Arrol-Johnston (later known as the Arrol-Aster) was a Scottish automobile manufactured from 1896 to 1931. Locomotive engineer George Johnston turned his attention to internal combustion in 1894, not long after his experimental steam tram had burned. In 1896, George Johnston designed and constructed Scotland's first motorised dog-cart. A syndicate was formed to found Arrol-Johnston motor company, to produce this Mo-Car. The syndicate was headed by Sir William Arrol, an engineer of the Forth Bridge. The dog-cart was propelled with an opposed-twin engine having four pistons; it was high, slow, and started by pulling on a rope through the floorboards; nevertheless, it was built until 1905. That year, the company introduced a 3023cc 12/15hp model of more modern appearance; this, however, still used an opposed-piston engine. There was also a three-cylinder version of the dog-cart; this was an uncouth 16hp with the center cylinder being of greater bore than the outer two. In 1906 came the 24/30hp vertical four of 4654cc; this was followed in 1907 by the 38/45hp (8832cc). The 12/15hp twin survived in production utnil 1909. This was the year that T. C. Pullinger (formerly of Darracq and Humber), joined Arrol-Johnston; he swept out the old range in favor of the new 15·9hp (2835cc). That model featured a dashboard radiator and four-wheel brakes (the latter were dropped in 1911). For 1912 an 11·9hp was introduced, and in 1913 the company moved production from Paisley to Dumfries, where they built 50 electric cars for Edison. Arrol-Johnston introduced the Victory model in 1919; this was designed by G. W. A. Brown and had an ohc 2651cc engine. It proved "unsellable and unreliable", and was soon replaced by a modernized version of the 15·9hp. A short-lived 14hp appeared in 1924, only to be replaced the following year by a 12·3hp model. There also was a 3290cc Empire model manufactured for the Colonies. In 1927 Arrol-Johnston and Aster merged; pushrod Arrol-Johnstons of 15/40hp and 17/50hp were manufactured alongside sleeve valve Arrol-Asters. The final model to be produced new was the straight eight sleeve-valve Arrol-Aster 23/70hp of 3292cc, which was sadly not enough to keep the company from folding. The company went into receivership. Production ceased in 1931.

External links

http://britishmm.co.uk/history.asp?id=65 (Arrol-Johnston)

http://britishmm.co.uk/history.asp?id=64 (Arrol-Ater)

http://motorbase.com/vehicle/by-id/-2102171200/ (Arrol-Aster)

http://autoclassic.com/features/classic_car_history/arrol_johnston_dogcart.html