Turner (car company)
Encyclopedia
The first Turner models were produced between 1951 and 1966 by Turner Sports Cars Ltd, a company established by Jack Turner near Wolverhampton
, England. As well as complete cars, Turners were also available in kit form. The company closed in 1966 after the founder had a heart attack. The development cost of a completely new coupé model with a rear mounted Hillman Imp
engine, the prototype of which was far from complete, may also have been partly responsible for the company's demise.
Jack Turner had built a series of one-off specials and prepared racing cars from the late 1940s even building his own engines.
The first cars for sale were based on one of the specials and consisted of a chassis, independent suspension units using transverse leaf springs and Turner's own alloy wheels. It was up to the customer to arrange engine, transmission and body. Eight are thought to have been made.
engine, transmission and suspension. The car featured a simple ladder frame chassis and open fibreglass 2-seater sports bodywork. As BMC would not supply components directly, they had to be purchased from dealers which increased the price of the car. In 1956, the uprated 948 cc unit from the Austin A35
was adopted and the model renamed 950 Sports, but, apart from fully hydraulic brakes with optional front discs, was otherwise unchanged. The majority were exported mainly to the United States and South Africa.
A 950 cc car with Alexander tuned engine with cross flow cylinder head was tested by the British Motor
magazine in 1960 had a top speed of 95.7 mph (154 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 13.6 seconds. A fuel consumption of 36 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £1052.
Approximately 70-80 of the A30 and 170 of the A35 models were made.
1,097 cc FWA and 1,216 FWE units.
Approaching 40 of the Mk Is were made.
105E 997 cc and 109E 1,340 cc units were introduced and finally, in 1963, the new Ford Cortina
1,500 cc engine was also made available. From 1960 the front suspension became Triumph Herald
based.
About 150 Turner Mk II models were made.
Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands, England. For Eurostat purposes Walsall and Wolverhampton is a NUTS 3 region and is one of five boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "West Midlands" NUTS 2 region...
, England. As well as complete cars, Turners were also available in kit form. The company closed in 1966 after the founder had a heart attack. The development cost of a completely new coupé model with a rear mounted Hillman Imp
Hillman Imp
The Hillman Imp is a compact, rear-engined saloon car that was manufactured under the Hillman marque by the Rootes Group from 1963 to 1976...
engine, the prototype of which was far from complete, may also have been partly responsible for the company's demise.
Jack Turner had built a series of one-off specials and prepared racing cars from the late 1940s even building his own engines.
The first cars for sale were based on one of the specials and consisted of a chassis, independent suspension units using transverse leaf springs and Turner's own alloy wheels. It was up to the customer to arrange engine, transmission and body. Eight are thought to have been made.
Turner A30 and 950 Sports
The first complete car was the A30 Sports a two seater also known as the 803 and using an 803 cc Austin A30Austin A30
The A30 was a compact car produced by Austin Motor Company in the 1950s. Introduced in 1951 as the "New Austin Seven", it was Austin's answer to the Morris Minor...
engine, transmission and suspension. The car featured a simple ladder frame chassis and open fibreglass 2-seater sports bodywork. As BMC would not supply components directly, they had to be purchased from dealers which increased the price of the car. In 1956, the uprated 948 cc unit from the Austin A35
Austin A35
The A35 was a small car sold by the British Motor Corporation under the Austin marque in the 1950s.-Design:Introduced in 1956, it replaced the highly successful Austin A30...
was adopted and the model renamed 950 Sports, but, apart from fully hydraulic brakes with optional front discs, was otherwise unchanged. The majority were exported mainly to the United States and South Africa.
A 950 cc car with Alexander tuned engine with cross flow cylinder head was tested by the British Motor
The Motor (magazine)
The Motor was a British weekly car magazine founded on 28 January 1903....
magazine in 1960 had a top speed of 95.7 mph (154 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (96.6 km/h) in 13.6 seconds. A fuel consumption of 36 mpgimp was recorded. The test car cost £1052.
Approximately 70-80 of the A30 and 170 of the A35 models were made.
Turner Sports Mk I
In 1959 this model was replaced by a new version which although similar to the outgoing model, featured substantial revisions both to the body and chassis. front disc brakes became an option. The 948 cc Austin engined version was named the Turner Sports Mk I, and versions known as Turner-Climaxes were also available with the powerful Coventry ClimaxCoventry Climax
Coventry Climax was a British forklift truck, fire pump, and speciality engine manufacturer.-History:The company was started in 1903 as Lee Stroyer, but two years later, following the departure of Stroyer, it was relocated to Paynes Lane, Coventry, and renamed to Coventry-Simplex by H...
1,097 cc FWA and 1,216 FWE units.
Approaching 40 of the Mk Is were made.
Turner Sports Mk II
The following year, a Sports Mk II model appeared with much improved interior trim and further minor styling revisions. As well as the Austin and Coventry Climax engines, in 1961 and 1962 other options such as the FordFord of Britain
Ford of Britain is a British wholly owned subsidiary of Ford of Europe, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company. Its business started in 1909 and has its registered office in Brentwood, Essex...
105E 997 cc and 109E 1,340 cc units were introduced and finally, in 1963, the new Ford Cortina
Ford Cortina
As the 1960s dawned, BMC were revelling in the success of their new Mini – the first successful true minicar to be built in Britain in the postwar era...
1,500 cc engine was also made available. From 1960 the front suspension became Triumph Herald
Triumph Herald
The Triumph Herald was a small two-door car introduced in 1959 by the Standard-Triumph Company of Coventry. Body design was by the Italian stylist Michelotti and the car was offered in saloon, convertible, coupé, van, and estate models....
based.
About 150 Turner Mk II models were made.