1926 Bayliss Thomas 'Chummey' Roadster

The Bayliss-Thomas was built by the Excelsior Motor Company of Birmingham between 1922 and 1929. Better known for their motorcycles, the Bayliss-Thomas name was employed as a Belgian manufacturer was already building Excelsiors. The earliest Bayliss-Thomas were three-wheelers but more conventional four-wheel light cars followed, ranging from 9hp to 13hp models and around 1,000 were made in total, of which comparatively few survive today. The Bayliss-Thomas was sold either with an OHV Meadows 1100cc engine or 1500cc side-valve Coventry-Simplex unit (mated to a Wrigley gearbox with no differential). By 1924, the range had expanded to four models but very few Bayliss-Thomas were being made by the late 1920s, with a choice of tourer or pointed-tail sports bodies with lowered steering column and seats. Although production of Bayliss-Thomas automobiles ceased in 1929, Excelsior continued making motorcycles until the early 1960s.