Among the curiosities consigned to the next H&H Auction at the National Motorcycle Museum, there is one charming Edwardian automobile that stands out for its sheer unusual eccentricity. The machine is a 1912 AC Sociable.
It is over a century old, has three wheels, a sofa style bench, and tiller steering that would be more at home on a motor boat. It was built at a time when the boundaries between motorcycles and motorcars were still being defined, but there is no denying that it is a pretty cool piece.
A Car, or a Bike with Ideas?
The AC Sociable was born into an era of experimentation. In the early 1910s, many manufacturers grappled with how best to meet the public’s appetite for affordable personal transport. Some leaned toward motorcycles, others toward small cars, and a few like Auto-Carriers, chose to blur the lines altogether.
Auto-Carriers date back to 1902 when the Weller Brothers started to build motor vehicles. The first AC car was then presented at the Crystal Palace Motor Show in 1903. It was a 20hp tourer, however the dream was short lived as financial backing was withdrawn and the Weller Brothers had to look at other options. They turned to a much smaller three-wheeled commercial delivery vehicle. The wooden framed device was powered by a single-cylinder, 633cc air-cooled engine, and it became an immediate success. In 1904, production kicked in to life from their premises in London.
In 1907, a new kid arrived on the block. It was still a three-wheeled contraption, but was a more passenger-friendly version where a second seat replaced the goods box. It was called the Sociable. A three-seater followed and the definitive version had a side-by-side bench seat for driver and one passenger – a novel layout that gave the vehicle its name and a whiff of Edwardian propriety. Unlike motorcycles with sidecars, both occupants were equally seated and equally exposed to the elements, with the driver steering from the right-hand side using a tiller.
By 1912, the Sociable had evolved into a relatively refined vehicle for its class. Power came from a modest single-cylinder engine mounted at the front, delivering its drive via chain to a single rear wheel. The transmission used a basic but effective epicyclic gear system – a type of automatic transmission well suited to the low-speed, urban driving of the day.
Design with a Smile
The AC Sociable may have been mechanically straightforward, but its charm lay in its engaging simplicity and slightly comical appearance. With its spindly wheels, buggy-like stance, and the occupants perched high and close together, it resembled something between a rickshaw, a trike, and a tea-time conversation on wheels. This mix of utility and quaintness made the Sociable popular with early motorists who wanted simplicity and affordability. After all, a full-blown motorcar was expensive business.
The Sociable was pretty straightforwardly to maintain, and did not guzzle the fuel making it an economical way of getting around. Some were used for business, others for pleasure, and a few served both roles. Production continued in small numbers until the outbreak of the First World War, after which AC’s focus shifted to more conventional four-wheeled cars.
The Auction Star: 1912 AC Sociable, Chassis No. 1122
The example offered at H&H’s upcoming auction is a particularly exciting lot. It is dated to 1912, the year when the Auto Motor Journal branded it as “one of the most popular cyclecars on the road, both for pleasure and business.” It is a timeworn example, bursting with patina that is befitting to its age.
This would be one cool thing to have in the shed – it has charming quirks of the period: minimal suspension, mechanical brakes, and a top speed that encourages leisurely travel. It is exactly the sort of vehicle one might imagine puttering through a village high street in 1912.
This Sociable has been campaigned in many events including the Pioneer Run, and comes with certificate no. 2002.
The AC Sociable is more than a novelty. It is a vital stepping stone in British automotive history. AC Cars would go on to become one of the longest-running and most respected marques in British motoring, eventually producing the AC Ace and, through a fateful collaboration with Carroll Shelby, the legendary AC Cobra. But long before the thunder of V8 engines, there was the gentle clatter of the Sociable.
This is a rare chance to acquire a working, unrestored example of an automobile from a pioneering era. It may not be the flashiest of all of the lots, but we reckon it has the most charm and character, and also serves as a reminder that motoring could be practical, sociable, and a little eccentric all at once.
The H&H Auction is up on the 09th July 2025 – visit the website to view the lots, of which there are some pretty special ones.
Photos credited to H&H Auctions (thanks to Mike Davis)
an article by The Girder Club
If you would like to be kept up-to-date with the latest news and information on vintage motorcycles, feel free to sign up to our newsletter, which we aim to ping out each month.
Leave a Reply