FIRST MOTOR CAR – 1903

One man was in the driving seat when it came to pioneering the new age of the motor car in Orkney.

William Reid Tullock not only had the first Orkney-owned car and the first ever driving licence in the county, but he was also the man who behind the only commercially-manufactured car to be built in Orkney in the 20th century, the St Magnus.

It was little wonder that W.R. Tullock was so enthused by the arrival of the motor vehicle – he could claim to be a personal friend of a man whose fame and achievements would make him an icon of the century – Henry Ford, probably the best known motor manufacturer the world has seen.

There had been a car brought to Orkney by visitors in 1901 – it was a one cylinder Daimler which arrived at Stromness on the steamer St Nicholas and made a run to Kirkwall at 14 mph.

But the vehicle W.R. Tullock brought north in 1903 – a German-made Benz with a 6hp single cylinder engine – was the first Orkney-owned motor car. He paid £45 for it and it was also capable of a steady 14 mph.

The second Orkney owned car was soon to follow – a Peugeot purchased by William MacLennan, who, since 1898, had been the Earl of Zetland’s factor in Orkney.

It was Mr MacLennan who, in 1904 when vehicle registrations were introduced, ended up with the number plate BS1. It had originally been allocated to W.R. Tullock but he wrote back to the licensing authorities explaining that his lucky number was seven and requesting BS7. This had already been allocated to MacLennan, but the authorities agreed that the two Orkney men could swap.

Killer Storms...