FF Developments
Encyclopedia
FF Developments Limited was a British
company founded by Major A.P.R. (Tony) Rolt
to exploit 4WD technology, Rolt had worked as Technical Director at Harry Ferguson Research for many years.
According to Ward's Auto World the influence that FFD had on all wheel drive
(AWD) development transcended its size.
in 1971 by Tony Rolt. In 1981 Rolt's son, Stuart, joined the company as Marketing Director, becoming Chief Executive in 1986.
In 1990 the company opened an engineering centre in Detroit.
Following its sale to the automotive consultancy group Ricardo
in 1994, the company was renamed FFD-Ricardo. Stuart Rolt remained the CEO until 1996.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
company founded by Major A.P.R. (Tony) Rolt
Tony Rolt
Major Anthony Peter Roylance "Tony" Rolt, MC & Bar, was a British racing driver, soldier and engineer. He won the 1953 24 Hours of Le Mans and participated in three Formula One World Championship Grands Prix without scoring a championship point...
to exploit 4WD technology, Rolt had worked as Technical Director at Harry Ferguson Research for many years.
According to Ward's Auto World the influence that FFD had on all wheel drive
AWD
AWD may refer to:* AWD Holding, , a German company* Acute Watery Diarrhoea, a symptom associated with cholera* Afghan War Diary, a collection of thousands of US military documents that were leaked to the public via Wikileaks in July, 2010* Agency Worker Directive * Air Warfare Destroyer* All-wheel...
(AWD) development transcended its size.
History
The company was founded in CoventryCoventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
in 1971 by Tony Rolt. In 1981 Rolt's son, Stuart, joined the company as Marketing Director, becoming Chief Executive in 1986.
In 1990 the company opened an engineering centre in Detroit.
Following its sale to the automotive consultancy group Ricardo
Ricardo plc
Ricardo plc is a British publicly listed company named after its founder, Sir Harry Ricardo and founded on 30 June 1927 in Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex. The company is a leading global multi-industry engineering provider of technology, product innovation and strategic consulting...
in 1994, the company was renamed FFD-Ricardo. Stuart Rolt remained the CEO until 1996.
Projects
- JaguarJaguar (car)Jaguar Cars Ltd, known simply as Jaguar , is a British luxury car manufacturer, headquartered in Whitley, Coventry, England. It is part of the Jaguar Land Rover business, a subsidiary of the Indian company Tata Motors....
- FFD designed and developed the AWD system used on the Jaguar XJ220Jaguar XJ220The Jaguar XJ220 is a mid-engined supercar produced by Jaguar in collaboration with Tom Walkinshaw Racing as Jaguar Sport between 1992 and 1994. It held the record for the highest top speed of a production car , until the arrival of the McLaren F1 in 1994...
220 mph supercarSupercarSupercar is a term used most often to describe an expensive high end car. It has been defined specifically as "a very expensive, fast or powerful car"...
prototype which was shown for the first time at the 1988 British International Motor ShowBritish International Motor ShowThe British International Motor Show is an automobile show held biennially in the United Kingdom. It is recognised as an international show by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles. The 2008 was the last event with no news of a return of the British International Motor Show...
. - General MotorsGeneral MotorsGeneral Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
- FFD designed and developed the AWD system used on the 1990 Chevrolet Astro/GMC SafariChevrolet AstroThe Chevrolet Astro was a rear-wheel drive mid-sized van introduced by Chevrolet in 1985 to rival domestic competitors the Dodge Caravan/Plymouth Voyager twins and the Japanese Toyota Van. Also sharing the Astro's platform was its sibling, the GMC Safari...
van. - McLaren Cars - FFD manufactured the transmission system for the McLaren F1McLaren F1The McLaren F1 is a supercar designed and manufactured by McLaren Automotive. Originally a concept conceived by Gordon Murray, he convinced Ron Dennis to back the project and engaged Peter Stevens to design the exterior of the car...
supercar.