Bean (United Kingdom) - AllCarIndex

Bean Cars was a British automobile manufacturer that operated from 1919 to 1929, originating from A. Harper Sons & Bean Ltd, a firm established in 1908 in Tipton, Dudley, Worcestershire. The company initially specialized in supplying castings to nearly half of Britain's car manufacturers, producing around 500 tons of castings per week. Following World War I, the firm transitioned into car manufacturing, taking over the design of the 11.9hp Perry, a pre-war model launched in October 1914.

The Bean Twelve, as the car was known, featured a 1796cc engine with a cast-iron fixed cylinder head and an aluminum crankcase. The company had ambitious plans to mass-produce vehicles, aiming for an output of 50,000 cars annually, utilizing two factories for assembly and bodywork. However, these goals were never realized, with production peaking at 505 cars in July 1920. Despite producing approximately 2,000 cars in 1920, financial difficulties led to the winding up of Harper Bean by the end of that year. The company was reorganized in 1921, and production of the Twelve continued until 1927, with around 10,000 units manufactured.

In 1924, Bean introduced the 14 model, which featured a larger 2384cc engine and unit construction of the engine and gearbox. This model evolved into the 14/40 in 1927, maintaining the same engine size but incorporating Ricardo-designed combustion chambers. The 14/40 was produced until 1928, with about 4,000 units made. In 1926, Bean launched its first six-cylinder model, the 18/50, which utilized an engine sourced from Meadows. The company faced further challenges when it was taken over by Hadfields, its steel suppliers, in the same year, which provided a much-needed capital injection.

Under Hadfields' ownership, Bean introduced new models, including the 14/40 and the 3.8-litre Imperial Six, intended primarily for colonial markets. However, the Imperial Six did not enter production due to performance issues. The 14/40, known as the Hadfield-Bean, featured modern design elements but suffered from reliability problems. By 1928, the older 14/40 model was discontinued, and Hadfields shifted focus to commercial vehicles, leading to the cessation of Bean car production in 1929. The remnants of the company continued as Beans Industries Ltd, which later engaged in automotive projects, including the construction of the Thunderbolt Land Speed Record car in 1937.