- Founded
- 1935 – 1938
- Country
- United Kingdom
The Beckenham Motor Company in Kent produced Batten cars from 1935, using the 1932 Ford Model 18 as raw material rather than merely rebadging it. Builders shortened the chassis by sixteen inches, narrowed its rear, reset the transverse-spring suspension and tuned Ford's 3,622 cc flathead V8. Early examples were minimal racing machines that retained recognizable Ford panels and grille; later bodies became progressively more civilized and stylish. With the lightest cars weighing about 2,180 lb, performance exceeded 100 mph, making Batten one of the fastest Anglo-American hybrids of its period. Approximately ten cars were completed through 1938, all belonging to this evolving 3.6-litre family, and they competed successfully in trials and racing.
Text adapted from “Batten” on Wikipedia ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