This car has a long and distinguished career in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run and before the Second World War was, on several occasions, the first car to reach Brighton.

John Thornycroft was a successful marine engineer. He built his first steam-powered commercial vehicles for the road in 1896, but by 1902 he had expanded his activities to petrol-engine vehicles.

A two-cylinder, 10hp model was the first private car Thornycroft produced and was followed in 1904 by this model that could be supplied with various coachwork styles or even just as a bare chassis. The engine has automatic (vacuum-operated) inlet valves that were traditional at the time but the pressed steel chassis and the bevel drive rear axle were more modern features. Following the Second World War, this car was sometimes driven by pioneer motorist, racing driver and aviator, Lord Brabazon of Tara.

Thornycroft later made racing cars which were entered in the Isle of Man TT races, but motor car manufacturing only lasted until 1913. Thornycroft decided to concentrate on commercial vehicles after this date to further pursue his passion for shipbuilding which led to an order from the Royal Navy.