Happy Birthday

Coventry Auto Components

"I missed the cake. That's the trouble with getting ahead of yourself. This visit was actually done when Coventry Auto Components were a mere 29 years old. Of course, you will read it at the appropriate time but think of the sacrifice I made."

In the beginning.........

1969 what a year. Jaguar's fabulous XJ6 had been out for barely 12 months and the E-type still had only six cylinders. Nostalgia had yet to become fashionable. The sixties were coming to a close and the motoring world was looking forward. What use were old cars except to a few eccentrics? Weren't they just clutter, dated and without style?
         Perhaps, but Coventry Auto Components' founder Trevor Scott-Worthington has been climbing in, out and under cars for over 45 years and has always been enthusiastic about older machinery. Cars are in the family blood: his father owned a garage in North London and it's now run by his brother
         After attending Enfield Technical Grammar School,Trevor joined Standard Triumph, completing a full five year automobile engineering apprenticeship and ending up 'apprentice of the year' in 1962. As a hobby he rebuilt what we now call classic cars. This grew and after following up a Classic Jaguar Association advertisement in Motor Sport, he teamed up with some friends to help locate spares for SS Jaguars, Bob Brosen and Dick Trent being the USA enthusiasts involved. This resulted in the acquisition of S.S. 90s and S.S, I's and 2's. When this early enterprise finished, but still needing to pay the mortgage and support wife and two children,Trevor branched out into XK's - which soon became a passion. But whilst having a loving and understanding wife, when the parts started to migrate into the house (the garage was full) and eventually under the bed, it was not surprising that Trevor received an ultimatum - close down or move the parts out!
         It was, as they say, a no-brain decision and so Trevor moved the spares to nearby farm buildings. It was about this time that some Jaguar dealers were deciding that old stock was not good.Trevor discovered one such dealer and together with the late (and sadly missed) David Barber, they bought the lot. Trevor said, "I told them anything from chassis number C' to whatever number was mine. Anything before was David's."
        In that hoard was almost everything imaginable and suddenly Trevor had a full scale business on his hands though still maintained the principle of "You can only reach me between 7 and 10 p.m. ". The more spares he sold, the more he bought and so the mushrooming process continued. So in 1988, after 19 years of running the business himself, Trevor took on his first employed staff. But old factory stock diminished and re-manufacture became a priority. Working with specialist companies,Trevor commissioned replacements, though early on it was sometimes a problem to get exact copies. With modern technology the process is much better now. Then in 1991 ,with the farm buildings reaching overload, they moved to Portway Close.

Today and tomorrow

         Stuart MacNeill was already organising the tea when I arrived at their Torrington Avenue premises. Stuart, manager of Coventry Auto Components, is a true enthusiast and is helped by a very dedicated Lorna Jarrett "I love the job" said Stuart "Like Trevor, my dad was an apprentice at Standard Triumph so I've been around cars all my life." He joined Coventry Auto Components on St.Valentine's Day 1994. Before that he'd worked for Unipart, then was at Jaguar for six years, mainly in the stores. By the launch of the XJ40 he was the youngest storeman in the company and became a group leader. But redundancy programmes arrived and Stuart became a victim. Then his current position became available. It was almost too good to be true. Just 10 minutes from home and working with the type of cars he loves. "It was a baptism of fire when I arrived" said Stuart,"l thought I knew Jaguars but I had to step back 30 years and brush up on my history.
         Stuart brought with him modern systems and new ideas. One of his first tasks was to look at the entire way spares were sourced, improving efficiency and raising standards. This soon led to many parts being reduced in price.
The momentum has been maintained with constant attention to improving existing items as well as introducing new lines - if you boast of stocking the complete range, then you must do just that. Making slow-moving obscure parts is often as costly as introducing high turnover items. But it has to be done and sometimes it results in a surprise. Stuart told me of the automatic XK's plastic selector display, unavailable for years. As automatic XK's were both rare and apparently in little demand, it was assumed that these parts would be too. Stuart had a few enquires though and decided to have a batch made. Expecting to stock large numbers for years he virtually sold out in no time.

Coventry Auto Components are strategically placed for remanufacture. "Facilities around Coventry for low production runs are amazing" reflects Stuart, "We seek out the right company for the right job. Parts are more accurate than they've ever been as people demand higher standards".I was able to see that for myself. The XK120/140 bumpers and overriders are quite superb.
         Innovation plays an important role too. "With so many cars being modified, we have to provide solutions to the small problems created by a so-called straight-forward change" said Stuart, reminding me that when, for instance, you fit a B-type cylinder head to an XK 120, the mechanical rev-counter drive is lost CAC have developed a mechanical drive housed in the body of the generator type. This bolts straight onto a 'B' (or later straight port) head and drives the existing rev-counter. Modern three-stage foam full-flow air filter elements are another favourite - they are much more efficient than the old wire mesh type.            More modifications include rear axle anti-tramp bars, XK 120 rear telescopic damper kits, and disc brake conversions that replace the drums or upgrade the XK 1250 disc systems.The ever popular five-speed gearbox conversion uses a modern jaguar gearbox and is an absolutely complete kit with clutch, exchange bellhousing, spigot bush, gear lever and speedo cable. More items are being introduced as I write this but for the time being must remain on the secret list.

Coventry Auto Components started by dealing in new factory parts but as these were exhausted, they moved into reproduction. Additionally; although not widely broadcast they have always stocked second-hand parts.
Stuart took me to another location where an XK 150 fixed head was being dismantled and the parts itemised to be put into stock. And quite a substantial stock that is too.
         Some parts go for reconditioning - this side of the business is quite extensive too. Starter motors and dynamos, distributors and wiper motors, steering boxes and rack and pinions. The list goes on and on.

Coventry Auto Components is not a multi-national company. It does not dabble in Jaguar spares in general. It is specific and effective.Trevor Scott-Worthington is possibly one of the most focused enthusiasts I have met. He has the respect of all the trade and the integrity of the old school, yet he is modest and would be the last to shout aloud about his company (he now has Stuart to do that for him!). His quietly spoken manner is nonetheless authoritative and self assured. As long as there are XK's on the road, Coventry Auto Components will surely be there to keep them running.