Car Manufacturers - Great Britain: Books - History (2/3)

Westfield (1982-2004)

Brooklands Portfolio book about the Westfield sports cars from the years 1982-2004. Describes the Westfield XI, SE, SEi, SEiGHT, Weasel, 330V8, ZEi, ZEi130, ZEi220, SPa, FW400, Fireblade, Megabusa, XTR2, XTR4 and Sport 200.

• The 38 articles, taken from contemporary British and American car magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and technology.
• Also driving impressions, tests, comparison tests, technical specifications, etc.

▶  More information on the Brooklands Portfolio books

Panther (1972-1990)

Brooklands Portfolio book about the Panther models from the years 1972-1990. Describes the Panther J72, 'Ferrari', the Ville, Rio, Lima, Kallista, 1.6, 2.8, 2.9 and Solo.

• The 57 articles, taken from contemporary British and American car magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and technology.
• Also driving impressions, tests, comparison tests, technical specifications, etc.

▶  More information on the Brooklands Portfolio books

Railton & Brough Superior (1933-1950)

Brooklands Portfolio book about the Railton and Brough Superior models from the years 1933-1950. Describes the Essex Terraplane, Napier-Railton, Railton Terraplane, Drop-head Coupé, Tourer, Sports, Light Sports, Saloon, Sandown, Cobham, Fairmile, 21HP, Brough Superior, 3.5L, Supercharged, Saloon and 12-cylinder.

• The articles, taken from contemporary British and American car magazines, provide much information about history, model changes and technology.
• Also driving impressions, tests, comparison tests, technical specifications, etc.

▶  More information on the Brooklands Portfolio books

Coventry's Motorcar Heritage

Coventry, home of the cycle industry, was also to become the birthplace of the motor industry when the Daimler Company became the first in Britain to mass produce cars in the late 1890s. Spearheaded by H.J. Lawson, Coventry soon became a hub of motoring activity, and by the early 1900s was teaming with small and large companies, testing cars, motor-bicycles and tricycles around the local streets and surrounding country lanes.
Many of these companies had previously been established as cycle manufacturers, yet introduced engines to their cycle frames in various forms, as well as producing safer three- and four-wheeled experimental machines. Other companies were established solely as motor manufacturers, many were short-lived, but others would survive and prosper.

This new-found industry soon attracted a new type of worker to Coventry, specialised in mechanical engineering. These men and their families came from all parts of the UK and beyond, and made new lives for themselves in the city. Coventry has been home to well in excess of 100 independent motor manufacturers, but in recent years the city has suffered greatly with the loss of huge companied like Jaguar and Peugeot.

The legacy of many of these historic cars can, however, still be enjoyed through museums and private collections. This outstanding volume is illustrated with 200 archive photographs and ephemera from the collection held at Coventry Transport Museum, and is a valuable record of the motor companies and their machines, as well as the individuals who both founded and worked for these manufacturers.

Worcestershire's Motoring Heritage

Worcestershire can proudly boast that it is the home of the British motor industry. Barely three years after Karl Benz had built the world's first motorcar, the Santler brothers developed their internal combustion engine-powered four wheeler in Malvern.
It was the start of something big, and although the Santler brothers never saw success in the motor industry, the county was the site of some of the biggest motor manufacturers in the UK and still is a major motorsport centre with the hill climb speed trial at Shelsley Walsh being run from 1905 to the present day.

Herbert Austin's factory at Longbridge was in the county until 1911, when the area became part of the city of Birmingham. Worcestershire can still claim a motor industry, with the Morgan still being built in traditional ways by skilled craftsmen in Malvern. The county also has numerous Formula One and motorsport connections.

Lord Nuffield, the founder of Morris and MG, was born plain old William Richard Morris in a terraced house in Worcester. Together with Lord Austin he built up the two largest motor manufacturers in Britain, which combined in the 1950s to become the British Motor Company.