Barney gets his wings: a trip to British Motor Heritage
Tucked away, hidden in an industrial park in Witney, Oxfordshire, lies a factory that brings back to life tradition, heritage and manufacturing approaches synonymous with British motoring history.
Words by Gracie Haddon
The StarterMotor team, including Ambassador Emily Grace, recently paid a visit to the factory where she took receipt of two new front wings for ‘Barney’, her barn-find 1952 Morris Minor restoration project, (@bringbackbarney). They were generously donated by the British Motor Heritage team, who were blown away by the work done by Emily to-date, and the big ambitions she has for the car.
British Motor Heritage Limited was established in 1975, acquired from BMW in 2001 and has since run entirely independently. Their purpose? Supporting the industry, whether that be owners or marketplace, by manufacturing parts for some of the nations most loved home-grown cars, using the same tooling and assembly jigs that would have produced body shells and parts back in the halcyon days before and including British Leyland.
Our tour took us on a journey around a manufacturing facility that was spitting and splashing sparks from MIG welding, stopping off to see the incredible work carried out by the highly skilled employees, some of whom are graduates of Heritage Skills Academy’s outstanding apprenticeship programme. MGB, MGR-V8, MG Midget, Austin-Healey Sprite, Triumph, Spitfire, the original Mini, Mini Clubman, you name it, bodyshells and loose parts that keep these iconic nameplates alive presented themselves at every turn – a real ‘old world’ treasure trove.
A combination of modern craft and traditional excellence, British Motor Heritage Ltd is a pinnacle in its art and champion for supporting the next generation of careers with the industry. With close relationships to the Heritage Skills Academy and willingness to offer work experience opportunities to young hopefuls, they are helping fuel the future of this sector and continue their legacy.
Managing Director of British Motor Heritage, Graham Payne, says “We were delighted to recently host the team from StarterMotor, for a behind-the-scenes tour of our factory. It was a fantastic opportunity to share our processes, history, and passion for heritage motoring with those who are helping preserve its future, as well as meet young Emily the classic car enthusiast behind ‘Bring Back Barney’.
StarterMotor is a charity close to our heart regarding the preservation of British motoring heritage. We believe wholeheartedly in the charity’s mission to engage and empower the next generation, and we are proud to support them in welcoming up to four young students each year to gain hands-on experience at our facility. We will also be hosting dedicated factory tour days for groups of interested students, offering them a unique window into the craftsmanship and legacy that define our industry”.
