The Rootes Group
The Rootes Group developed into one of the largest car manufacturing businesses in Britain but its origins can be traced back to a humble cycle shop in Hawkhurst, Kent in late Victorian times, started by William Rootes. The first cycles he sold were manufactured by Humber. A strong believer in education, he sent his sons William and Reginald to Cranbrook School, and by the time they were to be thrust into the world of commerce, a motor agency had been added to the cycle shop.
Following the First World War, William Rootes junior decided to set up a car firm in Maidstone, and Reginald quickly joined him. In the next 40-odd years they established an industrial empire, but a few short, troubled years after that it was all gone. With many wartime vehicles now demobbed into civilian hands, manufacturers were beginning to struggle, but Rootes was to be established in just 6 years as the largest motor distribution chain in Europe.
Frustrated with inconsistent deliveries of new cars, they moved into the production side of the business, reshaping companies they acquired to standards of volume production, first acquiring Hillman in 1925, then Humber by 1927; which had itself acquired Commer Cars in 1926, bringing Rootes into production of commercial and passenger vehicles for the first time.
1930 saw the introduction of the Hillman Wizard aimed at world markets. Although not an outstanding success the brothers persevered and 1932 saw the introduction of the Hillman Minx which was to be produced in various marks over four decades.
More companies were acquired - Karrier Motors were in receivership in 1934 and were soon snapped up, while the next year STD Motors, which comprised of Sunbeam and Clement-Talbot was added. Rootes were keen to keep the marque identities going and "badge engineering" was adopted on some of the products. All the various builders were still going in some form at the take over by Chrysler. Humber was associated with the luxury market, Sunbeam; sports cars, and Hillman long-lasting quality. In 1937 British Light Steel Pressings was acquired. This company was the provider of body panels to the groups' subsidiaries. In the mid sixties as Rootes Pressings; they had a lucrative Army contract for over 2,000 light trailers.
During World War II the Rootes Group played an important part in Britain's efforts for which William Rootes was knighted in 1959 and became Lord Rootes of Ramsbury. Humber played an important part with production of scout cars and heavy utility vehicles.
The Rootes Group HQ - Maidstone
Post war redevelopment led to the acquisition of more companies; Tilling-Stevens in 1950 (who had themselves acquired Vulcan in the late thirties), and Beadle Coachworks of Dartford in 1953. Singer shareholders decided to join Rootes from the beginning of 1956. The specialised trolleybus building carried out under the Sunbeam name was joined by Karrier, and the two built side by side. It was decided to sell this part of the business, and it passed to Guy Motors, although the Sunbeam name was still carried. Sunbeams were the most successful British trolleybus and the final vehicles built for service in this country were supplied to Bournemouth in 1962. The Karrier name was not used by Guy on trolleybuses, and that name was retained by Rootes for specialised municipal products built at Luton and later Dunstable.
The early sixties saw the start of industrial unrest within the group which ultimately led to heavy losses, much of this was centred on the Acton pressing plant which crippled production. American giant Chrysler took a 30% interest in the company in 1964 and acquiring the remaining 70% in 1967. Dodge Trucks had been imported and built in the UK since the twenties and were known as "Dodge Kew" but this plant was quickly shut and transferred to Dunstable and were then known as Dodge UK. The name was officially changed to Chrysler UK in 1976, and the products were eventually known as Chrysler (cars) or Dodge (trucks).
In 1979 Chrysler decided to pull out and sold to the Peugeot-Citroen group, who adopted the Talbot name for some light commercials. The truck making side didn't fit in with Peugeot and was sold to Renault, and truck making continued, first as Dodge and then re-badged with the familiar Renault diamond, but in 1993 building had ceased, bringing an end to the Rootes story.
