Wikipedia
The Varley-Woods was the creation of two entrepreneurs, overseas trader John Robert Woods and Ernest Vernon Varley Grossmith, a member of a famous perfumery family. Due to anti-German sentiment following the end of the war, Grossmith dropped his German sounding last name.
Varley founded the The High Speed Tool Company in Acton, London, which in late-1918 changed its name to HS Motors Ltd. HS Motors Ltd built an assembled car in 1918-1919, using Decolonge engines acquired from fellow manufacturer Storey. In mid-1919, unpaid creditors took the company to court, and called-in the bailiffs. The bailiffs arrived at the factory, noted what was of value, and padlocked the premises, stating that if the bills were not paid within seven days, they would return and take everything away to be sold off. Varley and Woods management arrived at the back of the premises with a lorry, and knocked a hole in the wall that was big enough for the lorry to drive through, and removed every item of value The lorry travelled to Wolverhampton, where manufacture recommenced, using chassis sourced from Turner, and Dorman 1794cc engines. The Varley-Woods was launched at the 1919 Motor Show at Olympia. There were three models, a 2-seater, priced at £540, a 4-seater tourer, priced at £660, and a coupé, priced at £760.
In 1920 2303cc Tylor engines replaced the Dorman engines, probably due to credit problems in paying Dorman. Prices were higher - the 2-seater was now priced at £695, the tourer, £725, and a limousine at the incredible price of £1,200. By late 1920 the company was unable to pay the rent on the Wolverhampton factory, and the Receiver was called in. Approximately 150 cars with Dorman engines were built, and a very small number were built with Tylor engines.
After production ended, Varley moved to a cottage in Cornwall, while Woods travelled to Nyasaland, where he was eaten by a lion.