MacGregor Cars

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MacGregor Cars
Private
IndustryAutomotive
PredecessorMacGregor Racing
FoundedJune 2, 1975; 49 years ago (1975-06-02) in Sherbourne, Aswick
FounderGlenn MacGregor
HeadquartersMacGregor Centre,
Sherbourne
,
Area served
Astyria
Key people
Glenn MacGregor
Richard Stevanage
David Valkenberg
ProductsSports cars
Production output
5,424 units[1]
Revenue£1.562 billion[1] (2019)
£31.248 million[1] (2019)
£40.842 million[1] (2019)
Number of employees
4,568[1] (2020)
Divisions
  • MacGregor F1
  • MacGregor Research
WebsiteMacGregor.co.asw

MacGregor Cars (Commonly referred to as just MacGregor) is an Aswickan designer and manufacturor of high-end sports cars. It was originally founded in 1970 as MacGregor Racing by Formula One racing driver Glenn MacGregor, in order to compete in the Astyrian Formula One racing series. MacGregor, however, quickly found that money could be made by design and sale of sports cars, using experience he and his designers gained in Formula One. Initially, the brand was marketed as the best way to experience high speed racing at a price lower than what was generally offered.

History

MacGregor Racing

In 1970, The Scotian Formula One driver Glenn MacGregor founded MacGregor Racing in a bid to continue his career in the sport after an injury led him to be unable to drive competitively. The team missed the first race of the season, and then failed to meet the expectations though it managed to finish in a respectable 4th place.[2] The following year, however, given more time to prepare, the team got back and won its first championship. Though for the next few years they by no means dominated, the team made good showings in the sport.

MacGregor Cars

MacGregor Scotia in 1974

In 1975, MacGregor decided to expand the company. He renamed MacGregor Racing to MacGregor Cars, and formed a division dedicated to Formula One to take the company's former place in the sport. That same year, the first designs for a road legal race car were unveiled. The following year, the MacGregor Scotia entered production. A total of 1,500 were built in the next 10 years.

After this initial production run, the company began production of its successor: The MacGregor Aswick. Although this model performed slightly lower than expected, MacGregor still produced more units than they did of the Scotia.

in 1995, the company unveiled a special car. The MacGregor Grand Prix was a high end super car, with a production run of only 150 cars. Many considered this to be MacGregor's finest achievement, even surpassing their success in Formula One. Though in the interim they did build the Mamba as well, in 2010, the GP was succeeded by the Super GP. This car was still just as exclusive even though the company produced more than two for every GP ever made.

Facilities

MacGregor Cars is based at the MacGregor Centre, located in Sherbourne, Sheffield. It is used by MacGregor Cars, as well as both of its divisions. In addition to the offices, the MacGregor centre hosts its own production building, which is connected to the main building by tunnel.

The MacGregor Centre was formally opened by Glenn MacGregor and the Duke of Sheffield in 2001.

Products

Current models

Model Type
10S, 10C, 10LT Sports
11S, 11C, 11LT Sports
Norris Super
GT Sports GT
Bat Hybrid Sports

Past models

Model Production run No. produced
Scotia 1976-1986 1,500
Aswick 1986-1996 2,500
GP 1995-2003 150
Super GP 2010-2012 400
Mamba 2005-2015 10,000

Divisions

MacGregor F1 has been the company's biggest division since 1975. This racing team has been a highly successful one, winning several driver and constructor championships. The most recent being the 2019 season. Much of this is attributed to the team's chief designer, Sir Alan Valkman.[3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 MacGregor Cars financial statement June 2020
  2. F1 Championship archives, 1970
  3. Alan Valkman, the brain behind MacGregor