Commer

1913. Reg No: BM 2856. Exhibit at the Oxford Bus Museum.

1913. Reg No: BM 2856. Exhibit at the Oxford Bus Museum.

1918.

January 1920.

1939. Pug.

March 1939. 8Cwt.

1945. 15Cwt.

1954.

1955. Commer Express Van. 1,100cc. Reg No: SPX 740.

1955. Commer Express Van. 1,100cc. Reg No: SPX 740.

1957. Commer Karrier. Reg No: 1314 F.

1958. Commer 95A.QX 5-ton. Reg No YUE 957.

1959. Commer Karrier Fire 4,752cc. Reg No GJM 447.

1961. Commer Cob. Reg No: 52 XVW.

Commer Imp van. Reg No: DOU 489.

1967. Commer Imp van. Reg No: FTK 617E.

Commercial Cars Ltd of Biscot Road, Luton, were a producer of commercial vehicles from 1907 to 1976. Until they became part of the Rootes Group in 1927 the company name was Commercial Cars Ltd and the trade name used was Commer

General

• 1905 Company founded as Commercial Cars Ltd.

• Factory opened in Luton, producing trucks.

• 1907 Founded and the name abbreviated to Commer. Built with the Lindley epicyclic pre-selector gearbox.

• 1910 Showed three vehicles at the Manchester Commercial Motor Show.

• 1913-1917 For a list of the models and prices of Petrol Motors see the 1917 Red Book

• 1914 Manufacturers of petrol motor vehicles for goods and passengers.

• WW1 Produced some 3,000 model RC 4-ton models.

• 1919 A public company formed of the same name Commercial Cars Ltd: Directors are W. C. W. Egerton, Horace G. Hutchinson and H. C. B. Underdown (Chairman and MD).

• Raised additional capital.

• 1924 W. C. W. Egerton who became a director in 1906 is declared bankrupt.

• 1928 November. Hillman, Humber and Commer combine. Head of new concern will be Lieut-Col. J. A. Cole (MD of Humber), Captain S. Wilkes (Joint MD of Hillman) and Captain J. Black (Joint MD of Hillman). Also on board are S. Brotherhood and Sir Henry McMahon. Rootes who had handled the export sales provide the cash and own 60% of the shares.

• WW2 Produced some 20,000 vehicles. A move from Luton to nearby Dunstable was made.

• 1948 New range launched with 5ton and 7ton payloads.

• 1953 A two stroke diesel marketed with two horizontally opposed piston in each of the three cylinders.

• 1961 Introduced successful 1.5 / 5ton delivery van.

• 1966 Entered heavier market with a 16ton gvw chassis and cab.

• 1964 Chrysler bought in to Rootes Group.

• 1973 Chrysler gain full control of the company.

• 1976 The name was discontinued.

• 1979 The company was sold to the Peugeot-Citreon group.

Cars

• The first chassis was developed around a gearbox called the Lindley.

• In 1907 the company offered passenger carrying chassis.

Buses

• Commer were based in Luton and were part of the Rootes Group.

• The first double-decker arrived in 1909.

• New models were introduced in the 1920s so there wasn't demand for the Lindley gearbox.

• After 1926 the Lindley was no longer fitted.

• From 1922 the company hit a postwar slump and was run by a receiver and manager.

• In 1926 the company was sold to Humber and later the name was changed to Commer Cars.

• In 1930 Commer only offered 20 or 26-seat models with normal control.

• In 1939 the new Superpoise series was designed. It had a semi-forward control layout. Diesel and petrol engines were offered, and a choice of wheelbases from 20 to 32 seats.

• From 1946 to 1949 Commer's first postwar chassis was built called the Commando over 1,300 of these were made.

• They were popular with the Royal Air Force.

• 1954 Commer were offering a new diesel engine, the TS3 in the Avenger III.

• The TS3 was a small 3.26 litre with three-cylinder two stroke with supercharging horizontal cylinders.

• 1960s The 1500-series van used as a minibus was launched.

• 1961 Listed as a subsidiary of Humber.

• 1961 Manufacturers of commercial vehicles and motor coaches.

• 1964 Crossville purchased two vans.

• 1976 The vans were re-badged as Dodge (qv) when Rootes Group were taken over by Chrysler.

Lorries

• See Commer: Lorries

See Also

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Sources of Information

• British Lorries 1900-1992 by S. W. Stevens-Stratten. Pub. Ian Allen Publishing
• Ian Allan - British Buses Since 1900 - Aldridge and Morris
• Trademarked. A History of Well-Known Brands - from Aertex to Wright's Coal Tar by David Newton. Pub: Sutton Publishing 2008 ISBN 978-0-7509-4590-5