Description

John Henry Knight of Farnham, Surrey (UK) is recognised as being the maker of the first British built motor car of which he exhibited at the Crystal Palace show in 1896.  His 3-wheeler was billed as the only British built car propelled by internal combustion.  Before Knight’s car there is some dispute as to the first petrol car to be driven on British soil but the National Motor Museum at Bealieu (UK) say more records exist for the 1895 3-wheeler of John Knight than anything else.  Knight’s vehicle was a two seater that was said to be “almost silent” when running and reported to reach speeds of  7.5 mph.  In 1896 the vehicle went into very limited production that then ceased in favour of the 4-wheeler.