Offered from the 'Somerset Hoard', barn stored since circa 1939
1913 Belsize 10/12hp Open Tourer

• Complete with windscreen fittings and hood
• Two seats plus two occasional seats
• Original maker's plate
• Original carburettor
• Original registration plate
• Original supplier's plate

Hidden away from public view for more than eight decades, the Belsize is one of seven cars coined the 'Somerset Hoard'. An exceptional discovery of seven mainly veteran cars that have remained together in the same Spiers family ownership, untouched and unused since the outbreak of The Second World War.

"This car took its name from the Belsize Works, formerly a bicycle factory, where Marshall & Co began making cars in 1897. These were based on the French Hurtu, which in turn was a close replica of the Benz." - The Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile.

The Belsize Motor & Engineering Company was founded in Manchester in 1902, though the first cars to bear the name had appeared the preceding year, built by Thomas Edward Marshall & Company, also of Manchester. In December 1899 a 5hp Marshall car had won a Gold Medal at the Royal Agricultural Hall Show following a successful 1,000-mile trial. In 1901 Marshall offered a twin-cylinder 12hp four-seat car known as the 'Belsize'. Modern in conception, the first Belsize featured shaft drive and a twin-cylinder Buchet engine equipped with mechanical inlet valves at a time when many of its rivals relied on the inefficient 'atmospheric' type. A larger three-cylinder 20hp model was offered at this time and then in 1906 an overhead-valve 'six' was announced. However, it was Belsize's more modest smaller cars that established its reputation. These were powered by conventional four-cylinder sidevalve engines built in unit with the transmission, and had shaft final drive.

In 1903 the company became Belsize Motors & Engineering Ltd, and then in 1906 Belsize Motors Ltd. A wide variety of models was built up to WWI including taxis, commercial vehicles and fire engines, with 1,200 workers employed making up to 50 vehicles per week. Larger models continued to be catalogued after WWI and then in 1921 a true light car was added to the range, powered by a 1.1-litre 'oil-cooled' v-twin engine designed by Granville Bradshaw. Despite the lack of success of this first Belsize-Bradshaw, that name came to be applied to other models by 1924. Sadly, the marque did not survive the post-war economic downturn and was gone by 1926.

As seen here, Belsize's 10/12hp four-cylinder model was made between 1912 and 1916. It came complete with lighting, hood, windscreen and dickey seat, and was priced at £230. The car retains its original maker's plate and the Bridgewater Motor Co supplier's plate. It was first registered on 28th June 1913 to an owner in Hasle near Taunton, Somerset.

Offered from long-term dry storage, this car has not been used for some considerable time and will require extensive restoration before returning to the road. Its mechanical condition is not known and thus the car is sold strictly as viewed. There are no documents with this Lot.