Kieft Cars: Difference between revisions

[[Cyril Kieft]] was born in [[Swansea]] and spent his early working life in the steel industry. After the secondSecond World war he started up his own company ''Cyril Kieft and Co Ltd'' in [[Bridgend]], Glamorgan, making forgings and pressings including components for the motor industry. He had an interest in motor racing and, when the [[MarwynFormula Three]] company, who hadcar builtmanufacturer [[Formula ThreeMarwyn]] carsfailed, failed he bought thetheir designs and used them as a base for his own 500cc car. Several of these were sold and some competition success resulted. Publicity was gained by successful attempts on a series of records at [[Autodrome de Montlhéry|Montlhéry|]] in France. One of the drivers was [[Stirling Moss]], who explained the shortcomings of the cars. As a result of this, a new design was acquired, Moss and his manager [[Ken Gregory]] became directors, whilstand the company moved to new premises at Reliance Works in Derry Street, Wolverhampton.<ref>[http{{cite web|url=https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/report.phpstirling-mosss-manager-ken-gregory-dies-4469909/id4469909/111676 Autosport, |title=Stirling Moss's manager Ken Gregory dies|work=autosport.com|access-date=31 July 2021|date=1 December 2013]}}</ref><ref name="Georgano"/>

A new design by Gordon Bedson, who had joined the company from the aircraft industry, was produced in time for the 1951 Whit Monday Meeting at [[Goodwood Circuit|Goodwood]] where it won the Formula Three event driven by Moss. [[Don Parker (racing driver)|Don Parker]] was employed as works driver and won the [[British Formula 3 International Series|British Formula Three championshipsChampionship]] in 1952 and 1953.<ref name="Georgano"/>

Kieft Cars left Wolverhampton in 1956 and moved to nearby Birmingham, where they concentrated on preparing and tuning other makes of cars. There were plans for a return to making Kieft cars but these failed to materialise. The company was sold again in 1960 and changed its name to Burmans.