U.K.’S "LITTLE 20"

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33128, 19 January 1973, Page 6

U.K.’S "LITTLE 20"

That only four groups should be responsible for 99.5 per cent of all cars made in Britain should be no surprise in an age of mass production and big industrial units.

What is surprising is that another 20 British manufacturers continue to exist side by side with the giants, some of them turning out barely a car a week, and others merely making the parts for the buyer to assemble himself, “ writes Peter Waymark in “The Times.”

Britain is probably one of the few countries with this abundance of small specialist car-makers and it probably says much for the British love of the eccentric that they are prepared to sustain them.

One of the “little 20” is, of course, Rolls-Royce, standing by itself at the top of the quality range, but more typically the small companies make sporty cars with high - performance engines, often imported from the United States. Most of these cars are expensive and they rarely offer better value, in strict money terms, than the mass-produced models. But the point is that they look different and there are enough car enthusiasts about who are willing to pay a not inconsiderable price for individuality. In some respects, the small firms have been pioneers. Several, for instance, have used glass fibre instead of steel for bodywork (partly because it is so much cheaper, requiring only a tenth of the capital investment). Lotus, largest of the “little 20” with an output of more than 50 cars a week, manufactures Britain’s only mid-engined car, the Europa. Reliant has successfuly combined, in the Scimitar, the apparently irreconcilable concepts of the sports car and station waggon. On the other hand, Morgan survives quite happily on cars that have changed little since the 19305. It is nice to think that the ruthlessly competitive British car industry can still find room for 20 small independents, although how much longer they can survive remains to be seen. The 70 m.p.h. speed limit, the United States safety regulations (export markets

are very important to some of these companies) and the enormous cost of introducing new models have all affected the small companies.

Now a new threat is looming, which could put paid to the assembly-kit car and threaten the very existence of those companies that produce kits and little else. The attraction of buying a kit was that car components were not subject to purchase tax and the make-it-yourself car was therefore cheaper. With the advent of valueadded tax in April, kits will no longer escape and it seems unlikely that they can continue as an economic proposition. One small firm that nearly died a few months ago was Gilbern, which hails from Llantwit Vardre, in Glamorgan, and claims the distinction of being the only car manufacturer in Wales. The company was losing $5OO a car on its Mark II Invader and sales were drying up as prospective customers waited for the new Mark 111. By the end of July liquidation was just round the comer. Help came from an unusual source, a Gilbern owner. A year ago, a young management consultant, Mr R. Salway, needed a replacement for his sports car. He decided to try the Gilbern and started taking a fatherly interest in it, sending a long letter to the management suggesting how it could be improved. The eventual outcome was that Mr Salway became a parttime consultant to Gilbern and in August, with the managing director, Mr M. Leather, he bought the company.

Gilbern’s prospects are now much happier. The Mark 111, is selling well and the order books are filling up. The company hopes that production of. five cars a week will be increased steadily. Productivity has improved, with 65 people producing five cars where in April, 85 people made only four. And the company’s debt has been cut from $lBO,OOO when the Salway/Leather regime took over, to $50,000.

One of the newest of the small firms, and in some ways the most unusual, is Panther West Winds, a company which specialises in replicas of old cars. The company’s first product, the Panther J 72, appeared a

few months ago, and it was followed by a racing version, the S. The latter made its debut at the London Motor Show, where it was claimed to be the quickest car to 60 m.p.h.

The J 72 is based on the 1938 Jaguar SS 100 and is certainly striking to look at, with gleaming silver aluminium and chrome, and leather and walnut trimmings. It is impossible to leave it parked for a minute without someone peering inside .or crawling underneath.

The 3.8-litre Jaguar engine (a 4.2-litre version is to be offered as an optional extra) produces a performance almost as startling as the appearance. From a standing start, 60 m.p.h. takes 6.45 seconds and 70 takes 9.5. The top speed claimed is 114 m.p.h. and it would probably be much higher but for the car’s awkward shape which creates drag.