Notes on some of the rarer British marques
This page lists brands for which we currently have only an historical precis.
For a more complete listing visit the British Index.
L.A.D. Scooters 1919
Lawson
The Lawson Engineering Co of Bishops Stortford (est. 1969) built LE sidecars and the Zorplan Shopper tricycle.
The LE Sports Sidecar was manufactured from 1976 to 1983.
The Zorplan Shopper, a tricycle based on the Puch Maxi, was sold in kit from from 1978 to 1980 and possibly later.
Source: Icenicam
N.B.
1. Scorpion Motorcycles were also located at Bishops Stortford, it is believed.
2. Lawson's Zorplan was built in the 1970s by a different firm - see: Disambiguation
L.D.E.
Manufactured by Frank Desborough of Commercial Road, Wolverhampton in 1951.
Powered by a 125cc watercooled two-stroke flat twin of his own design, the engine was not ready for the first 125cc IOM race in 1951 so a Villiers/Bantam engine was fitted. The machine is thought to have been the first motorcycle in the world to be fitted with disc brakes. Only one was built.
Source: historywebsite.co.uk
Leader, 1908
"The neat-looking Leader racer fitted with 7 h.p. Peugeot engine, ridden by E. Kickmam in both the Brooklands motor cycle races. In the first race Mr. Kickham finished second, but on the 9th inst. he was unable to catch up the limit men. The engine is fitted with a special current distributer."
Source: The Motor Cycle, 1908
N.B. Charles Binks produced Leader cars in the same period.
L.E.C.
A newcomer into the cyclecar class is the L.E.C, which is sold by the New Phonophore Telephone Co., 31, Budge Row, E.C., and is made throughout at the company's works at Southall.
The L.E.C., a water-cooled engined cyclecar with a Daimler pattern radiator.
Source: The Motor Cycle, 1912
Leopard
Around 1953 Pantherwerke models were offered in Britain rebranded as the Leopard Bobby. These came in three models, the Mk3, Mk5 & Mk6.
Lion 1900-1904
Lotus
The Lotus C-01 was a superbike created by Dr Colin Kolles and the Kodewa team with the support of the Holzer Group. Powered by a KTM 1195cc V-twin developing in the vicinity of 200 h.p., 100 of these were produced under licence from Lotus.
Sources: motorcyclespecs.co.za, et al
LSD Cyclecars 1919-1924
Rarer British Marques
