Cosmos / CAR (United Kingdom)

Cosmos Engineering Co. Ltd was a British automobile manufacturer based in Bristol, active for a brief period from 1919 to 1920. The company was notable for producing an unconventional light car that featured a 3-cylinder air-cooled overhead valve radial engine with a displacement of 1206cc. This engine was designed by Roy Fedden, who had previously been involved with the prewar Straker-Squire.

The vehicle utilized a 3-speed gearbox and employed a unique shaft drive system to a differential-less rear axle. Its suspension system was based on the Adams design, which incorporated centrally mounted coil springs connected to the axles via long arms and bell crank levers. This innovative approach to suspension was also utilized by other manufacturers, including Douglas.

In 1920, the Bristol Aeroplane Company expressed interest in the Cosmos design, with projections suggesting a production capacity of 200 cars per week, priced at 200 guineas (£210). However, the project was ultimately canceled, preventing any further development or production of the Cosmos car. Despite this setback, Roy Fedden continued to work in the aerospace industry, designing successful aircraft engines for the Bristol Aeroplane Company. He later left Bristol in 1942 and went on to design another advanced automobile powered by a rear-mounted sleeve-valve radial engine, with a prototype saloon completed in 1946.