The History of Car Manufacturing in Leeds

The north of England is exceptionally proud of its long industrial history, and Yorkshire is no exception. A little-known part of this is the involvement of the west Yorkshire city of Leeds in the manufacture of passenger vehicles, commercial coachbuilt bodies, and aeroplane parts in the 20th century. 

Whilst motor manufacture is no longer a part of city life, we’re here to shed some light on this once-ambitious part of our county’s motoring history. 

What vehicles were manufactured in Leeds? 

The ‘Day Leeds’ 

Whilst their success in vehicle manufacture wasn’t sustained, you can’t knock Job Day & Sons, then located across three Leeds factories in Ellerby Lane, Hunslet Lane, and Great Wilson Street, for trying back in the early 20th century. They were originally founded in 1901, initially creating a machine that packed soap. However, this shapeshifted into a motorcycle-engine powered prototype car that came together in 1912. 

Named the ‘Day Leeds’, it was designed to be a ‘small, cheap, economical car’ by the founder’s son William Henry Day. The final version was a two-seater, water-cooled vehicle with a chassis made by Blackburn Aeroplane Company.  

By 1924, three hundred of these cars had been sold (with a delay due to WW1 occurring shortly after production began), but they were soon overtaken by more modern vehicles, which saw the Day & Sons enterprise return to packaging machine production. 

Appleyard Ambulances 

A few decades later, over on North Street in Leeds, Appleyard of Leeds was the largest single floor garage in Europe. Whilst their main business was as a car retailer, selling cars from prestigious Leyland brands such as Bentley and Rolls Royce, they also dabbled in coachbuilding. This saw them make bodies in the mid-1950s for vans, mobile shops and, crucially, ambulances. Many of these important vehicles are sadly no longer with us, but there is still one ambulance built by Appleyard of Leeds in existence. It proudly served Bristol’s ambulance service in its heyday, and was lovingly restored in the 1990’s. 

This wasn’t the only manufacturing credentials that Appleyard of Leeds had to their name; they also manufactured aircraft parts for Blackburn Aeroplane Company in WWII.

Were motorcycles manufactured in Leeds? 

They were, but very briefly. West Leeds Motor Company produced the Dennell from 1906 to 1908, complete with an 8hp three-cylinder engine. 

Does Leeds have a car industry today? 

The current motoring scene in Leeds is now made up simply of car and commercial vehicle retailers, both on the new and used market. Used car dealerships like ours here at Carlingo have been bought firmly into the 21st century, with a stylish approach to showroom decor and a refreshing, hands-off attitude to selling. 

Despite our dealership being located just outside of Leeds in Harrogate, we find so many Leeds residents make the 17 mile journey to view our wide range of used cars on display. So whilst you’re not able to find any Leeds-made cars these days, you are able to find a used hatchback, estate or SUV not far from the city centre that you can confidently motor around Yorkshire in.