Photographs of The Light Car Company’s workshop from the early ’90s show rows of brand-new Rockets, the reimagined 1950s racing car dreamed up by designer Gordon Murray and racer Chris Craft.
Weighing just 370kg, with a high-revving, 143bhp, 1002cc Yamaha ’bike engine, it was the world’s fastest-accelerating car in 1992 (4.4 secs to 60mph) and much more besides.
“It was an amazing car,” says LCC director Chris Holley, “but the recession had a firm grip by 1994.”
The Light Car Company’s machine room includes vintage but fully working sheet-metal tools from the Caterham F1 team and a 1970s Bridgeport Series 1 CNC unit hooked up to a modern computer
“There was plenty of interest for the race series in 1996,” he continues, “but a lack of sponsorship meant that it never happened.
“We built a few more, but it was difficult to keep costs down. Eventually, SVA rules and other red tape put an end to it.”
The LCC has been in Stanford in the Vale, Oxfordshire, since 1994, where it built another 15 or so Rockets, for a total of 35.
“Through that, we came to know some collectors and began working on their other cars,” explains Chris.
An LCC Rocket returns to its maker for work
