The 1913 Maudslay represents an important period in the development of the British motor industry, when manufacturers were experimenting with advanced engine designs and expanding beyond passenger cars into commercial and industrial vehicles.

The Maudslay Motor Company was established by Walter H. Maudslay to manufacture marine internal-combustion engines. The company soon turned its attention to motor cars, with its first car engine appearing in 1902. Designed by Alexander Craig, the three-cylinder engine incorporated a single overhead camshaft and pressure lubrication, features that were advanced for the period.

Maudslay followed this with a six-cylinder engine in 1903, believed to be among the earliest production overhead-camshaft six-cylinder engines. By 1904, the company offered a range of cars, including models powered by a remarkable 9.6-litre six-cylinder engine. Maudslay cars were positioned at the luxury end of the British market and were among the most expensive cars available.

The company also developed a strong commercial vehicle business. Its products included buses and trucks, with vehicles ranging from smaller models to trucks capable of carrying up to six tons. Maudslay produced its first double-decker buses in 1905, demonstrating the company's ability to apply its engineering expertise to a wide variety of vehicles.

In 1912, Maudslay supplied an engine for one of Britain's early petrol-electric railcars, further demonstrating the versatility of the company's engineering.

This 1913 example is powered by a 3,308 cc overhead-camshaft four-cylinder engine, with a 90 mm bore and 130 mm stroke. The overhead-camshaft design reflects the advanced engineering approach that became an important feature of Maudslay's early motor vehicles.

Today, the Maudslay is an important example of the company's contribution to Britain's early automotive industry and its development from marine-engine manufacture into the production of sophisticated passenger cars and commercial vehicles.