Cockerell; Cockmobil (Germany)

Cockerell was a German automobile brand established by Friederich Gockerell in Munich between 1924 and 1927. Although Gockerell's name was spelled with an "G," the vehicles produced under his brand were known as Cockerells. Gockerell, who was born in 1889 and passed away in 1965, gained more recognition for his innovative Megola motorcycles, which featured a unique 5-cylinder radial engine mounted in the front wheel.

The first Cockerell car was a compact two-seater powered by a 905cc four-cylinder two-stroke engine, notable for its separately cast cylinders, a feature that was relatively uncommon at the time. In 1926, Gockerell developed a second model that also utilized a two-stroke engine, this time with two cylinders and a displacement of 1056cc. This model incorporated front-wheel drive and a braking system that operated independently, with the pedal controlling the front brakes and a handbrake for the rear.

Despite Gockerell's ambitions to produce a series of 100 vehicles, only a limited number of Cockerell cars were manufactured, with at least three units of the second model being completed. Gockerell also experimented with a 1086cc six-cylinder two-stroke engine, achieving some success in competitions. He had plans for a straight-eight two-stroke engine, although it is unclear if this design was ever realized.

In addition to his cars, Gockerell created five prototypes of the Cockmobil in 1926, a three-wheeled vehicle that utilized the front wheel and power unit from the Megola motorcycle, available in both two-seater and light van configurations. Gockerell continued to pursue various automotive innovations until his death, including a concept for a four-seater vehicle with a rear-mounted turbine engine, which he projected in 1946.