Phoenix was an English manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles and tricars (motor tricycles) active from 1903-1926. It was founded by a Belgian, Joseph van Hooydonk, at his factory in Holloway Road, North London, and named after the Phoenix Cycle Club.
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The company moved from its London base to Letchworth, Hertfordshire, in 1911, but failed to survive the 1920s going into liquidation in 1924 but assembling a few more cars in the following two years.
The Letchworth factory went on to be used for car manufacture by Ascot and Arab.
Production
The first product was a motor tricycle called the Trimo with an engine imported from the Belgian Minerva company. This was followed in 1905 by a single seat four wheeler the Quadcar with 6/7hp twin cylinder Fafnir engine.
A proper four wheel car was introduced in 1908 as the 8/10 with 8hp engine and chain drive to a three speed transmission with further chain to the rear axle.
After the move to Letchworth a larger 11.9hp model with 1496 cc 4 cylinder engine, three speed transmission and worm final drive. It had the radiator behind the engine, Approximately seven cars a week were being made by a workforce of 150 at the outbreak of World War I.
The 11.9 was re-introduced in 1919 still with the scuttle radiator but changing to a more conventional front radiator in 1921. For 1922 the 11.9 was replaced by the 12/25 with Meadows 1795 cc and four speed transmission.
A small number of six cylinder cars were made in 1925.
Other Phoenix car companies
The Phoenix name has been used by several British car makers including:
Phoenix Motor Works in Southport (1902-1904)
Phoenix Carriage Co in Birmingham (1905)
Phoenix Automotive of Moreton-in Marsh, Gloucestershire