Gordon, Gordon Armstrong, was a British cyclecar produced in Beverley Yorkshire by 'East-Riding Engineering' from 1912 to 1916. Production was halted by World War I.[1] [2]
The parent company of East Riding Engineering was the Armstrong Patents Company which still manufactures shock absorbers for cars. Both companies were founded by Gordon Armstrong.[1] [2]
The initial 1912 models had either a two or four seater body and were powered by a 1,100cc 8 hp J.A.P. V-twin engine mounted at the rear, and driving the rear axle via chains. The bodies formed a unitary construction with the chassis. The four seater cycle car was a rarity in the market. The wheelbase was 2438 mm.[1] [2]
In 1914, the Gordon 9 hp replaced the initial model, still using the same engine but on short 2286 mm wheelbase.
In 1914, a second new model, the Gordon 10 hp was introduced with a 1.35 litre engine.
In 1915, a prototype Gordon 10 hp, front-engined vehicle was built. It was equipped with a water-cooled four-cylinder in-line engine with 1,100cc displacement. Both two and four seater wheelbases were available. The model was planned for export to Australia, but volume production was prevented by World War I.
| Model | Construction period | Cylinders | Capacity | Wheelbase | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 hp | 1912–1913 | 2 V | 1074 cm3 | 2438 mm | |
| 9 hp | 1914–1915 | 2 V | 1074 cm3 | 2286–2438 mm | |
| 10 hp | 1914–1915 | 2 V | 1357 cm3 | 2438 mm | |
| 10 hp | 1915–1916 | 4 inline | 1074 cm3 | 2286–2438 mm |