamos and compressors. A.B.C. Motors became part of Vickers in 1951 and was ultimately closed down in 1971.