AJS (United Kingdom) - AllCarIndex

A.J. Stevens Ltd, founded in 1909, was a prominent British motorcycle manufacturer based in Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. By the mid-1920s, the company had established itself as one of the leading makers of motorcycles in the UK. In addition to motorcycles, A.J. Stevens diversified its product line by introducing radio sets in 1924 and a range of buses powered by 6-cylinder Coventry-Climax engines in 1929.

In 1930, A.J. Stevens ventured into the automobile market, launching a light car known as the A.J.S. Nine. This vehicle was equipped with a 1018cc 4-cylinder side-valve engine sourced from Coventry-Climax and featured a 3-speed gearbox. The A.J.S. Nine was available in three body styles: an open 2-seater, a fabric saloon, and a coachbuilt saloon. Despite its quality and several luxury features, such as an interior roof light and ash tray, the car's pricing, ranging from £210 to £240, was considered high compared to competitors like the Morris Cowley saloon, which was priced at £160.

The company faced financial difficulties, leading to its liquidation in October 1931 after selling approximately 3,000 cars. Production of the A.J.S. Nine was subsequently taken over by Willys-Overland-Crossley Ltd in Stockport, Cheshire, which continued to manufacture a limited version of the car, focusing on the coachbuilt saloon with a fabric top and a 4-speed gearbox. However, Willys-Overland-Crossley also went into liquidation in 1933, and it is believed that no A.J.S. cars were produced after the summer of 1932. A prototype 1½-litre 12hp saloon was displayed at the Olympia Motor Show in October 1932, but it never entered production.