The Skeoch was a Scottish cyclecar manufactured in 1921 by Skeoch Utility Car Company in Dalbeattie, Kirkudbrightshire.[1][2] It was powered by a 348 cc single-cylinder Precision engine and was fitted with a two-speed Burman gearbox with chain for its final-drive.[3] At the Scottish Motor Show in 1921, the first Skeoch Utility Car was the cheapest on display and sold for £180 complete, or at a reduced cost of £165 without accessories.[1] Around 10 were manufactured before the factory "The Burnside Motor Works" was destroyed by fire[4] in December 1921.[1]

Skeoch Scottish Cyclecar replica constructed by Dalbeattie Men's Shed at the reveal weekend in Dalbeattie 18 July 2021
Skeoch Scottish Cyclecar memorial wall art at factory site in Dalbeattie

On Saturday 17 July 2021 a recreation of the car was revealed at Colliston Park, Dalbeattie.[5] The fully operative replica had been constructed by members of Dalbeattie Men's Shed charity[6] and built from the original plans which had been offered from Fiona Sinclair, granddaughter of James Baird Skeoch who died in 1954.[1] As few of these cars were made this is now the only known physical example of the Skeoch cyclecar.

See also

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Further reading

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David Burgess Wise, The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Automobiles.

Skeoch Utility Car binder located in Dalbeattie Museum Trust at Southwick Road, Dalbeattie, Scotland, DG5 4BS

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Nichola Rutherford (27 February 2018). "Drive to rebuild 'forgotten' early car". BBC News. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Where the ghosts roll on wheels Once, Scotland had many car factories. Now it has Motoring Memories, writes Ross Finlay, tracking the traces". HeraldScotland. 6 September 1996. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Dalbeattie Museum - The Skeoch Car made in Dalbeattie". www.dalbeattiemuseum.co.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  4. ^ Pennycook, Derek (30 July 2022). "A Mural To Commemorate James B Skeoch's Utility Cycle Car Has Been Commissioned In Dalbeattie". DGWGO. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  5. ^ Gillespie, Stuart (21 July 2021). "Dalbeattie Men's Shed unveil replica vehicle". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  6. ^ Norris, Stephen (15 July 2021). "Men's Shed's vintage car replica ready for first outing". Daily Record. Retrieved 24 November 2022.