Company type | Limited Company |
---|---|
Industry | Automotive |
Founded | 2013 |
Founder | David Brown |
Headquarters | , |
Products | Limited production cars |
Website | davidbrownautomotive |
David Brown Automotive is a British coachbuilder and manufacturer of limited production cars based in Silverstone, England. The company was founded in Coventry in 2013 by British businessman David Brown to create modern interpretations of classic vehicles. Its first model, the Speedback GT was launched in 2014. David Brown Automotive was placed into administration in November 2024. MB Insolvency appointed as administrators. [1]
David Brown Automotive was founded in Coventry, England in 2013 to create coach-built classic-inspired cars featuring modern technologies and convenience. [2] The company was founded by its eponymous David Brown, who bears no relation to Sir David Brown of Aston Martin and his companies. [1] [3] This was realised with the Aston Martin DB6-inspired Speedback GT, [4] which was announced in March 2014. [5] The car is based on a one-off example that had been custom built by Coventry-based Envisage, initially for Brown's personal use. [6] The vehicle and consequently, the marque made its debut at the Top Marques show in Monaco in April of that same year. [7]
On April 6, 2017, the company announced Mini Remastered, inspired by the classic Mini, launched in Shoreditch, London. [8] Following the company's expansion to a second model, David Brown Automotive was relocated from its Binley factory to a new 18,000 sq. ft dedicated build facility and headquarters at Silverstone Park in April 2017. [9] The Speedback GT and prototypes for the Mini Remastered and Speedback Silverstone Edition were showcased at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2017 and 2018. [10] [11]
Launched at the Top Marques Show in Monaco in April 2014, the Speedback GT is the marque's first model. Inspired by the 1960s and the Aston Martin DB6, [12] the grand tourer was coach-built using the Jaguar XK all-aluminium platform. [13] [14] The company sources its production to British-based suppliers and builds the cars at their build facility in Silverstone, UK.
The Speedback GT was designed by former Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) designer Alan Mobberley. [15] Its body is produced using traditional coach-building methods; the aluminium body panels are hand beaten and then rolled over an English wheel. The bucks over which the panels are beaten have been milled out using a 5-axis CNC milling machine from CAD data, obtained from the full-size design clay model. The car is powered by a 5.0-litre Jaguar AJ-V8 engine generating 503 bhp (375 kW; 510 PS) with a six-speed ZF automatic transmission. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) in 4.6 seconds with further performance upgrades available. [16]
At the Geneva International Motor Show in 2017, the Speedback GT was showcased in two specifications, one left-hand and one right-hand drive. These full-production specification examples encompassed over 230 engineering and design refinements from the original Speedback GT prototype, including soft-close doors and enhanced noise insulation. [17]
Launched on March 6, 2018 [18] at the Geneva International Motor Show, the Speedback Silverstone Edition is the third particular edition model made by David Brown after the Mini Remastered Café Racers Edition and Monte Carlo Edition. The model was launched to celebrate the company's first anniversary of its move to the new Silverstone build facility and headquarters in April 2017. [19]
Limited to 10 examples, the Silverstone Edition is the performance version of the Speedback GT. The grand tourer features additional performance from a 5.0-litre Jaguar AJ-V8 engine, which generates 601 bhp (448 kW; 609 PS) and 565 lb⋅ft (766 N⋅m) of torque. [20] Updated rear suspension adds further dynamic handling to the model over the existing set-up from the Speedback GT. [21] The car features a bespoke 'Fly by Night' paint finish, applied over 8 weeks is offered with a fading dark painted stripe and a tan leather interior cockpit with brogued and fluted seats. [22]
The Mini Remastered is the company's second model. It is a remastered version of the original Mini, which had been built between 1958 and 2000. The Mini Remastered was launched at a private event in Shoreditch, London in April 2017, and made its world motor show debut on 20 April 2017 at the Top Marques Show in Monaco. [23]
Launched in three specifications, the Mini Remastered was showcased in standard form, alongside two limited-production special editions: [24] One special edition is inspired by Café Racers, with a history to the classic 1960s motorbike movement, and a second special edition inspired by Monte Carlo, along with the racing heritage of the classic Mini on which the cars are based.
Each Mini Remastered is built on an original classic Mini donor vehicle's 1275cc I4 (A-series) engine and gearbox, which is refurbished to deliver up to 83 bhp (62 kW; 84 PS). A new steel body shell is custom made by British Motor Heritage, which is then coach-built by David Brown Automotive. [25] [26] Interior technology and connectivity are added, including electric power-assisted steering, air conditioning, an electric start/stop button, remote central locking, full LED lighting and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. [27] [28]
Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars and grand tourers. Its predecessor was founded in 1913 by Lionel Martin and Robert Bamford. Steered from 1947 by David Brown, it became associated with expensive grand touring cars in the 1950s and 1960s, and with the fictional character James Bond following his use of a DB5 model in the 1964 film Goldfinger. Their grand tourers and sports cars are regarded as a British cultural icon.
The automotive industry in the United Kingdom is now best known for premium and sports car marques including: Aston Martin, McLaren, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mini and Lotus. Specialised sports car companies include: Ariel, BAC, Morgan, Caterham, AC Cars, Gordan Murray, TVR, Noble, Radical, Ginetta, Ultima Sports, Westfield, Lister, Arash and David Brown. Volume car manufacturers with a major presence in the UK include: Nissan, Toyota, Mini and Vauxhall. Commercial vehicle manufacturers active in the UK include Alexander Dennis, Dennis Eagle, IBC Vehicles, Leyland Trucks, TEVVA and the London Electric Vehicle Company.
