Caburn Engineering
British manufacturer of specialist sports cars, replicas, and kit cars.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Caburn Engineering Limited is a British specialist automobile manufacturer associated with the United Kingdom's kit-car and low-volume sports-car sector. The company was founded in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, on 18 April 1997 by Andrew Michael Hitchings and his father, David Hitchings, although the pair had begun producing automobiles and kits under the Caburn name in 1995. Its business has centered on small-batch construction, continuation or reissue projects, and the adaptation of existing designs for enthusiast-built or factory-assembled vehicles rather than on mass-market automobile production. Caburn's best-known product is the Caburn Hurricane, a roadster that has been offered since 1995. The design had previously been associated with the Vincent brand and the Hurricane model name. Caburn versions use a Triumph-derived basis, with chassis and mechanical configurations connected to the Triumph Spitfire four-cylinder platform or the Triumph GT6 six-cylinder platform. Approximately 65 examples had been built according to the available reference material, making the Hurricane the company's most established and highest-volume model. The company later broadened its portfolio through projects inherited from, or developed in connection with, other British specialist manufacturers. In 2007 it presented the Caburn Roadster, a vehicle originally produced by IPS Developments between 1992 and 1995 as the Hadleigh Sprint. The Roadster uses a spaceframe chassis with aluminium body panels and Ford Sierra engines, and its styling has been compared with Morgan sports cars. Production by IPS Developments and Caburn Engineering together amounted to approximately six vehicles. From 2009, Caburn Engineering pursued the reintroduction of the Teal Type 59, a replica inspired by the Bugatti Type 59. The original Teal Cars production run had continued until 1997, and Caburn's project sought to bring the design back into specialist production. In 2010 the company introduced the Caburn GP 57, a racing-style sports car whose design originated with Brooke Cars, where it had been sold from 1991 to 1993 as the Brooke 245. The GP 57 was offered in both single-seat and tandem-seat configurations; combined production by Brooke Cars and Caburn Engineering was reported at approximately four examples. Also in 2010, Caburn took over the Elysee project. The open sports car had previously been manufactured by Gemini Cars from 1991 to 1999 and by JB Sportscars from 1999 to 2001 under the Elysee name. Caburn developed a new chassis intended to accommodate Ford Sierra engines while retaining an open body with styling reminiscent of the Lotus Elan. Across the three manufacturers, approximately 20 examples had been produced according to the available material. Caburn Engineering therefore occupies a niche position within the British specialist-vehicle tradition. Its identity is based less on large-scale manufacturing than on preserving, adapting, and reintroducing low-volume designs, often using readily available donor-car components and lightweight chassis construction. Publicly available reference material provides limited information about the company's present ownership, management, production activity, or official website, so its current operating status cannot be confirmed here.
History
Caburn Engineering emerged from the British kit-car movement, a sector in which small manufacturers build complete specialist vehicles or supply components and body kits for assembly by customers. Andrew Michael Hitchings and his father, David Hitchings, began producing cars and kits in 1995. They formally established Caburn Engineering in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, on 18 April 1997. The Caburn name became associated with a range of low-volume sports-car projects rather than with a single mass-produced model. The company's first and most commercially significant model was the Caburn Hurricane, a roadster available from 1995. The model had earlier been marketed by several manufacturers under the Vincent brand. Caburn's version retained the basic Hurricane concept while using a Triumph-derived chassis platform. Buyers could obtain configurations related to the Triumph Spitfire, including its four-cylinder engine, or the Triumph GT6, with its six-cylinder engine. Approximately 65 Hurricanes had been produced, giving the model a substantially larger output than Caburn's later projects. Caburn expanded its range in 2007 with the Caburn Roadster. The vehicle originated with IPS Developments, which built it between 1992 and 1995 and sold it as the Hadleigh