Universal Power Drives
Encyclopedia
Universal Power Drives was a British
truck
manufacturer which branded its trucks with the Unipower marque.
and its head office in Aldwych
, London. During the 1930s, 40s and 50s it specialised in producing 4x4 forestry logging trucks. In 1972 it launched the 4x4 Unipower Invader suited to fire-fighting and construction use.
In January 1966 they exhibited a sports car, the Unipower GT
at the Racing Car Show. Another car they produced was the Quasar-Unipower
which was built in 1967 and 1968.
In 1977 the company was acquired by AC Cars
and production was moved to Thames Ditton
, Surrey.
In 1988 the company started a new enterprise in Watford
to provide continuity of support for Scammell
trucks following the closure of the Rover Group
(formerly British Leyland) owned Scammell plant that year.
In the 1980s it launched the C-series heavy-haulage tractor and a range of military trucks.
Alvis plc
acquired the company in 1994 and named their new subsidiary Alvis Unipower Limited, the trucks began to be branded as Alvis-Unipower.
Following their elimination from the bidding process for the UK Ministry of Defence's
Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) project, Alvis announced their intention to seek a new owner for Alvis Unipower.
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...
truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
manufacturer which branded its trucks with the Unipower marque.
History
Universal Power Drives was founded in 1934 with a factory in PerivalePerivale
Perivale is a small suburb in the London Borough of Ealing, west of Charing Cross, central London. Landmarks in the suburb include the A40, a large road that connects Central London with the M40 motorway, and the large Art Deco Hoover Building, as well as St Mary's Church , the River Brent and...
and its head office in Aldwych
Aldwych
Aldwych is a place and road in the City of Westminster in London, England.-Description:Aldwych, the road, is a crescent, connected to the Strand at both ends. At its centre, it meets the Kingsway...
, London. During the 1930s, 40s and 50s it specialised in producing 4x4 forestry logging trucks. In 1972 it launched the 4x4 Unipower Invader suited to fire-fighting and construction use.
In January 1966 they exhibited a sports car, the Unipower GT
Unipower
The Unipower GT was a British specialist sports car first shown at the January 1966 Racing Car Show, and produced by truck maker Universal Power Drives Ltd in Perivale, Middlesex and later by U.W.F...
at the Racing Car Show. Another car they produced was the Quasar-Unipower
Quasar-Unipower
The Quasar-Unipower was a box-like car produced in limited numbers between 1967 and 1968 by Universal Power Drives of Perivale, Middlesex, England who also made the Unipower sports car. The car was designed by Quasar Khanh a French-Vietnamese designer and engineer.The car had a unique appearance,...
which was built in 1967 and 1968.
In 1977 the company was acquired by AC Cars
AC Cars
AC Cars Group Ltd. formerly known as Auto Carriers Ltd. is a British specialist automobile manufacturer and one of the oldest independent car marques founded in Britain...
and production was moved to Thames Ditton
Thames Ditton
Thames Ditton is a village in Surrey, England, bordering Greater London. It is situated 12.2 miles south-west of Charing Cross between the towns of Kingston upon Thames, Surbiton, Esher and East Molesey...
, Surrey.
In 1988 the company started a new enterprise in Watford
Watford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
to provide continuity of support for Scammell
Scammell Lorries
Scammell Lorries Limited was a British manufacturer of trucks, particularly specialist and military off-highway vehicles, from 1921 to 1988.-History:...
trucks following the closure of the Rover Group
Rover Group
The Rover Group plc was the name given in 1986 to the British state-owned vehicle manufacturer previously known as British Leyland or BL. Owned by British Aerospace from 1988 to 1994, when it was sold to BMW, the Group was broken up in 2000 with the Rover and MG marques being acquired by the MG...
(formerly British Leyland) owned Scammell plant that year.
In the 1980s it launched the C-series heavy-haulage tractor and a range of military trucks.
Alvis plc
Alvis plc
Alvis Ltd. was created when United Scientific Holdings plc acquired the Alvis division of the nationalised vehicle manufacturer British Leyland in 1981. United Scientific maintained its own name until 1992 when the group was renamed Alvis plc. Alvis acquired Swedish armoured vehicle manufacturer...
acquired the company in 1994 and named their new subsidiary Alvis Unipower Limited, the trucks began to be branded as Alvis-Unipower.
Following their elimination from the bidding process for the UK Ministry of Defence's
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) project, Alvis announced their intention to seek a new owner for Alvis Unipower.