Hampton Cars

NEW! - Hampton Revisited

12 colour page update,
containing much new info about the existing cars!

About the Book

The Story of Hampton Cars is a fascinating mixture of history, geography and the many personalities involved. It is not merely a technical manual although that aspect is fully covered. This is an adventure story; its roots reach centuries back into the past and push forward to the present day. The basis of the story is the industrial heritage of Stroud and its five valleys. The area, dominated originally by all aspects of the textile industry, had many mills driven by fast flowing streams.

It also attracted a wide variety of manufacturing industries. Dudbridge, where most of the Hampton cars were built, had been the base for gas and oil engines, brick-making, corn mills, brass and iron foundries, umbrella fittings and machined components. In 1919 Hampton Cars arrived.

Photographs and illustrations, all relevant to the story, help the reader to marvel at the life and times of people from an earlier generation who worked to build and drive Hamptons. The construction of the car continued until production finally ceased in the early thirties. However, that was not the end of the Hampton story. One of the most interesting parts of the book is the vivid account of some of the owners, like Bonnie Monro and Max Williamson. Their experiences were many and varied. What is clear is the sheer pleasure that they and many others have derived from their ownership of Hampton cars.

It makes us glad that there are still five Hamptons known to be in existence which will give enjoyment to a wide range of people from our very different age. As Trevor Picken writes "It would be too much to expect for another Hampton car to emerge after all this time." The readers of this book will fervently hope that one will so that the story can continue still further.

You can read reviews of the book here

About the Author

Trevor G. Picken was born and educated in Worcestershire spending his formative years in West Heath, close to the Austin Motor Works. He began his engineering career at Burton Delingpole & Co. Ltd. at Alvechurch. Ron Lowe, his first boss, was a well-known trials driver and motor enthusiast who, with Ken Delingpole, designed and built the Dellow sports car.

This environment stimulated Trevor's interest in motor sport and he became a member of the 750 Motor Club; he built and raced several Ford and Austin 7 specials. In 1961 he became a member of The Institute of Marketing and Sales Management, now known as the C.I.M. He co-founded a new company, Industrial Fasteners Ltd., nationally known as "Infast", in 1962, moving to Gloucester a year later.

Trevor and his wife, Joy, came to live in Minchinhampton in 1964, where they still reside. Joy created The Coffee Bean in the High Street in 1973 from which she retired in 2000.

A latent desire to return to work with old motor vehicles prompted Trevor to establish a new organisation, ARB (Vehicle Restoration Components) in 1983 which is based at Dudbridge. He retired from this business in 1999.

Trevor's three life time interests are the three M's: Marketing, Motors and Music. These he has pursued with varying intensity but always with great enthusiasm over the years.

How to Order