Carden; New Carden (United Kingdom) - AllCarIndex

Carden Engineering Co. Ltd. was a British automobile manufacturer founded by John Valentine Carden in 1913. The company initially operated from Farnham, Surrey, before relocating to Teddington, Middlesex, in 1914, and later to Ascot, Berkshire, in 1919. Carden was known for his innovative designs, particularly in the realm of ultra-light vehicles, including cyclecars.

The first model produced by Carden was a single-seater cyclecar, which made its debut at Brooklands in April 1913. This vehicle featured a low-slung monocoque body constructed from ash planks and was powered by a 48 cc single-cylinder J.A.P. engine. It utilized a roller chain drive to the rear axle and had a single forward speed, achieving speeds of over 46 mph (75 km/h) during testing. The production versions were designed with a different gear ratio, and the initial price for the model was set at £55.

In 1916, Carden sold his monocar design to Ward & Avey Ltd., which took over the Teddington works. The company continued to produce vehicles under the Carden name until 1919, when Carden introduced a new design at his Ascot facility. This model was a side-by-side two-seater powered by a rear-mounted horizontal-twin 2-stroke engine of 707 cc, featuring a 2-speed gearbox. The price for this model started at £100 but increased to £134 by 1921.

After leaving the company in 1921 to pursue other engineering ventures, including the development of the Carden-Lloyd tracked load carrier, Carden's company was acquired by Arnott & Harrison Ltd. in 1922. The new owners rebranded the vehicle as the New Carden, making minor aesthetic changes while retaining the original engine and transmission. Despite attempts to reduce prices, the New Carden struggled to compete with more established models, such as the Austin Seven, which offered greater reliability and performance.

Production of the New Carden continued until 1925, when the company ceased operations. The final model introduced was the Sheret, designed by A.H. Sheret, which featured improvements such as chain drive and three forward speeds. However, only a limited number of these vehicles were produced before the company closed its doors. John Valentine Carden, who was later honored with a baronetcy, tragically died in an air crash in 1935.