Coventry car history

I always knew my hometown Coventry had a very rich history in the car industry. I discovered today there were actually 43 differant car manufacturers here. Some of them only lasted a few years and a lot of the early car manufacturers made motorcycles too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Coventry_motor_companies

James Starley inventor of the Bicycle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Starley

Frank Whittle. He is credited with single-handedly inventing the turbojet engine for the airplane industry

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Whittle

Alfred Herbert Machine toolmaker. Probably the biggest toolmaker machines in the world.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Herbert_(company)

Alvis; Named as a car manufacurer in first link; In addition to automobiles designed for the civilian market, the company also produced racing cars, aircraft engines, armoured cars and other armoured fighting vehicles.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvis_Car_and_Engineering_Company

Finally and probably the most famous and successful; Rolls Royce who make high end cars, military vehicles, and engines that are fitted to the majority of aircrafts today.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Limited

I know Coventry as the home of Jaguar as I had two of those. Must be something in the water there.

I know Coventry as the home of Jaguar as I had two of those. Must be something in the water there.

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Yeah Jag had a engine plant, body plant and a plant where the two came together to produce cars. Then there was the countless supply companies. I never understood why they had so many plants in differant places across the city. The logistics must have been a nighmare especially when you consider the early jags were all hand built. The only working part of Jag that survives in Coventry today is the research engineering division. The last time i was driving along Browns lane(the old main plant) the head office was still there which doubles as the Jag museum which housed a example of every Jag model ever made by the company. Not sure if that still survives today