GWK (United Kingdom) - AllCarIndex

G.W.K. Ltd was a British automobile manufacturer founded in 1911 by Arthur Grice, J. Talfourd Wood, and C. M. Keiller. The company initially operated from Beckenham, Kent, before relocating to Datchet, Buckinghamshire, in 1912, where it began series production. The firm specialized in producing cars characterized by a unique friction drive system, which Grice developed based on a mechanism he observed for grinding optical lenses. The prototype utilized a rear-mounted 2-cylinder Coventry-Simplex marine engine, and the company employed various components, including De Dion-type radiators and Chater-Lea wheels.

During its early years, G.W.K. produced a total of 1,069 cars before World War I, with the 2-seater model priced at £150 in 1912, increasing to £158 by 1915. The onset of the war led to a shift in production focus, as the company contributed to war efforts for the Admiralty. In 1914, G.W.K. moved to a new facility in Maidenhead, Berkshire, known as Cordwallis Works, which Grice had secured in 1913. While Grice managed the company during the war, his partners served in the military.

After the war, Grice departed from G.W.K. in 1920 to pursue a new venture, while Wood and Keiller continued the business. They introduced the Type E, a rear-engine design that utilized prewar components, followed by the Type F, which featured a front-engine layout. However, the Type F faced issues with transmission performance, leading to the development of the Type H in 1921, which addressed some of these problems. Despite these efforts, G.W.K. went into liquidation in 1922.

Production of the Type H resumed without the original founders and continued until 1926, albeit on a smaller scale. The total output of the Types F and H during this period was approximately 1,700 units. A small number of Type Js were produced in 1922, reverting to the rear-engine layout, while the Type G, introduced in 1930, featured a 4-cylinder Coventry-Simplex engine mounted at the rear. G.W.K.'s legacy included its association with the Cordwallis Works, which later became known for housing other automotive ventures, including Burney and Marendaz.