For Ladies Only! (1933): British Pathé (YouTube)
The 33 women about to take part in the 1933 Cotswold 'Six' are surprisingly well dressed for a 120 mile drive through rudimentary roadways.
The 1933 Cotswold Six represents a fascinating chapter in the evolution of the British motor industry, specifically within the realm of the "small six" engine trend that swept through the UK during the early 1930s. Produced by the Cotswold Motor Company, this vehicle was an attempt to provide the smoothness and prestige of a six-cylinder engine within a chassis that was affordable and manageable for the burgeoning middle-class motorist. While many larger manufacturers like Wolseley and Standard were competing in this same niche, the Cotswold Six was a distinct, albeit lower-volume, entry that emphasized regional craftsmanship and a specific type of British motoring elegance.
To understand the 1933 model, one must look at the economic landscape of the time. Britain was emerging from the worst of the Great Depression, and the "Horsepower Tax" was a major factor in car design. This tax favored engines with a small cylinder bore, leading British engineers to develop long-stroke, small-capacity engines. The Cotswold Six was a direct result of this fiscal environment, offering a multi-cylinder experience that avoided the punitive taxes associated with larger American-style engines.
Technical Specifications and Engineering
The heart of the 1933 Cotswold Six was its 1.5-litre, overhead-valve engine. By modern standards, a six-cylinder engine of such small displacement seems unusual, but in 1933, it was a mark of engineering sophistication. The goal was to eliminate the vibrations inherent in the four-cylinder engines of the era. The Cotswold engine featured a four-bearing crankshaft and was noted for its remarkably quiet idling. It produced approximately 35 brake horsepower, which was sufficient to propel the car to a top speed of around 65 miles per hour.
The chassis was a traditional ladder-frame design, constructed from pressed steel. Suspension was handled by semi-elliptic leaf springs at both the front and rear, equipped with hydraulic shock absorbers—a feature that was becoming standard but was still considered a premium addition in the budget-conscious market. One of the most praised aspects of the 1933 model was its four-speed gearbox, which featured "silent third" synchronization, making it significantly easier to drive in hilly terrain like the Cotswold Hills for which it was named.
Design and Bodywork
In 1833, styling was moving away from the "upright" look of the 1920s toward a more integrated, slightly streamlined aesthetic. The Cotswold Six featured a distinctive V-shaped radiator grille, often finished in bright chrome, and sweeping front wings that flowed into the running boards. The body was typically a four-door saloon, constructed using a mixture of traditional timber framing and steel panels.
Inside, the car was designed to offer a sense of "clubland" luxury. It featured leather upholstery, often in deep greens or blues, and a polished walnut dashboard. The instruments were centrally mounted, a common practice that allowed manufacturers to easily produce left-hand and right-hand drive versions, though the Cotswold was primarily a domestic product. A sunroof, or "paulton sliding head," was a standard feature on many of the 1933 models, reflecting the British motorist's desire to catch as much sunlight as possible during the summer months.
The Cotswold Six in the Market
The 1933 model year was a crowded one. The Cotswold Six found itself competing directly against the Austin 12/6 and the Morris Major. At a price point of approximately £225, it was positioned as a "premium economy" vehicle. The marketing emphasized the car's ability to cruise effortlessly at 45 miles per hour, making it an ideal choice for the growing number of professional people who were moving to the suburbs and required reliable, dignified transportation into the city.
The company leveraged its regional identity heavily. Advertisements often featured the car parked outside limestone cottages or climbing famous Cotswold gradients like Fish Hill or Birdlip. This localized branding appealed to a sense of English tradition and mechanical honesty. However, as a smaller manufacturer, Cotswold struggled with the economies of scale enjoyed by the "Big Six" British car makers. While the 1933 model was well-received by the motoring press for its refinement, the sheer volume of competition meant that every sale was hard-won.
Performance and Reliability
For the driver in 1933, the Cotswold Six offered a very different experience than the noisy, vibrating small cars of the previous decade. The torque delivery of the six-cylinder engine meant that the car could pull away from low speeds in top gear with relative ease, reducing the amount of gear changing required in traffic. This was a significant selling point for older drivers or those who found the non-synchromesh gearboxes of the era intimidating.
Reliability was generally good, provided the owner adhered to the frequent maintenance schedules required of 1930s machinery. The engine required regular valve clearances and greasing of the numerous chassis points. Cooling could be an issue on long, steep climbs if the radiator was not kept clean, but the Cotswold Six was generally considered a robust vehicle. Many examples were used as primary family transport throughout the 1930s and even during the early years of the Second World War before petrol rationing became severe.
Survival and Heritage
Today, the 1933 Cotswold Six is an exceptionally rare sight. Like many mid-market cars of the 1930s, the majority were scrapped during the 1940s and 50s as they became obsolete and parts became difficult to source. The steel bodies were prone to rust, and many of the timber frames succumbed to rot over time. However, a small number of examples have survived in the hands of dedicated collectors and members of the various pre-war car clubs.
In the world of vintage motoring, the Cotswold Six is appreciated for its representation of a specific era of British engineering. It was a car that tried to bring a touch of class to the everyday motorist. While it did not change the course of automotive history like the Mini or the Jaguar E-Type, it was a solid, well-engineered participant in the great motorization of Britain. It stands as a reminder of a time when the "small six" was the height of aspiration for the family man.
Historic Context of the Cotswold Motor Company
The Cotswold Motor Company itself had a relatively brief but interesting life. It was one of many smaller firms that thrived in the shadow of the giants. By focusing on a specific niche and a regional identity, they managed to produce vehicles that felt more personal than the mass-produced alternatives. The 1933 model was arguably the pinnacle of their "small six" production before the market shifted toward more efficient, powerful four-cylinder engines in the late 1930s.
The legacy of the 1933 Cotswold Six is often discussed at classic car shows in the West Country. It is remembered for its distinctive radiator and the smooth, sewing-machine-like hum of its engine. For those who own or maintain them today, the challenge is finding or fabricating parts for a car produced in such limited numbers. Yet, the reward is driving a piece of 1930s history that perfectly captures the aesthetic and mechanical spirit of the Cotswold region during the inter-war years.
Helpful Links
The Pre-War Austin Seven Club The National Motor Museum - Beaulieu British Motor Heritage
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