The borough is home to many business parks and warehouses, which accommodate everything from blue chip companies to established industries, but few people know it was once a hotbed for car-making. JACK GRIFFITH speaks to local author Tony Beadle about his latest book, Armadale to Aquila: The History of Vehicle Manufacturing in Hillingdon, and looks at the contributions the borough has made to the motoring world
IN MID 2008, Tony Beadle, lifelong resident in the borough and certified motoring nut, set about the innocuous task of editing and contributing to a newsletter for the Society of Automotive Historians.
A self-confessed admirer of quirky vintage vehicles, he chose to look into the history of the Coronet, a striking three-wheeler that was sold at a showroom in nearby Denham.
During his research, he discovered that it used to be manufactured at James Whitson and Co, based in West Drayton, and that is where things went into overdrive.
He said: "I initially thought that it would just be a straightforward job. I assumed, incorrectly, that it would be the only car made in the borough and that would be it, but everything I found out led to more information and questions.
"Before I knew it, I had enough material for a book and I went about pulling it together."
Mr Beadle, of Howletts Lane, Ruislip, was featured in the Gazette in 2008 in an appeal for local motoring enthusiasts to come forward with any knowledge that might help with his research.
Fast forward two-and-a-half years, and the fruits of Mr Beadle's intensive labour are being published for all to see.Armadale to Aquila: The History of Vehicle Manufacturing in Hillingdon charts the borough's rich heritage in car production, told with the flair and technical nous of someone with nearly 40 years' experience in motoring, be it in racing, journalism, or as a respected historian.
The title makes reference to the first car to be produced in the borough - The Armadale tri-car at a factory in Northwood in 1906 - to the sporty Aquila, which ceased production in Uxbridge earlier this year.
Mr Beadle has written four other books, all of which are about his first love - classic American cars, a topic on which he is a renowned authority.
Speaking about this new direction, he said: "I have lived in Hillingdon all my life and know more than most about its history, but researching this book has really opened my eyes to some of the history.
"I never envisaged such a huge number of motor companies that were based in the borough - I came across over 100."
He added: "Researching this book has taken me all over the place - I have travelled all over the country meeting historians and people with restored classic motors, as well as looking into archive material and visiting lots of motor museums."
Trawling through archive material also threw up some interesting facts - the first person to drive a car on the streets of Uxbridge is revealed, and Doctor Who lovers will be surprised to hear that one of the show's iconic characters has its origins in Uxbridge.
"The first batch of Daleks were produced by Shawcraft (Models) Ltd, which was based in Rockingham Road, Uxbridge," says Mr Beadle.
"They started out making large scale models in the mid 50s and moved into producing props for films. You wouldn't have thought, would you?"
"It is satisfying to unearth these facts, things that people haven't come across before.
He attended Bishopshalt School, and he says that his early years were dominated by an interest in cars.
"My father got me and my brother into it. I used to race motorcycles and got into drag racing a little later on."
The mechanics of the fast car were all too familiar to the Beadles, who built the car, named 'Motovation', that took the chequered flag at the 1968 British Drag Racing championships.
Graduating to single-seater racing, he hung up his helmet in 1990, by which time he had made his name as a motoring journalist with several niche publications, including Triumph World and American Car World.
Speaking about what is coming next, he said: "To be honest, there are still a lot of loose ends to be tied up with this book - it's still a work in progress really. I'm hoping that the book will bring people forward who know more about some of the companies that feature."
* Armadale to Aquila: The History of Vehicle Manufacturing in Hillingdon, is published by Panic Button Press at £14.95. It is available from: - Barnard's Bookshop, Windsor Street, Uxbridge - Hammond Roberts, Field End Road, Eastcote - PhotosOnThings, Market Square, The Mall Pavilions, Uxbridge - Portobello, High Street, Ruislip
* For more information about the author, go to www.bigbadbeadle.com .
