Commer

1918.

January 1920.

September 1925.

September 1925.

February 1937.

July 1938.

1939. Pug.

April 1959.

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

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

• 1961 Listed as a subsidiary of Humber.

• 1961 Manufacturers of commercial vehicles and motor coaches.

• 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.

Buses

• See Commer: Buses

Fire Engines

• See Commer: Fire Engines

Lorries

• See Commer: Lorries

Vans

• See Commer: Vans

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