Heron Plastics

Heron Plastics operated in the British specialist-car sector during the period when glass-reinforced plastic was enabling small manufacturers and individual builders to produce distinctive sports-car bodies without the cost of conventional steel pressing tools. By 1960, the Greenwich, London company was described as an established manufacturer of GRP bodyshells for Austin Seven specials. These bodies served the enthusiast and kit-car market, where customers commonly combined a lightweight replacement body with mechanical components from an existing production car. Heron’s importance in this field extended beyond supplying bodies. One of its shells formed the basis of the original Diva GT in 1961. During approximately the same period, Heron developed its own compact coupe, the Europa. Although the car existed by this point, its public debut was delayed until the 1962 Racing Car Show. The model used a steel backbone chassis supplemented by outriggers at the front and rear to carry the running gear. Its suspension consisted of wishbones and coil springs, and the braking arrangement combined front discs with rear drums. A GRP body was bonded to the chassis and plywood floorpan, producing a lightweight structure suited to the company’s specialist manufacturing methods. The Europa used a Ford overhead-valve straight-four engine, with 997 cc and 1500 cc capacities available. Heron claimed that the larger-engined version could reach 60 mph from rest in 8.5 seconds and attain a maximum speed of 115 mph. The car was marketed in component form, either fully trimmed or partly constructed. The fully trimmed version was priced at £580, while the partly constructed form was listed at £730. This approach placed the Europa within the British kit and component-car tradition, offering customers a combination of factory-produced structural and body parts with a degree of personal completion. Despite its engineering specification and show exposure, the Europa did not achieve sustained production. Twelve examples were made before the model was shelved in 1964 because of financial difficulties. The short production run means that the Europa is now primarily of historical interest within the British specialist-sports-car movement. Its design nevertheless had an afterlife: Peter Monteverdi’s MBM Tourismo was based on the Europa. The available references do not provide a documented founding date, named founder, detailed workforce history, ownership chronology, later models, or confirmed date of cessation for Heron Plastics itself. They establish the company’s Greenwich location, its GRP manufacturing activity, its connection with the Diva GT, and the development and discontinuation of the Europa. In the absence of stronger evidence about the business after 1964, its current corporate status remains unconfirmed.

• 1964

  Europa production shelved

  [1]Heron Plasticsen.wikipedia.org

  After 12 examples had been produced, the Europa project was discontinued for financial reasons.

• 1962

  Europa introduced at the Racing Car Show

  [1]Heron Plasticsen.wikipedia.org

  Heron Plastics publicly debuted its Europa coupe at the 1962 Racing Car Show.

• 1961

  Connection with the original Diva GT

  [1]Heron Plasticsen.wikipedia.org

  A Heron Plastics bodyshell was used as the basis for the original Diva GT.

• 1960

  Established GRP body manufacturing documented

  [1]Heron Plasticsen.wikipedia.org

  Heron Plastics of Greenwich, London was established as a manufacturer of glass-reinforced-plastic bodyshells for Austin Seven-based special cars.

A British specialist and component-car maker focused on lightweight GRP sports-car bodies and low-volume enthusiast vehicles.

• Component sports coupe · 1962

  Heron Europa

  The Europa was Heron Plastics’ own lightweight coupe. It used a steel backbone chassis with front and rear outriggers, wishbone-and-coil-spring independent suspension, front disc brakes, rear drum brakes, a bonded GRP body, and a plywood floorpan. Ford overhead-valve four-cylinder engines were available in 997 cc and 1500 cc forms. Heron offered the car in fully trimmed component form for £580 or partly constructed form for £730. Only 12 examples were produced before the model was shelved in 1964 for financial reasons.

• GRP automotive bodyshell

  Austin Seven special-car bodyshells

  By 1960, Heron Plastics manufactured glass-reinforced-plastic bodyshells intended for Austin Seven-based specials. These bodies formed part of the British enthusiast-car and kit-car ecosystem, allowing builders to create lightweight special vehicles using existing Austin Seven mechanical components.

• GRP sports-car bodyshell · 1961

  Diva GT bodyshell

  A Heron Plastics GRP bodyshell provided the basis for the original Diva GT in 1961. The available reference identifies this connection but does not establish the precise commercial arrangement between Heron Plastics and the Diva project.

• 1964

  Shelving of the Europa projectStrategy

  Background

  The Europa had reached only 12 completed examples after its introduction as a low-volume component coupe.

  Action taken

  Heron Plastics discontinued or shelved the Europa project because of financial difficulties.

  Aftermath

  The Europa remained a limited-production specialist car, while its design later served as the basis for Peter Monteverdi’s MBM Tourismo.

  Source

1. 1Heron Plasticsen.wikipedia.org