Cluley (United Kingdom)

Cluley was a British automobile manufacturer established in 1921 by Clarke, Cluley & Co., based in Coventry. The company originated in 1890 as a general engineering firm, initially focusing on bicycles and later expanding into textile machinery. In 1904, they introduced a tricar named the Globe Cymocar, although it did not enter serious production. The firm gained significant experience during World War I through armaments work, which led to a surplus workforce when civilian demand decreased.

In 1920, Cluley developed a prototype light car designed by Cecil Bayliss, with contributions from Arthur Alderson. This vehicle was ready for production by 1922, featuring a 1328cc four-cylinder side-valve engine manufactured by Cluley, along with a three-speed gearbox. The company subsequently introduced larger engine options of 1460cc and 1644cc in 1922 and 1923, respectively, followed by a 1790cc variant with pair-cast cylinders. A six-cylinder model, the 16/40, was briefly offered in 1924 but was not successful due to its high price and limited sales.

The Cluley lineup included the 14/30, introduced in 1925, which featured a 1944cc Meadows engine and was priced more competitively at £395. This model was later joined by the overhead valve 14/50 in 1927. The smaller 10/20 model, with a 1460cc engine, accounted for the majority of the approximately 3,000 Cluley cars produced before its discontinuation in 1926. The 14/30 and 14/50 continued production until 1928, after which Clarke, Cluley & Co. returned to textile machinery.

The textile business faced challenges, and by 1933, the company had only 17 employees. However, subcontracting work for Rolls-Royce beginning in 1934 provided a lifeline, and during World War II, they contributed to the production of Rolls-Royce Merlin aero engines. The original Coventry factory was destroyed in an air raid, but a new facility was established in Kenilworth, where the company remains active today.