Clyde (United Kingdom) - AllCarIndex

Clyde Cycle & Motor Car Co. Ltd was established in 1901 in Leicester, England, by George Henry Wait, a pioneer in the cycling industry. Initially focused on bicycle manufacturing since 1890, Wait began experimenting with motor vehicles as early as 1899. The company produced its first automobile in 1901, which featured a front-mounted 3.5 horsepower Simms engine, a two-speed gearbox, and a belt drive system.

Throughout its early years, Clyde offered various models, utilizing engines from different manufacturers. By 1902, the company had incorporated 5 horsepower Aster and 6 horsepower De Dion-Bouton engines into its vehicles. By 1905, Clyde cars were powered by either 8 horsepower White & Poppe or 12 horsepower Aster engines. In addition to automobiles, Clyde also manufactured motorcycles, with some accounts suggesting that a Clyde motorcycle provided Winston Churchill with his first ride, although ownership remains uncertain.

The original Clyde Cycle & Motor Car Co. Ltd ceased operations in 1905, with its assets, including bicycles and motorcycles, being sold off. Despite the winding up of the company, George Wait continued to engage in garage work and sporadically produced cars. By the end of production, it was estimated that Clyde had manufactured only 245 cars and 25 commercial vehicles, alongside a more substantial output of 470 motorcycles and approximately 4,000 bicycles.

In the 1920s, a few more Clyde vehicles were produced, but Wait primarily focused on servicing and selling vehicles from other manufacturers, including Humber. The models from this period included 2-cylinder engines of 995 and 1003 cc, which were likely of Wait's own design, as well as various proprietary engines ranging from 1196 to 1550 cc. George Wait remained active in the automotive community, driving his 1906 12/14 horsepower Clyde well into his 80s and participating in Veteran Car Club events during the 1950s.