Scotland Back in the Car making Game –

East Lothian Company Makes Scottish Raptor

Did you know that the first automobile in the UK was built in Scotland? Well it was, but you wouldn’t know that from the current Scottish car industry, which until recently was non-existent. Now a tiny outfit in east Lothian is carrying the banner for auto engineering in the nation, making a car dubbed ’the raptor, ’ so you might imagine it is a bit speedy.

First UK Car Was Scottish and So Was First All Terrain Vehicle

The first manufacturer of cars was Arrol-Johnston which later became known as Arrol-Aster and they in fact built the world’s first all terrain vehicle for the king of Egypt. The company was founded in 1896 and was in production until the great crash of the 1930s and they folded in 1931. And one of my greatest heroes Ernest Shackleton had an off-road vehicle made for him for the Nimrod Antarctica expedition in 1907. All that remains of the company now is the football team Queen of the South which was once the factory team of the car manufacturer.

A Brand New Hope

But now after years with no company in Scotland and with no hint of a works football team and operating out of a wartime prefab a new car manufacturer has risen. At the moment the work is subsidised by repair work, but accelerating sales of the Raptor has led to a great deal of optimism. Indeed the first overseas order from the USA has just been garnered. It started with a kit sports car company and evolved into a proper Scottish designed niche sports car for the niche market that can go from nought to 72 in just 3 seconds. So far 16 cars have been sold, but from small acorns a giant oak may grow. The Americans are interested in a unique Scottish product and indeed with a tartan livery for the cars the market is seen to be very buoyant in the future as a Scottish brand is key to USA success.

Scottish with a Swirl

Well we here at James Pirie are well aware that Scottish products are first and foremost great quality and value. We wish the new car manufacturer ‘all the best’ for the future and point to the lovely stuff on our website with some truly worthwhile bargains. And why not have ‘a swirl of the kilt’ on your desk, which is a fine example of the work of those nice people at Caithness Glass and it is on offer at the moment? And we sell a lighted base to highlight its warmth and colour.

https://www.jamespirie.com/brands/caithness/scottish-swirl-of-the-kilt-l-e-100.htm