A two cylinder, 10hp model was the first private car John Thornycroft produced. It was followed in 1904 by this 20hp tourer.

Thornycroft later made racing cars which ran in the Isle of Man TT car races. Private cars were only manufactured until 1913, after which the company concentrated on commercial vehicles.

This particular car has had a long and distinguished career in the London to Brighton veteran car run and was on several occasions before the Second World War the first car to reach Brighton.

After the War it was sometimes driven by Lord Brabazon of Tara, pioneer motorist, racing driver and aviator, who became chairman of the Associated Commercial Vehicles group, which included the Thornycroft business.