Lucas Automotive

Lucas Automotive was a famous manufacturer of automotive components for the motor industry.

Founded by Joseph Lucas and his son Harry in 1872, the company based in King Street, Birmingham, at first made general pressed metal merchandise including lamps for ships and coaches, later moving into oil and acetylene lamps for bicycles. In 1902, what was now Joseph Lucas Ltd started making automotive electrical components such as magnetos, alternators, windshield wipers/windscreen wipers, horns, lighting, wiring, starter motors. The company started its main growth in 1914 with a contract to supply the Morris Motor Company with electrical equipment. During the First World War Lucas made shells and fuses as well as electrical equipment for military vehicles. After the war they expanded rapidly not only by gaining new business, in 1926 they gained an exclusive contract with Austin, but also by swallowing up most of their British rivals.

Lucas marketed its early headlights under the Name "King of the Road". However by the 1960s in the United States the legendary unreliability of Lucas electrics fitted to imported British cars such as MGs, Triumphs, Jaguars and Rovers led to the coining of the nickname - "Lord Lucas - Prince of Darkness". Lucas is the butt of many jokes, but the unreliability of Lucas electrics is overblown. The fact that many cars employing Lucas electrics are still on the road 30, 40, or more years after manufacture is proof of their durability. It is often said that the biggest problem that Lucas electrics suffer is that of previous "repairs" and "improvements" by unskilled car owners.

Lucas Industries plc also owned the Girling, CAV, Simms, Crosland companies and acquired the Varity Corporation in 1996. After a series of disposals, the remains of Lucas merged in 1996 with the US company Varity to become LucasVarity plc who were in 1999 taken over by the US automotive supplier TRW Inc.