The Ivan Kessell Collection, 1914 Swift 3½hp Roadster

Possibly the sole survivor of its type
Present ownership since 1979
An older restoration
Requires recommissioning

The Swift marque's origins date back to the turbulent formative years of the British cycle and motorcycle industries when it emerged, together with Ariel, as part of the Dunlop group of companies. The older of the two, Ariel may trace its roots back to 1893 when John Griffiths, previously engaged in the pneumatic tyre business, set up a new company to obtain the distribution rights to a wide range of cycle makes. This was The John Griffiths Cycle Corporation Ltd, which, among other activities, marketed cycles under the Dunlop and Ariel brand names, the latter having been registered by the short-lived Guest & Barrow company that same year.

When the original Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company bought back The Dunlop Cycle Company from Griffiths in 1897, it was decided that a new name for their reacquired cycle business would be needed, 'Ariel' being chosen. Like the Dunlop branded cycles, the Ariels were manufactured in Birmingham by the Cycle Components Manufacturing Co Ltd. Also in 1897, Dunlop had acquired an interest in The Coventry Machinists Co Ltd, which was reorganised as The Swift Cycle Co Ltd at premises in Cheylesmore, Coventry. Thus it was that both Ariel and Swift became owned by Dunlop, and the two companies would go on to be closely associated. Both firms commenced motor manufacture with a tricycle, and both sourced the engines from De Dion Bouton.

Ariel's first powered two-wheeler was exhibited at the National Show in November 1901. The newcomer was powered by a Minerva engine built under license by Cycle Components Manufacturing, which was supplying both Ariel and Swift. A few years later Ariel took control of Components Ltd's motorcycle business. Swift's first motorcycle arrived in 1904 and after 1910 there was a 3½hp (490cc) model in the range. Swift, like Ariel, also offered models powered by the famous White & Poppe 'T-head' sidevalve engine. In the meantime, Swift had become increasingly active as a car manufacturer, and all motorcycle production had stopped by 1915.

The Swift offered here features a conventional sidevalve engine and a three-speed gearbox, the latter newly introduced for 1914, together with chain-cum-belt transmission. An older restoration, this ultra-rare Coventry-built motorcycle - possibly the sole survivor of its type - has been on long-term museum display and will require recommissioning, or possibly more extensive restoration, before further use and thus is sold strictly as viewed. Accompanying paperwork includes old/current V5C documents and an old-style continuation logbook (issued 1958) listing Ivan Kessell as owner from March 1979. This logbook also states that the date of first registration was 2nd April 1915.
Key not required