Automotive Products
Encyclopedia
Automotive Products, commonly abbreviated to AP, was an automotive industry
components company set up in 1920 by Edward Boughton, Willie Emmott and Denis Brock, to import
and sell American
-made components to service the fleet of ex-military trucks left behind in Europe
after World War I
.
In 1928, they obtained a licence
for the manufacture and sale of the Lockheed Hydraulic Braking System for the British Isles
and Continental Europe
, and in the following year they acquired a controlling interest in Zephyr Carburetors Limited which had premises in Clemens Street, Leamington Spa
. A subsidiary company named the Lockheed Hydraulic Brake Company Ltd was formed and brake
component manufacture began.
In 1931, the Borg & Beck Company Limited
was set up to manufacture clutch
es under American patents from Borg & Beck in the USA. This allowed the company to sell British made Borg & Beck clutches in Great Britain, overseas British possessions and the British Empire
(except Canada). The same year, the first block of a new purpose-built factory in Tachbrook Road was opened, extending by 1970 to some 70 acres.
The company became the UK's leading manufacturer and supplier of clutches and braking, and was dominant in the market until the end of the 1970s.
The business was bought by BBA (British Belting and Asbestos) in 1986, and sold on to a management consortium in 1995.
With the decline of the British Motor Industry, and increased competition from manufacturers in Europe, AP saw its sales shrink. The Leamington Spa site was gradually reduced, until the business was broken up, and its mainstream automotive division was sold in 2000 to Delphi Automotive Systems.
However, the "AP" initials live on, as when Automotive Products was broken up and sold, a new, smaller company was created - AP Racing, which specialised in high performance brake and clutch systems for motorsports
applications. This company has since been purchased by Brembo S.p.A.
, but is still run as a separate entity.
Automotive industry
The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells motor vehicles, and is one of the world's most important economic sectors by revenue....
components company set up in 1920 by Edward Boughton, Willie Emmott and Denis Brock, to import
Import
The term import is derived from the conceptual meaning as to bring in the goods and services into the port of a country. The buyer of such goods and services is referred to an "importer" who is based in the country of import whereas the overseas based seller is referred to as an "exporter". Thus...
and sell American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-made components to service the fleet of ex-military trucks left behind in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
In 1928, they obtained a licence
License
The verb license or grant licence means to give permission. The noun license or licence refers to that permission as well as to the document recording that permission.A license may be granted by a party to another party as an element of an agreement...
for the manufacture and sale of the Lockheed Hydraulic Braking System for the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
and Continental Europe
Continental Europe
Continental Europe, also referred to as mainland Europe or simply the Continent, is the continent of Europe, explicitly excluding European islands....
, and in the following year they acquired a controlling interest in Zephyr Carburetors Limited which had premises in Clemens Street, Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa
Royal Leamington Spa, commonly known as Leamington Spa or Leamington or Leam to locals, is a spa town in central Warwickshire, England. Formerly known as Leamington Priors, its expansion began following the popularisation of the medicinal qualities of its water by Dr Kerr in 1784, and by Dr Lambe...
. A subsidiary company named the Lockheed Hydraulic Brake Company Ltd was formed and brake
Brake
A brake is a mechanical device which inhibits motion. Its opposite component is a clutch. The rest of this article is dedicated to various types of vehicular brakes....
component manufacture began.
In 1931, the Borg & Beck Company Limited
BorgWarner
BorgWarner Inc. is a United States-based worldwide automotive industry components and parts supplier. It is primarily known for its powertrain products, which include manual and automatic transmissions and transmission components, , turbochargers, engine valve timing system...
was set up to manufacture clutch
Clutch
A clutch is a mechanical device which provides for the transmission of power from one component to another...
es under American patents from Borg & Beck in the USA. This allowed the company to sell British made Borg & Beck clutches in Great Britain, overseas British possessions and the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
(except Canada). The same year, the first block of a new purpose-built factory in Tachbrook Road was opened, extending by 1970 to some 70 acres.
The company became the UK's leading manufacturer and supplier of clutches and braking, and was dominant in the market until the end of the 1970s.
The business was bought by BBA (British Belting and Asbestos) in 1986, and sold on to a management consortium in 1995.
With the decline of the British Motor Industry, and increased competition from manufacturers in Europe, AP saw its sales shrink. The Leamington Spa site was gradually reduced, until the business was broken up, and its mainstream automotive division was sold in 2000 to Delphi Automotive Systems.
However, the "AP" initials live on, as when Automotive Products was broken up and sold, a new, smaller company was created - AP Racing, which specialised in high performance brake and clutch systems for motorsports
Auto racing
Auto racing is a motorsport involving the racing of cars for competition. It is one of the world's most watched televised sports.-The beginning of racing:...
applications. This company has since been purchased by Brembo S.p.A.
Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is a manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. It was established in Bergamo, Italy in 1961. Soon after the company was formed, it specialised in disc brakes, which were exclusively imported from the United Kingdom at the time...
, but is still run as a separate entity.