Lea-Francis was founded in 1895 in Coventry and initially produced bicycles. From 1903 the company built cars and later motorcycles. After World War I, Lea-Francis developed its own sporty vehicles and achieved notable success, including winning the Tourist Trophy in 1928. The company produced passenger cars until World War II and resumed production afterward with luxurious but expensive models. Despite motorsport success, financial difficulties led to the closure of the company in 1960 after producing around 10,000 vehicles.