British Ensign / Ensign / Crown Ensign (United Kingdom)

British Ensign Motors Ltd. was an automobile manufacturer based in Willesden, London, that operated from 1913 until 1923. The company initially focused on marketing the Ensign, which was likely an imported vehicle, and also operated under the name British Ensign. In December 1914, the company introduced an Ensign truck, which remained in production until 1923.

In 1919, British Ensign decided to enter the luxury car market, bringing in designer Edward H. Gillett, known for his work on steam vans and buses. Gillett's design for the company, the EP6, was a large luxury car powered by a 6-cylinder engine with a displacement of 6,792 cc. The EP6 featured a detachable cylinder head, a 3-speed gearbox integrated with the engine, and a spiral bevel final drive. It was first showcased at the London Motor Show in 1919 as a chassis under the name Ensign, but was renamed British Ensign the following year. The car was presented in both chassis form and with a Pullman limousine body by H.J. Mulliner. By 1921, the complete car was priced at £2,325.

In 1922, the EP6 was reintroduced under the name Crown Ensign, featuring a pointed radiator and a new magnetic transmission system. The name "Crown" was derived from J.L. Crown, an American who had acquired the patents for the magnetic transmission. Despite its innovative design, production of the EP6 ceased in 1923, with only about 12 units manufactured.

Additionally, in 1922, British Ensign launched a smaller model called the Ensign Twelve, equipped with a 1,795 cc Meadows engine and available in both 2- and 4-seater configurations. Priced at £465, it was considered expensive for its class, resulting in only 37 units being produced. By late 1923, all production at British Ensign had concluded, although the company briefly re-entered the automotive market in 1926 with the Gillett model priced at £100.