Statue of first British-made Stephens car unveiled in Clevedon
Richard Stephens began his car manufacturing business in Clevedon in 1897, taking inspiration from engineers he met in America, including Henry Ford and Ransom Olds, founder of the Oldsmobile car company.Today, there are two surviving cars from 12 that were built and the company folded in 1916 after competition from other firms. One of the cars is still using its original tyres, installed 127 years ago.
The two have participated in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run for several years. Stephens' vehicles could reach 40mph (64km/h), and he invented his own suspension systems for his cars, as well as manufacturing early taxis and buses.His granddaughter Georgina Westlake, who unveiled the statue, said it looked "amazing"."Richard Stephens would be proud and so would my father," she said.
The car statue was funded from private donations."Richard Stephens was a big believer in using cars for public transportation, creating them with local people using locally-sourced materials," Mr Reber said."Then he built them for mass transit, and his final car carried 10 people."Here we are in 2025 and we realise how many things he got right."He is the road not taken, and he addressed things in his design and business model we only appreciate now."Mr Reber next plans to commission a mural of Richard Stephens for the building which formerly housed his workshop.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
14 minutes ago
- The Sun
Vintage Aston Martin from the 60s so rare only a handful were ever made hits the market for eye-watering price
A RARE vintage Aston Martin has hit the market for a staggering price. The super rare Aston is described as a classic grand tourer and could be yours for a whopping £250,000. 5 5 The 1966 DB6 Mk1 Vantage comes fitted with a manual ZF gearbox. Finished in silver originally, the vintage motor has now been refinished in slate grey. The new colour perfectly compliments the rare motor's stylish black leather interior. The DB6 is to be sold at auction by Iconic Auctioneers at Silverstone, Northants on Saturday August 23. Well looked after by its previous owner, the Aston has clocked up just a few thousand miles since 1991. It has only logged 68,733 miles in total and a full restoration of the vintage car was completed in 2010. Its listing states: "The car was fully restored between 2008 and 2010 by Aston Workshop and Pugsley & Lewis with a colour change to slate grey. "More recently, the ZF gearbox was fully overhauled and there is correspondence from the Aston Martin factory thanking the owner for allowing his DB6 to be used for assessing a new gear set design for the ZF 'box. "EJX 342D was purchased by our vendor from the Aston Workshop in October 2017 with an indicated mileage of 68,733 from new, with less than 5,000 of these added since 1991. "Recent maintenance includes a full service by Hilton and Moss in July 2023 (£10,000) including renewing rear seals, new hubs, electric window refurb and new tyres. Fully restored first edition of iconic Ford motor to be auctioned for huge price after £130k spent on its renovation "Later attention in February 2025 by Farringtons of Knutsford included a full service and the wheel arches and under body were ice blasted and then retreated. "The car is supplied with its V5C, history file, a quantity of expired MOTs dating back to 1991 and the current MOT valid until 2nd April 2026. "While this attractive Aston would make an impressive addition to any collection and would surely be welcome at prestigious classic car events anywhere, we can't help feeling that its best years are still ahead. "Make no mistake, these are now rare cars. "The factory only produced 268 Mk1 DB6 Saloons to a Vantage specification and very few of these were fitted with the manual 5-speed gearbox - the ultimate incarnation. "This is a great opportunity to own a classic Aston which is totally usable and a delight to drive." An initial estimated price of £200,000 - £250,000 has been listed for the super rare vintage motor. Car Auctions: How To Nab A Bargain Car auctions are a way to sell vehicles based on a bidding system with the highest offer securing the deal. Auctions aren't restricted to the rich and famous as thousands of cars are sold at motor auctions in the UK each week. Here's what you need to know before attending an auction: Be prepared: Do your research on the car you would like to purchase beforehand. Check the car: Cars will usually be lined up before the start, so make sure to arrive early to inspect the desired car thoroughly. Have a back-up: Be ready for disappointment as your desired motor may be sold to someone else and select a few back-ups. Be realistic: Realise that there won't be a "perfect" car at an auction and adjust expectations accordingly. Set a budget: It is easy to overspend in the heat of the moment during bidding. Ensure you have set a budget and do not go over it. Key phrases to look out for: 'No major mechanical faults' – suggests that there shouldn't be any issues with the car's drivetrain, gearbox, suspension, or engine. 'Specified faults' – the auctioneer will read out specific faults. 'Sold as seen' – the vehicle is sold with any problems it may have. The auction company will rarely entertain complaints regarding the mechanical or cosmetic condition of these vehicles after sale. 'Sold with a warranted mileage' - The car is being offered based on the report, which confirms the mileage through an independent check. 5 5 5
