What Classic Car

Discover the histories of Britain’s car makers, find classic car clubs, and use our free UK classic car directory of specialists, services and parts suppliers.

Car manufacturers A–Z

Vanden Plas
Discontinued 1923 – 1979 Luxury / Prestige
Vanden Plas began as a Belgian coachbuilder, and its English company, formed in 1923 in Kingsbury, north London, built bodies for more than 700 vintage Bentleys. Austin bought…
Vauxhall
Active 1857 – present Mainstream & Utility
Vauxhall began as a London engineering firm in 1857, built its first car in 1903 and moved to Luton in 1905. Owned by General Motors from 1925 and…
Vulcan
Discontinued 1902 – 1953 Mainstream & Utility
Vulcan of Southport built cars from 1902 to 1928 and lorries and buses until 1953. In 1918 it bought Southport football club, renamed it Southport Vulcan, and so…
Westfield
1982 Kit Car Sports & Specialist
Westfield Sportscars, founded by Chris Smith in 1982, builds Lotus Seven-inspired two-seaters as kits and complete cars. A Westfield XTR2 once beat a Pagani Zonda round the Top…
Wolseley
Discontinued 1901 – 1975 Mainstream & Utility Luxury / Prestige
Wolseley was one of Britain's earliest car makers, set up by Vickers in 1901 with Herbert Austin as managing director. Bought by William Morris in 1927, it became…
Zenos
Discontinued 2012 – 2017 Sports & Specialist
Zenos Cars was founded in Norfolk in 2012 by former Lotus and Caterham executives to build affordable, lightweight sports cars. About 100 of its E10 were built at…