Guy Motors Ltd History

Sydney S. Guy gained his practical engineering experience with the Belliss and Morcom steam engineering company and with the Humber company of Coventry during the early days of the motor car. Later he joined the old Sunbeam Motor Company of Wolverhampton, where he was Works Manager at the time when Louis Coatalen was designing the brilliant race-winning Sunbeam cars.

During the period in which he was accumulating his knowledge, Guy became particularly impressed by the advantages that could be achieved by the use of light-weight materials. Commercial vehicles of the pre-World War I era were reliable but extremely heavy, and he saw in this the opportunity to profit by his experience with motor cars and produce a vehicle of his own design on more modern lines.

Thus, at the end of 1913, Guy resigned from Sunbeam in order to launch his own company – Guy Motors Limited – which was floated in May 1914, and a factory built at Fallings Park, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire.

The company’s first product was a 30 cwt. lorry of advanced design. To get away from the more commonly used heavy rolled steel channel frames of the time, Guy employed a much lighter form of pressed steel frame, and patented a three-point flexible suspension to prevent any distortion from being transmitted to the engine and gearbox. The direct third gear was intended for use when the vehicle was fully laden, whilst fourth gear, which was used only when travelling light, was indirect. A governor – controlled by road speed and not engine speed – was another novel feature, and this limited the maximum speed to 30 mph without affecting the engine’s ability to “rev” in the lower ratios when ascending hills. This governor was somewhat unpopular with drivers, who much preferred the economical overdrive top gear which they could engage when no load was being carried. Variations on these features became standard practice in the industry in later years.

Guy’s first passenger-carrying vehicle was also built in 1914, and took the form of an open “mail car”. It operated a combined mail and passenger service between Achnasheen railway station and Aultbea on the coast.

When the company was just getting on its feet, Europe was plunged into war, and the Ministry of Munitions took over the vehicles produced by Guy and supplied the to the Russians who were then our allies. During the war, Guy Motors became the largest manufacturers of firing mechanisms for depth charges in the whole country, and were later asked by the Government to produce aero engines. The first of these was the seven-cylinder Wasp radial of 1917, followed in 1918 by another – the 350 hp Dragonfly, a prototype of which was built (from first machining to initial test run) in the incredibly quick time of 24 days. This remarkable achievement received its due recognition from high places.

Marketing difficulties became acute after the war, due to thousands of surplus army lorries being sold by the Army Disposal Board. Guy returned to commercial vehicle production with a will, however, and were soon manufacturing a new and distinctly advanced engine. Whereas the general trend in design was to use side valves and fixed cylinder heads, Guy units incorporated inclined valves and detachable heads. Apart from accessibility, the design of the combustion chamber was such that engine efficiency was at least the equal of overhead valve types some 50 years later.

1. Guy Motors History
2. V8 Tourer
3. Guy Buses
4. Guy Gas Producer
5. Guy Military Vehicles
6. Guy: The Final Years