Douglas (motorcycles)

The Douglas Motors Ltd.. was a British manufacturer of motorcycles. The company was founded in 1882 by brothers William and Edward Douglas Douglas. The company existed until 1956. Firm was based in Bristol.

Douglas was known especially for its air-cooled, transverse-mounted (ie lying in the driving direction of the cylinder axes ) Boxer engines. Joseph Barter, the founder of Light Motors Ltd.. had such an engine called Fair constructed, but his business was forced to retire in 1907 and sold it to the Douglas brothers. This started to produce a 350- cm ³ version. It succeeded Douglas in the First World War a government contract for the supply of 15,000 machines to back up. The machines were suitable especially for speedway races, and so special competition models with 500 and 600 cc were offered.

Between 1914 and 1922 small car with two-cylinder engines were produced.

Sporty one time was successful in use in the Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man four. The Senior TT was won in 1923.

1935 Douglas was acquired by the Bond Aircraft and Engineering. Production was maintained during World War II, but came back in 1948 in Douglas difficulties. You put forth a model with only 350 cc and lying transversely in the engine frame. In 1955 the Douglas Dragonfly, the last custom motorcycle on the market. Westinghouse bought Douglas in 1956 and introduced the motorcycle production in 1957.

As early as 1949 began with the import of Vespa scooters, which were then made ​​at Douglas under license. Even after the end of the two-wheeler production in 1957 Vespas were imported.

Models

Motorcycles ( not complete)

  • Douglas 350 cc - 1910
  • Douglas 349 cc - 1914-1918
  • CW12 - 1924
  • CW13 - 1924
  • S5 500 cc - 1930
  • S6 600 cc - 1930
  • T6 600 cc - 1930
  • A.32 350 cc SV - 1932
  • B.32 350 cc SV Touring - 1932
  • C.32 500 cc SV - 1932
  • D.32 600 cc Greyhound - SV Touring - 1932
  • E.32 600 cc SV Standard - 1932
  • F.32 500 cc OHV Sports - 1932
  • G.32 600 cc OHV Sports - 1932
  • H.32 750 cc SV - 1932
  • K.32 350 cc OHV Touring - 1932
  • M.32 350 cc OHV Touring - 1932
  • S.W.5 500 cc OHV Speed ​​- 1932
  • S.W.6 600 cc OHV Speed ​​- 1932
  • D.T.5 500 cc OHV Dirt Track - 1932
  • D.T.6 600 cc OHV Dirt Track - 1932
  • SV 600 cc DeLuxe Twin - 1937
  • DK 350 cc - 1947
  • Mark V
  • Douglas "Vespa " - 1950
  • Dragonfly - 1955

Small cars

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