LIBERTY Steel Group | Select another site to see content specific to your location Change site

Website select
Global United Kingdom Czech Republic Romania Belgium Italy North Macedonia Poland Luxembourg Hungary
  • 09/11/2018
  • Media Releases

Liberty extends classic car expertise with the acquisition of vehicle restoration and parts specialist

An immaculately restored Cape Sport Healey 100M, part of Cape International’s performance series.

 

British-owned Liberty, part of Sanjeev Gupta’s global GFG Alliance, has today (9th November) announced the acquisition of leading classic car restoration and parts specialist Cape International, based in Redditch in the West Midlands.

The business, which has a 25-year track record of re-building Austin Healey cars and has recently extended their expertise in restoring classic Porsche models among others, also provides a range of new and original parts, accessories and servicing for discerning customers around the world.

The acquisition of Cape International will form a part of the growing range of vehicle capabilities for Liberty’s Engineering division, which covers the entire spectrum of systems and components in emerging technologies – from autonomous, electric and control automation – all the way to classic car parts manufactured using original tooling to OEM specification.

Cape International will complement the current capabilities of Leamington Spa based 920 Engineering (920E), a leading braking and actuation business that has nearly a century of British automotive pedigree. Originally founded as Automotive Products in 1920, it supplies braking systems – including master cylinders, remote servos and cast iron callipers – for many classic British cars, including the Austin Healey, Morris Minor, Mini, Jaguar, Jenson, MG, Aston Martin, Bedford, Triumph and Riley. Cape will benefit from access to the extensive selection of classic components and engineering skill available at 920E and the wider Liberty Engineering Group.

Cape International will showcase its restoration and extensive components manufacture and sourcing capabilities at the NEC Classic Car show to be held in Birmingham from 9-11th November this year. Displayed at stand number 1-149 in Hall 1 will be the brand’s performance series Cape Sport 100S replica, featuring an all-aluminium body shell; a Cape Sport 911S vehicle demonstrating bodywork, paint and assembly competencies; as well as Cape Sport’s exclusive parts and innovations.

Steve Norton, Managing Director and founder of Cape International, believes the combined expertise of the two businesses will significantly benefit current and new customers, expanding their access to parts and services: “Classic cars have a much broader appeal to people of all ages these days. This has aptly been demonstrated by a number of major OEMs seeking to revive and re-launch their classic models into the market. At Cape we have the knowledge, capability and track record to service an astute and highly knowledgeable customer base from all over the globe who share our passion for quality and advice they can trust. By working together with the wider Liberty Engineering Group, we will significantly increase choice as well as capacity to grow our engineered classic car parts and services.”

Speaking about the acquisition, CEO of Liberty Industries Group Dr Douglas Dawson said: “We are delighted to be able to bring the unique skill and in-depth classic car knowledge that Cape International possesses into the wider Liberty Engineering Group. Our vision is to build a diversified proposition to the automotive industry – whether that’s new cutting-edge technologies or classic car capabilities. We will be seeking to achieve synergies in both businesses in the group that specialise in this market and extend our proposition both direct and through various go-to-market channels.”