For more than a century, the Clayton name has been synonymous with technical innovation for vehicle heating systems, long before it became a classic car specialist in Coventry.
It has been an incredible journey throughout the evolution of heating, ventilation and air conditioning in the automotive industry, where our engineering expertise has changed and grown within the industry.
But how did it all begin?
MAKING CLASSIC CAR HISTORY IN COVENTRY
Since the early 1920s, the automotive industry has been in our blood, perhaps not so surprising being based in the West Midlands, the historical heart of the UK’s car manufacturing sector.
Always looking forward, the company has built on this engineering expertise to become leaders in climate control systems for buses, trains and the marine industry through Clayton Vehicle Systems.
As for classic cars, the 1950s were a pivotal time for the business as it saw our aftermarket heating and ventilation systems offered for Land Rovers for the first time, putting the classic car side of the business on the road for future success.
And although this side of the business continued to grow, it wasn’t until 2002 that the actual Clayton Classics name first appeared.
This has enabled Clayton Classics to provide even more support for classic car owners through bespoke upgrades, servicing and full restorations, while also supplying ready-to-install climate control systems that can be fitted by our customers directly.
A CLASSIC CAR specialist IN COVENTRY THAT EMBRACES INDIVIDUAL NEEDS
Clayton Classics’ success is based on manufacturing bespoke air-conditioning systems that are designed for individual models and the owner’s needs.
Using original parts and tooling is key, and this is married with the high-performance of the latest heating and ventilation units.
To date, more than 600 systems have been made, either exported, or installed at our Coventry premises, with over 30 vehicle marques benefitting from our expertise – and this list of brands we work with is always growing.
PUTTING OUR SYSTEMS TO THE TEST
It’s thanks to our experience in developing systems in all climates that has made us a market leader in heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, especially in classic vehicles and E-Types in particular.
We’ve put our systems to the test in extreme conditions in rallies in New Zealand and California, which called upon our expertise in manufacturing heating systems in large vehicle fleets.
A PERSONAL SERVICE FOR CLASSICS AND MODERN FLEETS
Whether its supporting fleets through the vehicle systems arm, or working on the classics side, our team of engineers and restorers tailor every approach to the customer and their vehicle.
By doing this, we’ve established a reputation for exceeding our customer’s expectations. It has placed an even greater emphasis on being a service-led business, where every upgrade has a focus on functionality and best performance – in all climates.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
We love meeting our customers and inviting them to our Coventry facility so we can understand what is important to them, and they can learn about our history.
Alternatively, you can contact us via the Clayton Classics website to talk to one of our classic car experts about your vehicle, whether you want to upgrade, restore it or just have an inspection.
