Albert (automobile)
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1920 |
| Founder | Adam, Grimaldi & Company |
| Defunct | 1929 |
| Fate | Taken over by Gwynnes Limited in 1920 |
| Headquarters | London (Vauxhall, then Chiswick) , United Kingdom |
| Products | Albert automobile, Gwynne-Albert automobile |
The Albert was a lightweight automobile created by Adam, Grimaldi & Company, a firm specializing in aircraft components, and took its name from their location on Albert Embankment. The vehicle’s design was the work of A. O. Lord,[1] with production spanning from 1920 until 1924, initially in Vauxhall and subsequently in Chiswick, London.
Equipped with a proprietary 1495 cc four-cylinder overhead valve engine supplied by Gwynnes Limited, the car delivered 12HP and utilized a four-speed gearbox to power the rear wheels. Its frame incorporated quarter elliptic springs, and braking was limited to the rear wheels. Marketed as a high-end model, the car featured an aluminium body—primarily configured as 4-seat tourers—and boasted a radiator design reminiscent of Rolls-Royce car.[2]
Following the manufacture of approximately 250 vehicles, Adam, Grimaldi & Co. was taken over by Gwynnes Limited in 1920. Production was then transferred to Chiswick, where around 1450 additional units of the original 12HP model were assembled.
In 1923, the car underwent an update that included a larger 1944 cc engine and was rebranded as the Gwynne-Albert. Enhancements introduced at this time comprised replacing the cone clutch with a plate clutch and switching to semi-elliptic leaf springs for suspension. By 1925, front wheel brakes were also incorporated.[2] Approximately 200 examples of this upgraded model were produced, with sales continuing until roughly 1929.[1]
Moreover, the Gwynne 8 model was briefly marketed under the Albert badge, featuring an Albert-style radiator; however, only about eight units were sold.[1]
