Cars Made in Scotland

By James Carron

The history of Scotland's motor manufacturing industry can be split into two distinct phases, both relatively short-lived. The first began in the final years of the 19th century when the first motor cars were imported into the country from Europe. These inspired inventors and entrepreneurs and, while dominated by three large indigenous companies - Arrol-Johnston, Albion and Argyll - the phase also included a plethora of smaller concerns, some producing only a handful of cars.
Scotland also claimed some notable firsts at this time, including the first purpose-built car factory, the first motor car to be built in the UK, and the largest car factory in the world outside the United States.
Homegrown manufacturers quickly established factories, but despite enjoying both engineering and commercial success, most were out of business by the end of the 1920s.
While the cars they built motored on, Scotland was left without a motor industry for three decades. Then, in the early 1960s, the second phase began, this time under the control of the Rootes Group, then Chrysler UK, and latterly Peugeot Talbot. While there were some smaller concerns, one major factory, Linwood, and one iconic car, the Hillman Imp - dominated the landscape.
This second phase ended abruptly after just 18 years, and since then, there has been nothing to take its place on the same scale.
Fully illustrated, this book charts the highs and lows of car manufacture in Scotland, from the early days through to the present, from the large companies to the quirky smaller concerns.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FQTBQZP5
• ISBN13: 9798264865534
• Release Date: September 2025
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 84 Pages
• Weight: 0.27 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"