Elswick [1] / SPQR (United Kingdom) - AllCarIndex

Elswick Motor Company was established in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, around 1903. The company entered the automotive trade by assembling vehicles equipped with engines sourced from various manufacturers. By 1904, Elswick's lineup included a light car powered by a 6-horsepower single-cylinder De Dion-Bouton engine, alongside models featuring 4-cylinder engines from Brouhot and Mutel, rated at 20 and 24 horsepower, respectively. The latter model was notable for its 3-speed gearbox and shaft drive.

In 1906, Elswick expanded its offerings to include the 6-horsepower single-cylinder model and two additional 4-cylinder variants, known as the 15/20 and 24/30. Some of these vehicles were marketed under the name S.P.Q.R., an acronym that referred to the Latin phrase "Senatus Populusque Romanum," which translates to "the Senate and People of Rome." This branding appealed to classical scholars and enthusiasts of Roman history.

Advertisements from 1906 emphasized that Elswick cars were built in London, although the precise location of their assembly remains uncertain. The company operated until approximately 1907, after which it ceased production.