In 1909 he designed a two-stroke 3.3-litre engine, for his cousin Ralph Ricardo, who had established a small car manufacturing company, "Two Stroke Engine Company", at Shoreham-by-Sea. The engine was to be used in the Dolphin car.[5] The cars were well made, but it became apparent that they cost more to make than the selling price. The company fared better making two-stroke engines for fishing boats.