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Parent Category: Motor car History

Category: Britain

EW Hart & Company

Automotive manufacturer of the United Kingdom From 1900 to 1903.

EW Hart & Company was a British importer and manufacturer of automobiles in the early part of the 20th century. The brand names were Hart and Lutonia.

History

Ernest W. Hart founded the company in Luton Bedfordshire UK in 1900 and began importing vehicles from the Lohner-Werke . Between 1900 and 1903 they also produced its own automobiles. 1903 ended the production. Hart later distributed vehicles from Austro-Daimler .

Under the Brand name Hart, The model was a electric car . It had ever an electric motor with 2.5 HP power in the hubs, so had four-wheel drive .  Another model was a early hybrid electric car . The gasoline and electric engine made 40 hp. Under the Brand name Lutonia  this model,fitted with a single, rear-mounted electric motor with 2 hp. With Bergmann from Berlin engine. The open body could accommodate up to two people.

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Parent Category: Motor car History

Category: Britain

McCoy cars

McCoy was a British kit car brand from the mid 1980s to the late 1990s. The brand name was McCoy .

History

Arthur Birchall, formerly of Lotus Cars and Clan Motor co, founded the company Birchall Automotive in 1984 in Barnham Broom , County Norfolk . He started producing automobiles and kits . 

The founder of the McCoy production plant at Barnham Broom in Norfolk is Arthur Birchall. DuringArthur's career in the motor trade he has been both Formula I and Indianapolis Chief Mechanic for Team Lotus. He was a founder member of the Clan Motor Company and was instrumental in the success of Clan competition cars. He became involved with restoration in the 70's.Arthur was responsible for the development of both the Midas and the Phoenix kit cars before deciding to manufacture his own car. The McCoy was born.

 From 1988 to 1990 NG Wynes Fibreglass (McCoy Cars) from North Tuddenham continued in Norfolk production. The last manufacturer was from 1990 Neville Wynes Fiberglass Products (McCoy Cars) in Fakenham in Norfolk. In 2001 the production ended. In total, about 117 copies were made. 

The first and best selling model did not have a separate model name. It was similar to the Clan Crusader and was a coupe . Brian Luff of Status Car Company developed the chassis . On it a body made of fiberglass was mounted. Typically, a four-cylinder engine from the Mini powered the vehicles. Alternatively, the engine of the Mini Metro could be used. Unusual for a kit car was the crash test at a Scottish university. From this model created between 1984 and 2001 about 100 copies.

The model McIvoy technically corresponded to the first model, but had a four-seater body in the form of coupé or station wagon . This model found five buyers between 1986 and 1998.

In addition, created between 1988 and 1998 about twelve replicas of Triumph TR 2 , Triumph TR 3 and Triumph TR 3 A. A steel chassis formed the base. Many parts came from the Ford Cortina and Ford Sierra .

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Parent Category: Motor car History

Category: Britain

Iota Racing Cars

Iota Racing Cars was a British automaker in Clifton, Bristol this was a off-shoot of the Bristol Aircraft Motor Club from the late 1940s to the early 1950s .

History

 The company became known by the construction of racing cars The type P1 for the 500 cc single-seater class The normal engine type fitted was the J.A.P. Iota made 22 of these chassis in total. Type P1 Price : Complete €525 (basic), less engine €440 (basic).Chassis Type of frame : Tubular, welded. Material, including size and thickness of main frame members: 24in. x 16g. steel side-members, other members Win. x 14g. and 2in. x 16g. Disposition of frame members : Straight parallel tubes with cross members on " ladder " principle.

In 1951, a road legal sports car offered the Iota 350 a low body roadster with a top speed of 75 mph.This is believed to be the world's first aluminum sports car of monocoque construction. The car had a mid-mounted air-cooled,two cylinder boxer engine from Douglas , the 17 bhp (12.5 kW) at 6000 min 30 hp max with a scooped out of 350 cc displacement. 

The car was 3798 mm long and 1320 mm wide.The wheelbase was 2197 mm and the track 1092 mm. The whole vehicle weighed only 330 kg.all-independent suspension with sliding pillar front, swing axle at the rear radius arms and a transverse leaf spring ,

Only two were built in 1951 so remains a rare car with only one remaining.

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Parent Category: Motor car History

Category: Britain

Quantum Sports Cars

The Quantum Sports Cars Ltd. is a British sports car and kit manufacturer first built in the 1980s

History

The Quantum Sports Cars Ltd. is a British car manufacturer first based in Stourbridge from 1985, West Midlands and later in Loddiswell near Kingsbridge (Devon) since 1987 . The company was founded by Mark and Harvey Woodridge.Available as kits or as fully assembled hand-built road legal cars based on the Europe version of the Ford Fiesta.

The first model was the Quantum Mk. 1 , a saloon based on the mk1 front wheel drive Ford Fiesta , but with a longer, rounder body. Because of the lower weight compared to the Ford, the performance was significantly better. The first two cars were tested by family and friends. The third car was the first to go on sale after a few test drives through auto magazines and promotional events mwith a number sold,

In 1991, the company manufactured a revised version of this small sports car based on the updated 1984 second series of the Fiesta (MK2), which was now available in sufficient quantities at an affordable price to serve as a donor vehicle for the Quantum.

From 1993 a 2 + 2 convertible was also offered, which was also built on the Fiesta mk2,A more powerfull  2 + 2 model with a 2.0-liter engine instead of the 1.6 cvh engine of the Fiesta XR2 was presented in many automotive magazines and also made available to the BBC for their TV car magazine Top Gear . Jeremy Clarkson and his wife drove it and compared it to high-volume sports cars like the Mazda MX5 . The only complaints concerned the smell of the new GRP body parts .

After the change of ownership and the move to Wrangaton in Devon in 2001, the company offers three other models as alternatives to the 2 + 2, all of which are also available as a kit or fully assembled. The new factory (called Xtreme Works ) now has workshops, a sales room, a parts warehouse and an exhibition. In addition, cheap insurance rates, financing, tuning and service are offered. In May 2017, Quantum Sports Cars was taken over by Phoenix Automotive Developments . 

2 + 2
2 + 2-seater with convertible roof front engine / rear wheel drive.The Quantum 2 + 2 designed to bring you all the fun of an open top car. without compromising any of the creature comforts or practicality of an everyday car for 4/5 adults.
Quantum saloon is a full 4 - seater car with a large boot. Hi-tech composite monocoque -will last long after the average production car rotted away. It is comfortable, refined and easy to drive, either around town or on the open roads. Exceptionally strong bodyshell with built-in front and rear crumple zones. Very substantial steel sills for side impacl protection. Built-in roll-over Safety bar protection on saloon and removable front nose cone for ease of repair. Completely removable front end and optional bar on 2 + 2. High reliability achieved by using standard Ford Fiesta
Excellent Handling due to low weight and good aerodynamics, Average 40mpg 1.6 Fiesta engine and 60mpg from the 1.6 diesel.

H4

Launced in 1997 a more modern version. A 2-seater with convertible roof front engine with solid rear screen targa panels now based on the later mk3 Ford Fiesta, with wider engine choice and power steering, hand built to order.

Xtreme
Is a light open sports car with two seats of lotus 7 style. front engine with rear wheel drive .Hi quality stainless steel  monocoque chassis.

Napier
More Race type car.Light, full-body sports car with two seats, front-engine and rear-wheel drive

Sunrunner
A more off road Beach buggy style but stil a lotus 7 look with two seats front engine with rear wheel drive.