Skilled engineer Rodney Quaife establishes RT Quaife Engineering Ltd. Quaife independently designs and produces a five speed transmission for the then popular Triumph and Norton / AMC motorcycles, which used an antiquated four speed unit. Production of the five speed gearkit commences at facility in Chalcott, Kent.
Such is the success of the Quaife gearkit that Triumph of Meriden orders and adopts the gearkit for racing use, most famously at the Daytona speedway in the USA, on the 500c Tiger 100.
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1965
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1970
Quaife Engineering relocates to premises in Tonbridge. The range of Quaife motorcycle gearkits expands to include applications for Japanese motorcycles.
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1971
An excellent year for Quaife motorcycle racing successes, including 1st / 2nd and 3rd places for Quaife gearkit equipped Triumph Tridents at the Daytona raceway, USA. Meanwhile on the Isle of Man, a Quaife equipped sidecar unit finishes in 2nd place in the 750cc event, a feat that is repeated in 1972.
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1975
With the ongoing decline in fortunes of the British motorcycle industry, Rodney Quaife seizes an opportunity to develop a five speed conversion for the four speed ‘Rocket’ gearbox as used in the popular Mk1 Ford Escort RS2000.
The Quaife ‘Rocket’ five speed gearkit offers similar performance advantages to the ‘work’s style five speed ZF gearbox, but at a fraction of the cost. Sales success – and further demands for new car gearkits soon follow.
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1980
Quaife’s capabilities, quality and performance means that the firm’s portfolio of automotive clients expands to include Adam Opel of Germany and Team Toyota Europe.
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1982
Rodney Quaife’s son Michael transfers from two wheeled motorsport to four, building a Chevette rallycross car to act as mobile development test bed for future Quaife transmission products.
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1985
With four wheel drive ex-Group B rallycars becoming more popular in rallycross, Michael Quaife designs and builds his own turbocharged 4wd Mk3 Escort, which uses the very first Quaife 4 x 4 transmission system. Rallycross’s high profile in the UK and Europe makes this the ideal proving ground for the Quaife technology.
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1986
A milestone year, as it sees Rodney Quaife design, patent and manufacture the first Quaife helical gear Automatic Torque Biasing (ATB) differential, initially for a Maserati application.
High profile success arrives quickly, as Gehard Berger wins the Mexico Grand Prix in a 1500bhp Benetton F1 car which uses a Quaife ATB differential.
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1991
Michael Quaife builds a new version of the 4 x 4 turbocharged rallycross Ford Escort using a MkV bodyshell. The 650bhp car proves to be highly competitive in European and British events, highlighting the success of Quaife’s total traction system.
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1994
Quaife Engineering relocates to current 2.5 acre site headquarters site at Otford, near Sevenoaks in Kent. The new facility allows for significant expansion in all areas of the business.
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1995
With European and British rallycross faltering as a result of the banning of Group B cars, Michael Quaife decides to re-engineer the 4 x 4 Mk5 Escort into a circuit racing machine for British GT events.
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1996
Quaife launches website, which evolves constantly, swiftly generating over 1 million hits.
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1998
Quaife is involved in Mountune Focus T230R project, supplying ATB differential units for the road cars and complete sequential transmissions for the one make rally series. The car is widely viewed as the inspiration for the Mk1 Focus RS.
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1999
Quaife embarks upon arguably its most technically challenging project to date – the design, manufacture and development of Quaife R4GTS 4 x 4 GT car for the British GT race series. Powered by a 600bhp plus Ford V8 engine, the entire 4 x 4 power train and sequential gearbox is produced by Quaife Engineering.
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2000
Caterpillar Truck Racing wins the European Truck Racing Championship using a Quaife ATB differential.
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2002
Quaife Engineering is awarded an OEM contract to supply the Ford Motor Company with 5000 ATB differential units for the Mk1 Focus RS. The project involves in depth technical liaison with Ford of Europe, machinery investment and meeting highly challenging quality criteria.
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2003
The success of the OEM differential supply program requires Quaife to find larger premises and prompts acquisition of 65,000 square feet site in Cornwall. This enables Quaife to fulfill a volume order to supply 18,000 Quaife ATB units to Daimler-Chrysler for the US market.
Quaife commences supply to Radical Sportscars of a wide variety of transmission parts, initially for the motorcycle engined SR3 Sportscar. -
2005
To celebrate 40 years of continuous success, Quaife Engineering designs and produces the R40 Concept – a two seat, mid-engined sportscar that’s unveiled at the Autosport International show.
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2006
Quaife’s ongoing requirement for advanced, large scale robotic machinery and demand from OEM clients prompts a relocation from the Cornwall site to a 23,000 square foot production facility in Gillingham, Kent.
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2007
Quaife designs and manufactures complete transmission unit for Modec electric vehicle, which can carry a two ton payload at up to 50mph and is used by Tesco and UPS as part of their carbon emissions reduction strategy.
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2008
The Ford Motor Company selects Quaife Engineering to supply 8000 plus ATB differentials for the 300bhp Mk2 Ford Focus RS, continuing Quaife’s long standing involvement in the marque.
Quaife launches the new QBE60G six speed sequential gearbox. Designed as a direct Type 9 replacement fit for the popular Escort market, the unit is an instant success, with Caterham Motorsport and Ginetta Cars adopting it for their one make circuit racing series.’
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2009
Autosport International Show
Sharon and Michael receive award for best trade and technical stand.
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2010
SEE the launch of our new web site.
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2011
Quaife invest over £1 million in new machinery.
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Contact Quaife Engineering on: +44 (0)1732 741144
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