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Leslie Haywood Hounsfield was born in 1877 at Oxhey Hall near Watford, Hertfordshire. He founded Polygon Engineering in 1904 when aged 27, the name coming from the address of the premises, 65a The Polygon, Old Clapham Town, South London.

His first car was registered in 1913, it ran on solid tyres (which most manufacturers had abandoned at the turn of the century). Hounsfield proclaimed that his engines had just seven moving parts (four pistons, two con rods and one crankshaft). In 1914 he moved to Vicarage Road, Croydon where a second prototype was built. The business was renamed Trojan Ltd. in 1914 but he lacked the capital to start production.

In April 1920 Trojan advertised that they were prepared to enter a licensing arrangement. And by June were talking to Leyland Motors. A deal was made in 1921 for Leyland to make the Trojan car, paying a royalty of £5 for each car. Production was slow during 1922 but picked up in 1923 and around 17,000 were built altogether.

In August 1923 Hounsfield retired as managing director and became Leyland's chief engineer in their Trojan Department.

The Trojan Utility Car was available in only one body style, a two door tourer, with a choice of three colours. The non-removable wheels were steel pressings with solid tyres. It cost £230 when announced in 1922 (£5 more than the Austin Seven), but by 1924 the Utility Car cost £157 (£8 less than the Austin). Advertising slogans at the time included "The Car for the Man who can't afford a Car!" and "Can You Afford to Walk!". The latter included a comparison of the price of shoe leather and socks against the running costs. 1924 saw pneumatic tyres on removable wheels being offered as an option. The Trojan light van, introduced in 1924, soon began to overtake car production and a move to larger premises at Purley Way was required during February 1926.

In late 1928 Leyland gave the company notice to quit their works, followed by the cancellation of the licensing agreement early the next year. A large part of 1929 was therefore spent in moving production to Purley Way.

The Trojan RE was announced in late 1929 for the 1930 season. The engine was mounted vertically at the rear, although the front mounted radiator was retained. It suffered from a lack of development and customers made many complaints. Around 250 were made until 1936. Vans continued to be made until the outbreak of war. The last was delivered in 1940.

In 1935 Trojan attempted to move up-market with the Mastra.

Commercial vehicle production restarted in 1948 and ceased in 1964.

During his time a Trojan, Leslie Hounsfield had patented a folding spring-frame camp bed, which was made in the Trojan factory. In 1933, aged 56, he left Trojan to set up on his own as a small manufacturer making metal testing instruments as well as the camp bed. The business lasted in to the 1950's. Hounsfield died aged 80 on the 17th September 1957.

See also Elva.

E-Mail: history@britishmm.co.uk