Dutton Cars

Dutton Cars was a British manufacturer of kit cars founded by Tim Dutton-Woolley and based principally in Worthing, Sussex. Operating from 1970 to 1989, it became one of the most prolific kit-car businesses in Britain and was described as the largest kit-car manufacturer in the world by number of kits produced. Its business model combined proprietary fibreglass bodywork and chassis structures with mechanical components recovered from donor vehicles, allowing customers to construct distinctive cars at substantially lower cost than a newly manufactured automobile. The company began in a small workshop, where Dutton-Woolley developed the early P1 cars. In October 1971, Dutton introduced the B-Type, a more standardized design using components from the Triumph Herald. The company subsequently moved to larger premises at Tangmere near Chichester and expanded its use of donor-car engineering. While early products relied on Triumph parts, Ford Escort Mk 1 and Mk 2 components became the dominant mechanical basis for many later Duttons. This commonality gave builders access to widely available engines, transmissions, suspension components and other service parts. Dutton's most important model family was the Phaeton. The design evolved from the B-Type and later adopted Ford Escort underpinnings. Phaeton kits were offered for many years, and factory-built examples could be supplied with a 1.6-litre Ford Crossflow engine producing approximately 84 horsepower. The company also developed products that moved beyond the conventional two-seat roadster and replica formats associated with the British kit-car sector. The Dutton Sierra, introduced in 1979, combined Escort mechanical components with an estate-car body and off-road styling. It became the company's best-selling model for a substantial period, with production reaching a reported peak of about 22 cars per week. The Sierra name led to one of Dutton's most public legal confrontations. In 1982, Ford Motor Company sought to prevent Dutton from continuing to use the name after Ford selected Sierra for its replacement for the Cortina and Taunus. Dutton successfully defended its position in the High Court in London. The court distinguished kit cars from assembled production cars and allowed Dutton to continue using Sierra for its kit-car product. The case generated considerable publicity and reinforced the company's image as an independent specialist challenging a much larger manufacturer. Dutton continued to broaden its range during the 1980s. The Rico, launched at the Birmingham Motor Show in October 1984, was a compact two-door saloon with a modern aerodynamic appearance. It used the mechanical parts and doors of a two-door Escort but placed them beneath a Dutton-designed fibreglass body mounted on a steel tubular frame. The model represented an effort to offer something different from the traditional open sports-car and replica formulas. By 1984, the business employed approximately 80 people across four factories, operated a substantial Worthing showroom and was producing more than 1,000 vehicles or kits annually. The kit-car business also produced the Maroc, a heavily modified Ford Fiesta-based convertible. It was initially sold as a factory-finished vehicle, but the finished-car price became too high for the intended market, so kit versions were offered from 1993. By then, however, Dutton-Woolley had sold the Dutton designs and moved away from the original kit-car operation. The Maroc design was subsequently associated with Novus of Bolney in Sussex and remained available for several years. After leaving the kit-car business, Tim Dutton continued working as an automotive consultant and later returned to vehicle development with amphibious automobiles. The Mariner and Commander, introduced in 1995, were amphibious vehicles based respectively on Ford Fiesta and Suzuki Samurai components. The Dutton Surf, based on the Suzuki Jimny, followed in 2005. These later vehicles belong to the broader Tim Dutton automotive story but are distinct from the principal 1970–1989 Dutton Cars kit-car manufacturing period. Early Dutton kits are now uncommon, and surviving examples are generally found as completed second-hand cars requiring restoration. Kit construction typically requires a donor vehicle to supply the engine, gearbox and other major mechanical parts.

