Bleriot-Whippet (United Kingdom)

Bleriot-Whippet was a British cyclecar brand produced by the Air Navigation & Engineering Co. Ltd. from 1920 to 1927 in Addlestone, Surrey. The company initially focused on manufacturing aircraft, specifically Bleriot and Spad models, during World War I. To sustain operations after the war, the company diversified into the automotive sector by developing a cyclecar designed by George Herbert Jones and W.D. Marchant.

The Bleriot-Whippet featured a unique Zenith-Gradua belt transmission system, which was an infinitely variable mechanism utilizing vee-belts and movable pulleys. This innovative transmission had previously been employed in motorcycles produced by Zenith, where both Jones and Marchant had worked. The cyclecar was named after the Bleriot aircraft, and it was distinct from a similarly named French cyclecar, despite some claims to the contrary.

The prototype of the Bleriot-Whippet was powered by a JAP V-twin engine, but the production models utilized an air-cooled Blackburne V-twin engine, which was later enhanced with roller bearing big ends. The vehicles were constructed with ash frames and were available in both tourer and sports body styles. Over time, the design evolved to include chain drive and eventually shaft drive. However, the Bleriot-Whippet struggled to compete with more popular models, such as the Austin Seven, leading to the cessation of production in 1927.

After the end of Bleriot-Whippet production, the factory continued to operate, producing ERIC LONGDEN cars and later fabric bodies for various vehicles, including buses, until its acquisition by Plessy in 1965.