Tickford
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive engineering, coachbuilding, vehicle tuning |
| Predecessor | Salmons & Sons |
| Founded | January 1, 1820 in Tickford near Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom |
| Founder | Joseph Salmons |
| Fate | Acquired by Prodrive in 2001; brand retired in 2002; re-established in Australia 2016 |
| Successor | Ford Performance Vehicles (Australia) |
| Headquarters | Newport Pagnell , United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, United States |
Key people | Ian Boswell (owner 1943), David Brown (owner 1955) |
| Products | Coachbuilt automobiles, vehicle tuning and engineering services, performance cars |
| Owner | Prodrive (since 2001) |
Number of employees | ~450 (1930s) (1930s) |
| Parent | Prodrive (2001–present) |
Tickford is a specialist firm in automotive engineering and testing located in Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, well-known for its tuning expertise and products such as the Tickford Capri Turbo that reached speeds of 140 mph.
The company’s roots trace back to Salmons & Sons, boasting nearly 200 years of coachbuilding tradition under the Tickford name.
Salmons & Sons
Tickford Limited originated from a prominent coachbuilding enterprise established during the 1820s by Joseph Salmons, initially called Salmons and Sons, situated at Tickford near Newport Pagnell. Their creations bore the distinctive Tickford brand. With the advent of the internal combustion engine, Salmons & Sons pivoted to constructing coachbuilt automobiles by 1898, achieving considerable success. In 1925, they launched the Tickford "All Weather" body style, which featured a drophead roof operable via a handle located on the rear quarter-panel.
Throughout the 1930s, Salmons produced catalogued Tickford drophead bodies for numerous marques including BSA, Daimler, Hillman, Lanchester, MG, Rover, Standard, Triumph, Vauxhall, and Wolseley.
By the late 1930s, the firm employed around 450 workers who manufactured approximately 30 car bodies each week. Their London showroom was situated at 6–9 Upper Saint Martin's Lane WC2.
Tickford Limited
In 1943, following its acquisition by Ian Boswell, Salmons & Sons Limited was rebranded as Tickford Limited to align with its established trademark.
1955–1981: Aston Martin Lagonda Era
Towards the end of 1955, Tickford Limited was purchased by David Brown, who had owned Aston Martin since 1947 and Lagonda since 1948—both brands traditionally utilizing Tickford coachwork. Brown consolidated Aston Martin’s operations at the Tickford Street location, which remained operational until production of the DB7 moved to Bloxham and subsequently to Gaydon for models such as the DB9 and DBS.
1981–1990: Under CH Industrials
In 1981, Aston Martin introduced an engineering services subsidiary named 'Aston Martin Tickford.' Owned by CH Industrials plc, this entity operated from a dedicated facility in Milton Keynes. While undertaking numerous confidential engineering assignments for leading manufacturers, Tickford gained recognition by merging its coachbuilding heritage with advanced engineering and tuning capabilities. This synergy led to special projects like the turbocharged Tickford Capri for Ford capable of 140 mph.
Following this success, Tickford partnered with MG to develop the Austin Maestro Turbo and collaborated with Ford on road-legal versions of the Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 and homologated Ford RS200 models. These vehicles were produced near Coventry. Additionally, Tickford maintained a railway division based in Nuneaton focused on designing interiors for underground and mainline trains.
The company also engineered the convertible roof mechanism for the Jaguar XJS cabriolet. Initially handled internally by Tickford conversions, demand eventually prompted Jaguar to establish its own convertible production line.
1990–2001: Independent Operation
Following CHI Group’s collapse in 1990, Tickford’s management executed a buy-out that prevented receivership. This transaction was partially funded by divesting the railway division to Babcock International. Refocusing on engine and vehicle engineering services, Tickford expanded into new markets with projects based in Detroit and across the Far East while opening liaison offices in both the United States and Germany.
A production facility was established in Daventry to convert the Ford Puma into a limited edition Ford Puma Racing model (500 units). Furthermore, Tickford led much of the engineering design and development work for the Ford Focus RS at Milton Keynes and operated a manufacturing site adjacent to Ford’s Saarlouis plant.
Tickford Vehicle Engineering & Ford Tickford Experience
Following an international selection process, Ford Australia collaborated with Tickford to create Tickford Vehicle Engineering Pty Ltd (TVE) in 1991, establishing it as the high-performance division for Ford Australia.
TVE gained recognition for manufacturing the Ford Falcon XR6 and XR8 variants, alongside the T-Series performance lineup which included the TE50 and TS50 models derived from the Ford AU Falcon. Additionally, the TL50 model was based on the Ford AU Fairlane. Introduced in October 1999 under the FTE (Ford Tickford Experience) brand, these limited-edition T-Series vehicles reached a total production of 842 units, incorporating pre-production press vehicles. The T3 series represented both the conclusion of the Ford Windsor V8 engine’s use and TVE’s final offering.
2001–2005: Prodrive
In 2001, British motorsport company Prodrive acquired the entire Tickford Group, encompassing operations in the UK, Germany, Australia, and the USA. By 2002, TVE was rebranded as Ford Performance Vehicles, marking the retirement of the Tickford name.
2006–2012: Tickford Powertrain Test
December 2006 saw management from Prodrive Test Technology acquire the former Tickford facility in Milton Keynes, renaming it Tickford Powertrain Test. The business pivoted towards providing independent engine and vehicle testing services to manufacturers, parts suppliers, as well as catalyst and petroleum sectors. In June 2007, it expanded by acquiring Scott Gibbin Ltd, an engine testing company based in Peterborough. By spring 2009, all operations were centralized at Milton Keynes following the closure of the Peterborough location.
2013–2015: Intertek
On 31 December 2012, global Assurance, Testing, Inspection, and Certification provider Intertek Group plc purchased Tickford Powertrain Test from its management shareholders. The company operated under the name Intertek Tickford for a year before simplifying its brand to Intertek.
2016–present: Tickford Australia
Tickford returned to the Australian automotive scene in 2016 through Prodrive, concentrating on high-performance enhancements for Ford Mustang, Ranger, and Everest models. This strategic re-entry followed Ford Australia's end of local manufacturing operations, discontinuation of the Falcon model, and closure of the Ford Performance Vehicles division.
Motorsport
Capitalizing on its expertise in engine performance, Tickford developed V8 racing power units for Aston Martin, which propelled Nimrod to a third-place finish in the 1983 World Endurance Championship for Makes. The company also supplied Cosworth engines to Ray Mallock Racing and Ecurie Ecosse; notably, Ecurie Ecosse secured second place in the C2 Class during the 1987 World Sports Prototype Championship.
During the late 1980s, Tickford engineered and constructed Formula One engines featuring pioneering 5-valve cylinder heads. A remarkable example includes a Tickford-modified 5-valve version of the Judd V8 commissioned by Camel Team Lotus for drivers such as Nelson Piquet and Satoru Nakajima.