Zendik

Zendik was one of the many small British cyclecar ventures that appeared in the early 1910s, when reduced-size automobiles offered a lower-cost route into motoring. The brand was produced by Zendik Cars Ltd from premises on Thames Street in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. Its car was designed by Harold Birdsall Bullingham and entered production in 1912. The company also maintained a sales office and showroom at Ebury Street, Eaton Square, London, operated by H. Jenks. The Zendik used an air-cooled 8 hp V-twin Chater-Lea engine mounted in a lightweight chassis. Power reached the rear wheels through a two-speed transmission. Top gear provided direct drive, while the lower ratio used chain reduction. Instead of a conventional reverse gear, the transmission redirected power through a pair of friction wheels. The chassis was constructed from wood with metal reinforcement and used semi-elliptic springs at the front and rear. Wire wheels and narrow 26 x 2.5 tyres were consistent with the car's cyclecar character. Its body was a two-seat design with a dummy radiator carrying Zendik script. The model changed little during the company's short life. Zendik advertised a top speed of 45 mph, and a road test published by The Cyclemotor in March 1913 reportedly confirmed that performance. The advertised price was £110, with a hood and windscreen offered for a further £10. At least one chassis was adapted with a van body and delivered to Gaydon & Sons, a clockmaker based in Kingston. An updated version was announced in 1913, but the available historical account indicates that it probably never reached production. It is not known how many cars were built. The company's premises appear to have been small, and its nominal capital was £3,000. Although it had a telephone, an uncommon amenity for a small business in 1912, the company apparently lacked the financial resources to continue. In December 1913, an extraordinary general meeting appointed a liquidator. Zendik Cars Ltd was wound up in June 1914, bringing the brand's production period to an end after approximately two years.

• 1914

  Company wound up

  [1]Zendiken.wikipedia.org

  Zendik Cars Ltd is formally wound up in June.

• 1913

  Road test published

  [1]Zendiken.wikipedia.org

  The Cyclemotor publishes a road test that reportedly supports Zendik's advertised 45 mph top speed.

• 1913

  Updated model announced

  [1]Zendiken.wikipedia.org

  Zendik announces an updated version, although it probably does not reach production.

• 1913

  Liquidator appointed

  [1]Zendiken.wikipedia.org

  The company appoints a liquidator at an extraordinary general meeting in December after apparently running out of money.

• 1912

  Production begins

  [1]Zendiken.wikipedia.org

  Zendik Cars Ltd begins making its two-seat cyclecar in Kingston upon Thames.

• 1912

  London sales operation established

  [1]Zendiken.wikipedia.org

  A sales office and showroom is operated by H. Jenks at Ebury Street, Eaton Square, London.

An economical, lightweight British cyclecar aimed at early motorists seeking a small and relatively affordable alternative to larger conventional cars.

• Cyclecar · 1912

  Zendik two-seat cyclecar

  The principal Zendik product was a lightweight two-seat cyclecar built in 1912 and 1913. It used an air-cooled 8 hp V-twin Chater-Lea engine, rear-wheel drive, and a two-speed transmission with direct top gear and chain-reduction low gear. Reverse was provided by a friction-wheel mechanism. The wood chassis had metal reinforcement, semi-elliptic suspension, wire wheels, and a dummy radiator with Zendik script. The advertised price was £110, with a hood and windscreen available at extra cost.

• Commercial vehicle conversion

  Zendik van-bodied chassis

  At least one Zendik chassis was fitted with a van body and supplied to Gaydon & Sons, a clockmaking business in Kingston. The conversion demonstrates that the underlying cyclecar chassis could be adapted for light commercial use, although there is no evidence that a separately marketed van range entered regular production.

• 1913

  Announcement of an updated ZendikProduct launch

  Background

  Zendik announced an updated version of its cyclecar during 1913 as the company sought to continue its product offering.

  Action taken

  The company publicized the revised model, but the update probably did not reach production before the business failed.

  Aftermath

  The proposed revision did not establish a second production generation, and the company entered liquidation later in the year.

  Source

• 1913

  Liquidation and business closureOther

  Background

  Zendik Cars Ltd apparently ran out of money after operating for only a short period.

  Action taken

  An extraordinary general meeting appointed a liquidator in December 1913.

  Aftermath

  The company was wound up in June 1914 and ceased manufacturing.

  Source

1. 1Zendiken.wikipedia.org