James Frank Buckingham (1886-1955) had spent a few months with Sunbeam and worked in the fitting and running shops for Riley for six years, as well as several years studying chemistry and mathematics at Kelly Technical College before setting up his own business in Coventry.

By 1912 he was a partner in Manly and Buckingham, Engineers based at 159 Spon Street, Coventry. They were described as engineers, motor manufacturers and repairers. Manly had left the company by December 1912 and the premises renamed The Buckingham Engine Works and trading as JF Buckingham: Engineer.

Initially only engines were made and supplied to cyclecar makers such as Duo and HCE. These were single-cylinder air-cooled overhead valve units with a capacity of 746cc and rated at 6-8hp.

Buckingham used this engine as the basis of his first car, the Chota (the Hindistani word for small). This was a single seat cyclecar with two speeds and drive via two long belts. The Cyclecar carried announcements during December 1912 stating that the Chota was to go into production.

Further developments meant that by February 1913 it had now become a two-seater, and by June it had a dummy bullnose radiator. A new 1492cc two-cylinder twin engine (with staggered cylinders to aid air cooling) was now being offered.

At the Whitsun 1913 meeting at Brooklands, Buckingham came third in the Chota in the First BARC Cyclecar Handicap.

On the 3rd September 1913 it was announced that the Chota would be marketed as the Buckingham. Three Buckinghams were displayed at the November Motorcycle Show at Olympia. These comprised a bare chassis, a two-seater tourer and a closed coupé, which was called the "Buckingham Palace".

The Chota had originally been priced at 110 guineas. The 1492cc Buckingham cost £142 in November 1913. A smaller sporting model with a pointed tail and a 1095cc engine was also available at £150, or £155 with disc wheels. June 1914 saw Buckinghams fitted with a reverse gear for the first time.

Despite the outbreak of war, Buckingham announced a new economy model on the 7th December 1914. It is unclear how many were built.

During the war JF Buckingham designed an incendiary bullet which was very successful against the Zepplins. Over 26 million rounds were manufactured at his new factory in Dover Street, Coventry. After the war Buckingham claimed £30,000 for his invention, although it is not known if he was successful, he was awarded the OBE.

During 1919 he recommenced work on a new design of cyclecar at the new factory. Regular advertisements in The Light Car and Cyclecar during 1919 invited orders but it is unlikely that any were sold in that year. This new car was powered by a 1096cc 90 degree air-cooled v-twin similar to the pre-war engine. The car was fitted with a dummy radiator similar in design to that of a miniature Rolls-Royce. Postwar shortages and the moulders' strike during the winter of 1919/20 caused problems for many manufacturers and production cars were never built at Dover Street.

An agreement with Alvis meant that the Buckingham would be built at their Holyhead Road premises. Reliability and other problems meant that, despite attempts to improve the car, the project was to fail. In November 1922 the Buckingham was displayed it the White City overspill at the Olympia Show. (On a stand separate from Alvis). It now sported an Alvis type dummy radiator. Possibly only 30 cars were built by Alvis.

Only one Buckingham survives, a 1914 example, in Australia.

After production ceased, JF Buckingham ran an engineering works in Offchurch near Leamington Spa making instruments and machined components. He retired in 1941 and his company was taken over by Eagle Engineering of Warwick.

The Buckingham may have been a prototype of the ABF.

The photograph shows Mr Henry Long (driver) at the start of a 5,000 mile run which started on the 4th April 1913 and finished on the 17th May.

The photograph was supplied by Antony Anderson, a relation of James Buckingham.

E-Mail: history@britishmm.co.uk