One of the famous “Three As” of Scotland’s early motor industry, along with Albion and Argyll, Arrol-Johnston was there right at the very beginning.

George Johnston and Sir William Arrol established the Mo-Car Syndicate Ltd.

in Bluevale, Glasgow, in 1897.

Sir William was by then renowned for his civil engineering achievements, having been awarded contracts for the Forth Bridge, the second Tay Bridge and the metalwork of Tower Bridge.

While Arrol-Johnston survived until 1931 (after merging with Aster in 1927), it remains best-known for its earliest products, the distinctive high-wheeled Dogcarts which were produced until as late as 1906.

These were horseless carriages in the most literal sense, with solid-tyred carriage wheels and varnished four- or six-seater bodies, and, though their design was somewhat antiquated, they found plenty of willing buyers, especially in Scotland.

The Dogcart name was carried over from the carriage-building industry, where it described a two-wheeled c...