| | December 1999 marks the 100th birthday of Scotland's best known name in the motor industry (in fact for many years the only one) - Albion Motors of Scotstoun, Glasgow. The company was formed through the partnership of Thomas Murray and Norman Fulton both of whom had previously been involved with George Johnston's Mo Car Syndicate, which later became the Arrol Johnston Company. Albion went from strength to strength over the years and in 1957 Lancashire-based Leyland Motors acquired the company as the first step in a major expansionist policy which later saw Scammell, A.E.C. and Guy succumb, among others, in 1955, 1962 and 1968 respectively. The Scotstoun works was still used for truck and bus manufacture until 1972 when the last complete vehicle was built there, components only being produced from then. But perhaps the greatest indignity of all was the change of name to Leyland (Glasgow) and later to Leyland-DAF from 1987 when it became a subsidiary of that Dutch concern. Eventually in 1993 a management buy-out from that troubled company brought Albion Automotive as it was thenceforth known back into Scottish ownership. The latest chapter in the Albion story unfolded as recently as 1998 when the American Axle & Manufacturing Company of Detroit, Michigan, acquired the business. The traditional Albion name will be retained, however, and as AAM is a major force in the components market, producing axles and other accessories for markets at home and overseas, the future looks bright for another hundred years. Continent: Europe
Country: UK | | Tag cloud: scotland scotstoun glasgow partnership murray fulton arrol lancashire leyland expansionist policy scammell succumb truck thenceforth scottish axle detroit michigan | Tell a friend about this publication  |
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