AV Owners Group

The AV was a British cyclecar manufactured by Ward and Avey in Somerset Road, Teddington Middlesex between 1919 and 1924.

It was one of the more successful cyclecars and was based on a design bought from Carden and built in the factory that they had previously used. At the peak they had 80 employees.

The first model was a single seater, the Monocar, only 30 inches (760 mm) wide with bodies built by the Thames Valley Pattern Works[1] out of wood, plywood or even compressed paper. The complete car only weighed about 550 pounds[1]. Engines were rear mounted, air cooled and rated from 5 to 8hp. There was a choice of JAP (most commonly), Blackburne or rarely MAG units[1]. Gearboxes were either a two speed epicyclic unit with foot operated change or three speed Sturmey-Archer [1] with chain drive to the rear axle. Steering was by a wire and bobbin system with the entire front axle being pivoted on early cars. Several hundred were made.

In 1920 a two seater, the Bi-car, was added with the passenger behind the driver. The width of the car increased to 36 inches[1]. About 50 were made[2]. A more conventional side by side model was added in 1921 called the Runabout with a 42-inch (1,100 mm) body 126 inches (3,200 mm) long. The original Monocar and Bi-car were dropped in 1922 but production of the Runabout continued until 1924 and later to special order[2].

The company changed its name in 1923 to A.V. Motors Ltd and after the end of car production became Jowett and later Rootes Group dealers.