106 YEARS OF SIDECARS

The Watsonian Folding Sidecar Company was founded in Birmingham in 1912 by Thomas Frederick Watson whose original idea was for a folding sidecar that could be wheeled through the narrow alleyways of terraced housing. Production peaked at 200 units a week during the 1950s.

SQUIRE MERGER

A period of slow decline in the late 1960s and 1970s led first to Watsonian’s relocation to Blockley in 1982 and then, in 1986, to a merger with Squire sidecars which had launched in 1973 with a range of sportier offerings.

RETRO RESURGENCE

The rise of the retro class has seen Watsonian Squire sidecars come back into fashion and driven a resurgence in the company’s fortunes. They’ve built outfits for Bonneville Bobbers, Ducati Scramblers, Indians, BMWs and everything in between.

HARRY POTTER

“The Harry Potter people bought seven complete outfits, plus extras,” says Watsonian’s Ben Matthews, “All at full price.”