Herbert Fitzroy Clayton, a chemicals manufacturer, formed Clayton & Co (Huddersfield) in 1904, and in 1908, with his son Reginald, began building Karrier petrol lorries and charabancs at Queen Street South, Huddersfield. Early Karriers often had the engine under the footboards, leaving more of the vehicle for the load. In 1920 the business became Karrier Motors Ltd, and the company also developed a combined roadsweeper, sprinkler and refuse collector.
Karrier’s small vehicles were popular with local authorities and railways. The three-wheeled Cob of 1930, described as a “mechanical horse” and designed for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, was joined by the four-wheel Bantam, and its road-and-rail Ro-Railer bus was tested in 1931. Scammell brought out its own Mechanical Horse in 1933. Karrier also built trolleybuses, notably the wartime W model.
After heavy losses Karrier went into receivership in 1934 and was bought by Rootes, who closed Huddersfield and moved production to Commer’s Luton works, with trolleybuses built in Wolverhampton. Rootes kept the brand for smaller trucks, the Bantam and Gamecock, and Karrier ended up alongside Commer and Dodge at Dunstable. The name faded after Chrysler bought Rootes in 1967 and was dropped in the early 1970s; the trademark now belongs to Peugeot.