Dutton Cars emerged from the British kit-car movement at the beginning of the 1970s. Founded by Tim Dutton-Woolley, the company initially operated from a small workshop and built a series of cars identified as the P1. Its early development reflected the central economics of kit cars: the manufacturer supplied a body, chassis and construction guidance, while the customer sourced a donor car for the engine, gearbox, suspension and other essential components. In October 1971, Dutton introduced the B-Type. The model used a relatively conventional specification and drew heavily on Triumph Herald components, which were then accessible to enthusiasts and independent builders. Growth prompted a move to larger facilities at Tangmere near Chichester. Dutton later expanded its manufacturing footprint, including separate premises in Lancing for fibreglass body production, while maintaining a major showroom and operating base in Worthing. Most later Dutton designs used a steel ladder-frame chassis assembled from profiles and populated with donor-car mechanical parts. Ford Escort Mk 1 and Mk 2 components became particularly important. This approach allowed the company to standardize kits around plentiful and inexpensive components while retaining freedom to develop different exterior designs. The B-Type evolved into the Phaeton, which became a long-running product family. Later Phaetons used Ford Escort mechanicals and were available either as customer-assembled kits or, in some cases, as completed cars fitted with a 1.6-litre Ford Crossflow engine. The Dutton Sierra, launched in 1979, broadened the company's appeal. Instead of imitating a traditional sports roadster, it used Escort-based running gear beneath an estate-car body with rugged, off-road-inspired styling. The model became Dutton's strongest seller, reaching a reported production rate of 22 cars per week at its peak. Its name also triggered a notable legal dispute with Ford. When Ford chose Sierra for its new Cortina/Taunus replacement, it sought to stop Dutton from using the name. Dutton prevailed in the High Court in London in 1982, where the court treated the kit-car category as distinct from assembled cars. The outcome brought the small manufacturer valuable publicity. By 1984, Dutton employed around 80 people across four factories, maintained a large Worthing showroom and produced more than 1,000 vehicles or kits per year. The company attempted to extend its range with the Rico, unveiled at the Birmingham Motor Show in October 1984. Based on a two-door Ford Escort, the Rico used Escort mechanical components and doors but introduced a compact, aerodynamic Dutton body over a tubular steel frame. Its modern saloon format differentiated it from the open sports cars and replicas commonly associated with kit-car firms. The Sierra was withdrawn in 1989, the same period in which Dutton-Woolley became less interested in the kit-car business. The company's designs were sold, although development and availability continued for some products under later ownership or licensing arrangements. The Maroc, a heavily modified Ford Fiesta-based convertible, was initially marketed as a factory-built car. Because the completed vehicle became too expensive, kit versions were offered from 1993. The design was later sold to Novus of Bolney, Sussex, and remained available until at least 2006. After the original Dutton Cars operation ended, Tim Dutton continued as an automotive consultant and returned to vehicle production with amphibious designs. The Mariner and Commander appeared in 1995, using Ford Fiesta and Suzuki Samurai foundations, and the Suzuki Jimny-based Surf followed in 2005. Tim Dutton also became associated with amphibious-car crossings of the English Channel. These later vehicles extend the founder's automotive work but should not be confused with the principal Dutton Cars kit-car manufacturer active from 1970 to 1989. Today, early Dutton kits are difficult to obtain. Many surviving cars are completed used vehicles, often requiring restoration. A kit buyer generally needs a suitable donor vehicle, with Ford components being especially common. Dutton's historical importance lies in its unusually large production scale, its practical use of mass-market donor technology and its efforts to make kit cars available in forms beyond the conventional lightweight two-seat roadster.

• 2005

  Dutton Surf introduced

  [1]Dutton Carsen.wikipedia.org

  The Suzuki Jimny-based Surf expands Tim Dutton's later amphibious-vehicle work.

• 1995

  Tim Dutton returns with amphibious vehicles

  [1]Dutton Carsen.wikipedia.org

  The Mariner and Commander are introduced as amphibious vehicles based on Ford Fiesta and Suzuki Samurai components.

• 1993

  Maroc kit version becomes available

  [1]Dutton Carsen.wikipedia.org

  The Ford Fiesta-based Maroc, initially offered as a factory-built vehicle, is made available in kit form after completed-car pricing proves difficult for the market.

• 1989

  Original Dutton kit-car operation ends

  [1]Dutton Carsen.wikipedia.org

  The Sierra is withdrawn and Dutton-Woolley leaves the original kit-car business, with the designs sold to other parties.

• 1984

  Rico debuts at Birmingham

  [1]Dutton Carsen.wikipedia.org

  The Rico compact two-door saloon is presented at the Birmingham Motor Show. Around this period, the company employs approximately 80 people and produces more than 1,000 vehicles or kits annually.

• 1982

  High Court Sierra-name ruling

  [1]Dutton Carsen.wikipedia.org

  Dutton successfully defends its right to use Sierra for kit cars after Ford adopts the name for a production-car model.

