Broadspeed is a United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

-based automotive group. Established in automotive engineering, it now acts as an internet based retailer.

Broadspeed in the 1960s

Broadspeed Engineering Limited and Broadspeed Limited of Sparkbrook, Birmingham

Birmingham

Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...

 UK was originally formed by Ralph Broad in 1962, specialising in performance engine tuning

Engine tuning

Engine tuning is the adjustment, modification or design of internal combustion engines to yield optimal performance, to increase an engine's power output, economy, or durability....

. Team Broadspeed successfully campaigned Mini Cooper and Ford Anglia

Ford Anglia

The 1949 model, code E494A, was a makeover of the previous model with a rather more 1940s style front-end, including the sloped, twin-lobed radiator grille. Again it was a very spartan vehicle and in 1948 was Britain's lowest priced four wheel car....

 racers - and manufactured the 1966 Broadspeed GT Coupe based on a Mark 1 Austin Mini Cooper 1275 S.

Broadspeed in the 1970s

Further racing success followed with Ford Escorts

Ford Escort

Ford Escort may refer to:* Ford Escort , a vehicle manufactured by Ford Motor Company's European division from 1968 through 2003* Ford Escort , a compact car that was manufactured by the Ford Motor Company for the North American market...

 and Capris

Ford Capri

Ford Capri was a name used by the Ford Motor Company for three different automobile models. The Ford Consul Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Britain between 1961 and 1964. The Ford Capri coupé was produced by Ford of Europe from 1969 to 1986...

 before switching to British Leyland products, initially in the form of the Triumph Dolomite Sprint. Broadspeed won the manufacturers' title in the 1974 British Saloon Car Championship

1974 British Saloon Car Championship season

The 1974 Castrol Anniversary British Saloon Car Championship, was the 17th season of the series. The championship switched to Group 1 regulations in an effort to reduce costs. Bernard Unett won his first title, driving a 1600 cc Hillman Avenger....

; the following year

1975 British Saloon Car Championship season

The 1975 British Saloon Car Championship was the 18th season of the championship. The title was won by Andy Rouse, driving a Triumph Dolomite Sprint.-Calendar & Winners:Overall winners in bold.-Championship results:...

 Andy Rouse

Andy Rouse

Andrew "Andy" Rouse is an English racing driver, most notably in the BTCC. He won the BTCC in 1975, 1983, 1984 and 1985....

 won the drivers' title. Tony Dron

Tony Dron

Tony Dron is a British racing driver as well as being a motoring author and journalist. He finished as runner-up in the 1977 British Saloon Car Championship season with a Triumph Dolomite. Tony became well known for entering competitions with the Porsche marque, winning the Porsche 924...

 finished runner up in 1977

1977 British Saloon Car Championship season

The 1977 British Saloon Car Championship, was the 20th season of the championship. Bernard Unett won his third drivers title with his Chrysler Avenger GT.-Calendar & Winners:Overall winners in bold.-Championship results:...

, failing to win the title when a tyre failure at the final race of the season put him into retirement when leading his class by more than a minute.

Having earlier run BMW 2800CS cars in the European Touring Car Championship

European Touring Car Championship

The European Touring Car Championship was an international touring car racing series organised by the FIA. It had two incarnations, the first one between 1963 and 1988, and the second between 2000 and 2004...

, in 1976 and 1977 Broadspeed prepared a pair of V12 Jaguar XJ-Cs for this series. While the cars were fast and powerful, they suffered from unreliability and braking issues. Following the 1977 season British Leyland withdrew their support from the team.

Broadspeed in the 1990s

Broadspeed Engineering Limited and Broadspeed Limited were purchased by Simon Empson in 1995. The company moved to Colchester

Colchester

Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...

, Essex

Essex

Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...

 in 1996 and specialised in restoring Mini Coopers and other Mini derivatives such as the Austin Mini Woody Countryman, Mini Van and Pickup. More than 1,000 Broadspeed Minis were exported to around 40 countries worldwide - and a highly modified Mini Countryman was commissioned by Roy Edward Disney, Walt Disney

Walt Disney

Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...

's nephew.

Broadspeed after 2000

Broadspeed today hosts a New Car web site and connects UK car buyers to Dealerships offering substantial savings. The web site enables buyers to compare new car specifications and savings to place online enquiries.

Ralph Broad died in September 2010 at the age of 84.