Crouch (United Kingdom)

Crouch Cars Ltd. was an automobile manufacturer based in Coventry, United Kingdom, founded in 1912 by John Walter Fisher Crouch. Prior to establishing his own company, Crouch gained experience in the automotive industry through his work with Daimler and Deasy. The company initially produced a three-wheeled vehicle known as the Carette, which was powered by a 74 cc V-twin engine designed and manufactured in-house. The Carette featured a unique design with the engine mounted behind the seats and a chain-driven single rear wheel.

In November 1912, Crouch expanded its offerings with a four-wheeled version of the vehicle, which utilized a larger engine of 906 cc. This model incorporated innovative engineering, including a rear axle where the shafts and outer casing revolved together, supported by ball bearings. The engine capacity of the four-wheeled model increased over the years, reaching 994 cc in 1913 and 1018 cc in 1914. After World War I, the four-wheeled model was revived with minimal changes, and the engine capacity was further increased to 1115 cc.

In 1922, Crouch introduced a completely new model called the 8/18, which featured a 1248 cc front-mounted V-twin engine and a pressed-steel frame. This was followed by the 12/24 model, which was equipped with a 1496 cc four-cylinder Anzani engine and offered various body styles. Despite being well-built, the 12/24 was considered expensive for its time, with prices starting at £335 for a two-seater. By 1925, production reached approximately 15 cars per week, although the company had discontinued its two-cylinder models.

The final models produced by Crouch included the 11/27, powered by a 1368 cc Coventry Climax engine, and the 12/30, which remained in production until 1928. Despite the quality of the vehicles, Crouch Cars Ltd. faced intense competition from larger manufacturers, leading to the cessation of production after approximately 2,500 vehicles had been made. Following the closure of his company, John Crouch returned to Daimler, where he continued to contribute to the automotive industry, including work on postwar models.