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Zak Brown feels Red Bull ‘drama' led to Christian Horner's sacking
McLaren F1 CEO Zak Brown expressed no surprise at Christian Horner 's sudden departure from his role at Red Bull Racing. Christian Horner was relieved of his duties as team principal and F1 CEO at Red Bull Racing after 20 years, with Laurent Mekies taking over. Brown attributed Horner's exit to ongoing 'drama' at Red Bull, citing a cost-cap breach and an allegation of 'inappropriate behaviour' against Horner, from which he was cleared. During his tenure, Horner led Red Bull to six constructors' titles and eight drivers' championships. Brown anticipates that Horner will likely return to motor racing in some capacity, given his extensive history in the sport.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Moment equestrian admonishes motorist with her riding crop for going 'too fast' past her horse - but opinion is split if she is REALLY in the right
Footage of an equestrian telling off a motorist for going 'too fast' as he drove past her horse has divided people online. A clip, posted on Instagram by horse rider Laura Robson, showed a blue Skoda Fabia drive past her and a friend on another horse in front. The first horse gets spooked by the vehicle which appeared to be less than a metre away as it went past with a child in the backseat. Worried about her own horse reacting badly as well, Laura held out her crop to stop the driver in his tracks and shouted: 'F****ing hell! Wait, wait, wait! It's a green lane, please go slower.' One of the people in the car yelled something back as the riders began to trot on, but Laura put her foot down and again told them to drive slower. She uploaded the video, which has racked up over 3,500 comments in just one day, with a caption that read: 'Dangerous drivers frustrate me! This road was clearly signposted as a quiet lane. 'They should have stopped in the wider passing place ahead to let us pass safely. Instead, they mounted the curb and spooked the horses.' Official Highway Code guidelines for passing horse riders states: 'Be particularly careful of horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles especially when approaching, overtaking, passing or moving away. Always pass wide and slowly. 'When you see a horse on a road, you should slow down to a maximum of 10 mph. Be patient, do not sound your horn or rev your engine. When safe to do so, pass wide and slow, allowing at least 2 metres of space.' It adds: 'Look out for horse riders' and horse drivers' signals and heed a request to slow down or stop. Take great care and treat all horses as a potential hazard; they can be unpredictable, despite the efforts of their rider/driver. 'Remember there are three brains at work when you pass a horse; the rider's, the driver's and the horse's. Do not forget horses are flight animals and can move incredibly quickly if startled.' However, viewers had their own opinions regarding who was in the right and who was in the wrong and took to the comments to voice them. One wrote: 'With respect, that car was going about as slow as it could without stalling. 'If you are not comfortable sharing the road with other traffic, or worried that you can't control your horse, maybe grass lanes would be better for you?' But Laura came straight in with a response, writing: 'How about the car stop? There wasn't enough space for him to safely pass so he should have stopped the car. Or better yet, wait in the wider part of the road he'd just passed. 'At what point was I not in control other than when his car scarped on the curb and spooked my horse, which was roughly one second?' Another commented: 'They're going perfectly slow, take your horse on a f****ing field, not many cars there.' 'Car was slower than a sloth. What you screaming at?', a third wrote. Many came to Laura's defence, with one reinforcing her point about it being a green lane. 'It's a green lane people! It's purpose is recreational use! So especially made for walking, biking and horseback riding. 'The ladies with the horses had every right to be there. So the car was wrong and had to wait and make room for the horses.' Another wrote: 'He wasn't going slow enough at all as there was not enough distance between him and the horse. 'In that situation the car should have stopped, let the horses pass, and then continue. Two mins inconvenience and safety for the horse... but a big ask is it!'
