Freestone and Webb facts for kids
Freestone and Webb was a famous English company that built custom car bodies. They were known as "coachbuilders." They made special bodies for luxury cars like Rolls-Royce and Bentley. They also worked on cars from other brands such as Alfa Romeo, Packard, and Mercedes-Benz.
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The Start of Freestone and Webb
The company began in 1923. It was founded by two skilled craftsmen, V.E. Freestone and A.J. Webb. They set up their special workshop, called Unity Works, in North London. This was in an area called Stonebridge Park in Willesden. The company stayed in this same location for its entire history. Mr. Freestone learned his car-building skills at another company called Crossley Motors. Mr. Webb had trained in France before coming back to England.
Creating Unique Car Styles
Freestone and Webb became very good at making unique car bodies. They worked on "bespoke" cars, which means each car was custom-made for a specific customer. They helped create popular car styles like the Top hat and the Razor Edge designs. These styles made their cars stand out.
The company built up to 15 cars each year. They often showed off their amazing vehicles at the London Motor Show. They were so good that they won the Gold Medal in the private coachbuilders competition for nine years in a row! This showed how talented and respected they were in the car world.
Helping Out During World War II
During the Second World War, many companies changed what they made to help with the war effort. Freestone and Webb also did this. Instead of car bodies, they started making parts for airplanes. They created very detailed and complex wing tips for the famous Supermarine Spitfire fighter plane. This was a big change from their usual work, but it showed their skill and ability to adapt.
Challenges After the War
After the Second World War ended, things changed for custom car builders. Rolls-Royce started making complete cars with steel bodies, like the Bentley Mark VI from 1946. This meant fewer people needed custom bodies from companies like Freestone and Webb. Because of this, Freestone and Webb faced money problems.
New Owners and the End of an Era
A.J. Webb, one of the founders, passed away in 1955. In May 1957, another company called the Swain Group took over Freestone and Webb. The Swain Group also owned a car dealer called H.R. Owen.
Around this time, new Rolls-Royce and Bentley models came out, like the Bentley S1 and Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud. These cars were still available as just a chassis (the frame and engine) until 1965. This meant coachbuilders could still add custom bodies. However, by 1958, Freestone and Webb stopped building new car bodies. They became a place where cars were refurbished and sold.
In 1963, the Swain Group decided to sell its coachbuilding businesses. Freestone and Webb was sold to the new owners of another coachbuilding company, Harold Radford. This marked the end of Freestone and Webb as an active coachbuilder.
A New Beginning for the Name
In 1990, a car enthusiast started a new company called Freestone & Webb Limited. This new company was registered at Companies House. The owner later sold this company, along with his classic 1935 Bentley 3½ Litre saloon, at an auction in Brooklands on June 2, 2010. This shows that the name Freestone and Webb still holds a special place in car history.
Images for kids
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Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud drophead coupé, built for October 1957 Earls Court Motor Show
