Cubitt (United Kingdom)

Cubitt Engineering Co. Ltd. was a British automobile manufacturer based in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, operational from 1919 to 1925. The company was a subsidiary of Holland, Hannen & Cubitt Ltd., a prominent construction firm founded by Thomas Cubitt in 1815, known for its significant contributions to housing in areas such as Bloomsbury and Belgravia, as well as notable projects like Osborne House and the new cast wing of Buckingham Palace.

The Cubitt car aimed to emulate American-style vehicles and featured a 281 cubic inch four-cylinder side-valve engine with a monobloc construction and a detachable cylinder head. Its design included a separate gearbox, which was an unusual feature for the time, and a robust rear axle with an overhead worm drive. The initial bodywork consisted primarily of tourers, but the company later expanded its offerings to include two-seaters and saloons. Despite the ambitious production goals, sales never reached the target of 100 units per week, peaking at approximately 64 in 1921 before declining.

In 1922, S.F. Edge, a former publicist for Napier and the managing director of A.C., took control of Cubitt. Under his leadership, the company produced engines for A.C. and made some bodies. Edge enlisted J.S. Napier to redesign the Cubitt, resulting in modifications that included an underslung worm-drive rear axle and the replacement of cantilever rear springs with long semi-elliptic springs. These changes improved performance and aesthetics, but the price of the vehicles increased to £475 for a tourer, leading to further declines in sales.

By 1925, the Cubitt underwent another redesign, introducing the Model K with a squared-off radiator and reducing prices to £335, while also offering a more luxurious 1.4 model with open-drive limousine or landaulette coachwork priced between £500 and £525. Ultimately, Cubitt Engineering Co. Ltd. went into voluntary liquidation in 1925 after producing around 3,000 cars. Today, a few examples of the Cubitt survive, with four known to be in England and several others in Australia.