The British Car Industry – Is it still alive?

For years, the “demise of the UK motoring industry” has been a hotly discussed topic. Motoring magazines and TV shows moan that we aren’t building cars any more, and the issue is often discussed by political parties when they talk about Britain’s declining manufacturing trade.

But you would be forgiven if you thought the industry was actually doing quite well. From the outside looking in, the UK still seems to make a wide variety of cars, ranging from all terrain Land Rovers, to smart and sophisticated Bentleys, to high end sports cars like Jaguars and Lotus. But the truth is that all of these companies are foreign owned, so while they employ a lot of people the length and breadth of Britain, a lot of the profits are going overseas.

So, when even quintessentially British brands like Mini and Aston Martin aren’t owned by UK firms anymore, are there any manufacturers that are still British through and through? Can we at Tacho Supplies still state that we come from a country that is considered a “player” in the automotive world?

Simply put – yes! And you’ll be surprised by the variety of cars we still make. . .

McLaren

McLaren MP4-12C

Undeniably the most famous of the remaining UK based car companies, the road car arm of McLaren, McLaren Automotive, was founded in 1989. An offshoot of the famous racing car manufacturers, McLaren Automotive have been anything but prolific. In their 25 year history, they have only produced six cars. Since 2011 however, the company has really started to hit its stride, turning out the blisteringly fast MP4-12C, and the electric hybrid P1, both to rave reviews. They will soon be producing a convertible version of the MP4, the 650 S, at their plant in Woking, Surrey

Ariel

Ariel Atom

While Aerial may be tiny, employing only 19 people at their base in Crewkerne, Somerset, it is highly likely you’ll recognise the car they build. The Ariel Atom shot to fame on Top Gear, where it famously distorted the face of presenter Jeremy Clarkson due to its lightning quick acceleration and lack of windscreen. It also topped the McLaren MP4-12C as the fastest car to go around the Top Gear test track, holding the record for over two years. The Atom was quite unique when it first appeared in 1996, as it was the first road going car with an exoskeleton – it has no body work or roof, and is instead built around an exposed chassis.

Caparo

Caparo T1

Now we reach the top end of the sports car industry. The Caparo T1 is essentially a road going F1 car, and has the price tag to match, coming in a w hopping £235,000. The Basingstoke based company has only produced 16 models since the T1’s launch in 2007, and those with the bank balance to afford it may actually be thankful for this slow building process – several models have broken down quite dramatically, with one even bursting into flames on the TV show Fifth Gear!

Caterham

Caterham 7

Moving away from the hypercars, those looking for something akin to an IKEA table on wheels should look into this kit car company in Crawley. While pre-assembled models are available, Caterham offer budding mechanics the chance to build their very own car, supplying all the components of their various models and then letting the customer put it together themselves. While they do only make one brand of car, the Caterham Seven, there are tonnes of different variations, ranging from the entry level 160, to the stripped out CSR Superlight, which sacrifices comforts such as carpets, heaters and a windscreen to maximise performance.

Morgan

Morgan Aero 8

And finally, we have the complete flip side of the automotive industry. While previous companies on the list are pushing the limits of modern technology, Morgan take a more nostalgic approach. While first produced in 2001, it looked as though it has arrived from the 1940s! Not only does it have a frame made of wood, early models also had headlamps that appeared cross-eyed!

And this is just scratching the surface. While the British motoring industry may not be the juggernaut it once was, there are small companies across the country keeping our proud automotive heritage alive.

Image credits: Wikipedia.org