Coventry-Victor was a British motorcycle and car manufacturer. OriginallyMorton & Weaver, a proprietary engine manufacturer in Hillfields, Coventry, founded in 1904, the company changed its name to Coventry-Victor in 1911. The company still exists as AN Weaver (Coventry Victor) Ltd.

Coventry-Victor aero engines

The company started manufacturing horizontally opposed engines in 1904 and on the 17th May 1910 one powered the experimental Weaver Ornithoplane, designed by W A Weaver, one of the partners in the company. In a series of four tests the Ornithoplane achieved a steady flight for a quarter of a mile, becoming the first monoplane to fly in Britain.

Coventry-Victor motorcycles

In 1919 Coventry-Victor, using their 688 cc flat twin engine, started making motor cycle and sidecar combinations many of which were used as commercial outfits and became one of England's leading producers of horizontally opposed twins. The 1927 Coventry-Victor Silent Six has today become a sought after classic motorcycle. The company also supplied engines to many motor cycle and cyclecar makers, especially Graham-White. Motorcycle production ended in 1936.

Coventry-Victor cars

By 1926, the company found a new scope of activity: they launched their own design two seater, three-wheeler car with the single wheel at the rear. There were four versions, the Standard, the Sports, the De-luxe and the Parcelcar with prices starting at £75. It used their own horizontal twin cylinder engines of 688 cc at first, later enlarged to 749 cc, 850 cc and finally 998 cc. Drive was to the rear wheel via a two speed gearbox and chain drive. Early cars had a single brake. There was an updating in 1932 with styling by C F Beauvais and called the Luxury Sports with three speed gearbox and costing from £110. The previous models remained available. Car production survived until 1938. After World War II, a prototype codenamed Venus was made with flat four 747 cc engine never reached production.

Other products

In later years the company concentrated on small diesel engines for the maritime market.

Present day

The company still exists as AN Weaver (Coventry Victor) Ltd. They no longer manufacture engines but provide spares and offer a service to maintain those they made.

References

External links

• Coventry Victor 3 wheeler cars
• The Coventry Victor Company
• 1927 Coventry Victor Silent Six motorcycle