The Aston Martin Vanquish is a grand tourer introduced by British luxury automobile manufacturer Aston Martin in 2001 as a successor to the Aston Martin Virage (1993).
The Aston Martin DB5 is a British grand tourer (GT) produced by Aston Martin and designed by Italian coachbuilder Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera. Originally produced from 1963 to 1965, the DB5 was an evolution of the final series of DB4. The "DB" designation is from the initials of David Brown who built up the company from 1947 onwards.
Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera is an Italian automobile coachbuilder. Originally established in Milan in 1925, Carrozzeria Touring became well known for both the beauty of its designs and patented superleggera construction methods. The business folded in 1966. In 2006 its brands and trademarks were purchased and a new firm was established nearby to provide automotive design, engineering, coachbuilding, homologation services, non-automotive industrial design, and restoration of historic vehicles.
The Geneva International Motor Show was an annual auto show held in March in the Swiss city of Geneva.
The British Motor Museum in Gaydon, Warwickshire, England holds the world's largest collection of historic British cars, with over 300 cars on display from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust and the Jaguar Heritage Trust.
The AC Frua or AC 428 is a British GT built by AC Cars from 1965 to 1973. Production was 81 cars built in total: 49 coupés, 29 convertibles, and 3 special bodied.
Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, Beijing Motor Show or Auto China is an auto show held biennially in Beijing, China since 1990.
The RAC Tourist Trophy is a motor racing award presented by the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) to the overall victor of a motor race in the United Kingdom. Established in 1905, it is the world's oldest automobile race. The 18-carat gold trophy is based on Giambologna's sculpture of the Greek god Hermes. Series to have featured the trophy include the World Sportscar Championship, the FIA GT Cup, the World Touring Car Championship, the European Touring Car Championship, the FIA GT Championship, the British Touring Car Championship, the FIA GT1 World Championship, and the overall winners of the British GT Championship in the 1999, 2000, 2003 and 2004 seasons. It has been presented to the overall winners of the Silverstone Circuit round of the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2013 on.
Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC is the holding company of Jaguar Land Rover, also known as JLR, and is a British multinational automobile manufacturer which produces luxury vehicles and SUV and has its head office in Whitley, Coventry, United Kingdom. The principal activity of Jaguar Land Rover is the design, development, manufacture and sale of vehicles bearing the Jaguar and Land Rover marques.
Andrew Charles Palmer is an English automotive executive and engineer. He has been described as the 'Godfather of EVs' and the 'éminence grise' of the auto industry due to his work launching the Nissan Leaf in 2010 whilst COO at the Japanese company. Palmer is also known for launching Aston Martin's first SUV, the DBX, and first mid-engined sports car, Valkyrie, during his tenure as CEO from 2014 to 2020. Palmer was previously CEO and Executive Vice-chairman of electric bus and van company, Switch. He resigned from this role in 2022. Palmer was appointed Interim CEO of PodPoint in July 2023.
Kahn Design is a British-based company that specialises in the modification of motor vehicles. Founded by Afzal Kahn, the company has its headquarters in Bradford and showrooms in both Chelsea and Kensington in London.
London Motor Show, formerly the London Motorfair, was a motor show in England. It was held biannually at Earls Court Exhibition Centre, from 1977 to 1999. When the event won the support of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and P&O Events, in October 1993, the name was changed from the London Motorfair to The London Motor Show.
Alan Mobberley is a British car designer. He is former Head of Design at Land Rover; a position he held for 19 years. The last project he worked on was the Land Rover Discovery 4.
Top Marques Monaco is an event that takes place annually at the Grimaldi Forum in the principality of Monaco. It features exhibitions by numerous purveyors of luxury aircraft, automobile, boat, watches, jewellery etc. A quarter of the event's ticket sales are donated to Monaco Aide et Présence, a charity established by Monaco's reigning Prince Albert.
Abbey Panels Ltd., originally The Abbey Panel & Sheet Metal Co. Ltd., was a Warwickshire-based coachbuilding company founded on Abbey Road, Nuneaton in 1941, initially assembling Supermarine Spitfires for the ongoing war effort. The original partners were Edward Loades, Les Bean, Bill Woodhall and Ernie Wilkinson. As the business grew they expanded to Old Church Road, Coventry before having their main manufacturing plant on the well known Bayton Road Industrial Estate in Exhall. In 1967, Ted Loades listed the business on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and it became known as Loades PLC, with Abbey Panels its main brand, alongside Albany Zinc (castings), Loades Dynamics (machining) and Loades Design . The company specialised in producing handmade prototype car bodies and did so for many notable car companies including: Bristol Cars, Lea Francis, Jaguar Cars, Rover, MG, Healey, Rolls-Royce, Buick, Lincoln, Volvo and BMW amongst others. They fashioned the bodywork of cars such as the Le Mans winning Ford GT40, numerous Jaguars, the original Mark I Land Rover Station Wagon, Jim Clark's Lotus 38 and Stirling Moss's 1957 Pescara Grand Prix winning Vanwall. They also produced many specialist parts for the aerospace industry, particularly for Rolls-Royce plc, such as the Rolls-Royce Pegasus engine duct of the Harrier jump jet.
The Jaguar Land Rover car platforms are the major structures, designed by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), which underpin their Jaguar and Land Rover cars.
The David Brown Speedback is a grand tourer produced by the British car manufacturer David Brown Automotive. It is the company's first model and was presented in April 2014 at the "Top Marques" show in Monaco. The Speedback is built in Silverstone, England.
The David Brown Mini Remastered is a city car produced by the British car manufacturer David Brown Automotive. It was unveiled in April 2017 at the Top Marques in Monaco. The vehicle is a remastering of the original Mini built between 1959 and 2000.