• 1979

  Dutton Sierra launched

  [1]Dutton Carsen.wikipedia.org

  Dutton introduces the Escort-based Sierra estate-style kit car with off-road-inspired design.

• 1971

  B-Type introduced

  [1]Dutton Carsen.wikipedia.org

  The B-Type appears in October, using components associated with the Triumph Herald and helping establish Dutton's more standardized product range.

• 1970

  Dutton Cars is founded

  [1]Dutton Carsen.wikipedia.org

  Tim Dutton-Woolley establishes the company in England and begins developing kit cars from a small workshop.

Affordable, enthusiast-oriented British kit cars using proprietary fibreglass bodies and steel frames combined with readily available donor-car mechanical components.

• Kit car · 1970

  Dutton P1

  The P1 represents the company's earliest workshop-built series. It established Dutton's basic formula of combining a proprietary body and chassis concept with components sourced from a donor vehicle. Detailed specifications for individual P1 versions are not established in the supplied reference material.

• Kit car · 1971

  Dutton B-Type

  Introduced in October 1971, the B-Type was a comparatively standardized Dutton design based largely on Triumph Herald components. It helped move the company beyond its earliest workshop prototypes and formed the basis for the later Phaeton family.

• Kit car and factory-built car

  Dutton Phaeton

  The Phaeton evolved from the B-Type and became one of Dutton's principal long-running product lines. Later versions used Ford Escort mechanical components and could be purchased as kits or as completed cars. Factory-built examples were available with a 1.6-litre Ford Crossflow engine rated at approximately 84 horsepower.

• Estate-style kit car · 1979

  Dutton Sierra

  The Sierra was launched in 1979 on Ford Escort underpinnings. Its estate-car body and off-road-inspired appearance distinguished it from traditional two-seat kit cars. It became Dutton's best seller, reportedly reaching a peak output of 22 cars per week, and was withdrawn in 1989 after the company won a legal dispute with Ford over the model name.

• Two-door saloon kit car · 1984

  Dutton Rico

  The Rico debuted at the Birmingham Motor Show in October 1984. It used the mechanical components and doors of a two-door Ford Escort but replaced the original exterior with a Dutton-designed fibreglass body mounted on a steel tubular frame. Its compact, aerodynamic saloon shape was intended as a modern alternative to the usual roadster and replica formats.

• Convertible kit car

  Dutton Maroc

  The Maroc was a heavily modified Ford Fiesta-based convertible. It was first offered as a factory-finished car, but the price of completed vehicles became too high, leading to the introduction of kit versions from 1993. The design was later transferred to Novus of Bolney in Sussex and remained available for several years.

• Amphibious vehicle · 1995

  Dutton Mariner

  The Mariner belongs to Tim Dutton's post-kit-car work rather than the core 1970–1989 Dutton Cars range. It was introduced in 1995 as an amphibious automobile based on Ford Fiesta components.

• Amphibious vehicle · 1995

  Dutton Commander

  Introduced alongside the Mariner in 1995, the Commander was another amphibious automobile associated with Tim Dutton and used Suzuki Samurai-based engineering.

• Amphibious vehicle · 2005

  Dutton Surf

  The Surf was introduced in 2005 as a later amphibious design based on the Suzuki Jimny. It reflects the founder's continued interest in combining road-going vehicles with water-crossing capability.

• 1993

  Shift the Maroc from factory-built sales to kitsStrategy

  Background

  The completed Maroc became too expensive for its target market when sold as a factory-finished car.

  Action taken

  Kit versions were made available from 1993, transferring more construction work and donor-car sourcing to customers.

  Aftermath

  The design was later sold to Novus of Bolney, Sussex, where availability continued for several years.

  Source

• 1982

  Defend the Sierra name in courtOther

  Background

  Ford sought to stop Dutton from using Sierra after selecting the name for its replacement for the Cortina and Taunus. Dutton's product was a kit car, while Ford's was an assembled production automobile.

  Action taken

  Dutton contested Ford's position in the High Court in London and maintained that the categories were sufficiently distinct for the kit-car name to continue.

  Aftermath

  The court ruled in Dutton's favour. The decision allowed continued use of Sierra for Dutton kit cars and generated useful publicity for the small manufacturer.

  Source

1. 1Dutton Carsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Tim Duttontimdutton.com