Sprint. Its construction followed the conventions of specialist British sports cars: a spaceframe chassis, aluminium body panels, and Ford Sierra power units. The styling was broadly reminiscent of Morgan roadsters. Production by IPS Developments and Caburn together was limited to about six vehicles, reflecting the project's highly specialized character. In 2009 Caburn began seeking to reintroduce the Teal Type 59, a replica of the Bugatti Type 59. The original design had been produced by Teal Cars until 1997. The project demonstrated Caburn's role not only as a manufacturer of its own cars but also as a custodian or successor for discontinued British specialist designs. The following year brought several additional developments. Caburn introduced the GP 57, a racing-style sports car whose design had previously been produced by Brooke Cars between 1991 and 1993 as the Brooke 245. The vehicle was available either as a single-seater or as a tandem-seater. Its combined production history under Brooke Cars and Caburn amounted to roughly four examples. In 2010 Caburn also assumed responsibility for the Elysee project. The car had been manufactured first by Gemini Cars, from 1991 to 1999, and subsequently by JB Sportscars, from 1999 to 2001. Caburn redesigned the chassis to accept Ford Sierra engines while retaining an open body whose appearance drew comparisons with the Lotus Elan. Total production across the three manufacturers was estimated at around 20 examples. These projects place Caburn Engineering within a distinctive British automotive tradition characterized by low production volumes, donor-car mechanical components, lightweight construction, and close links between designers, small manufacturers, and enthusiast owners. The available reference material does not establish the company's current production status, management, ownership, or continuing commercial activity. It also does not provide a verified official website or recent corporate announcements.
- 2010
Caburn GP 57 introduced
[1]Caburn introduces the GP 57, a single-seat or tandem-seat racing-style car derived from the Brooke 245 design.
- 2010
Elysee project acquired
[1]Caburn takes over the Elysee project and develops a revised chassis for Ford Sierra engines.
- 2009
Teal Type 59 reissue project begins
[1]Caburn begins efforts to reintroduce the Teal Type 59, a replica inspired by the Bugatti Type 59.
- 2007
Caburn Roadster presented
[1]Caburn presents the Roadster, a development of the former Hadleigh Sprint associated with IPS Developments.
- 1997
Caburn Engineering is founded
[1]The company is established in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, on 18 April 1997.
- 1995
Automobile and kit production begins
[1]Andrew Michael Hitchings and David Hitchings begin producing automobiles and kits associated with the Caburn name.
Products and positioning
A British niche manufacturer and project custodian for lightweight sports cars, kit cars, replicas, and low-volume enthusiast vehicles.
Roadster · 1995
Caburn Hurricane
Caburn's first and best-selling model, the Hurricane is a lightweight open roadster offered from 1995. The design had previously been marketed by different manufacturers under the Vincent brand. Caburn versions are based on Triumph-derived chassis architecture and can use configurations related to the four-cylinder Triumph Spitfire or the six-cylinder Triumph GT6. Approximately 65 examples were produced, making it the company's most established model.
Sports car · 2007
Caburn Roadster
Presented in 2007, the Caburn Roadster originated as the Hadleigh Sprint, a model produced by IPS Developments from 1992 to 1995. It uses a spaceframe chassis, aluminium body panels, and Ford Sierra engines. Its styling is broadly comparable to Morgan-style open sports cars. Production by IPS Developments and Caburn Engineering together was approximately six vehicles.
Replica sports car · 2009
Teal Type 59
The Teal Type 59 is a replica inspired by the Bugatti Type 59. Caburn Engineering began seeking to reissue the model in 2009 after the earlier manufacturer, Teal Cars, had produced it until 1997. The available material describes the reissue as a project but does not confirm a completed production volume or current availability.
Racing sports car · 2010
Caburn GP 57
Introduced in 2010, the GP 57 is based on a design originally produced by Brooke Cars between 1991 and 1993 as the Brooke 245. It is a lightweight racing-style sports car available in single-seat and tandem-seat forms. Combined production by Brooke Cars and Caburn Engineering was reported at approximately four examples.
Open sports car · 2010
Elysee
Caburn took over the Elysee project in 2010. The model had previously been built by Gemini Cars and JB Sportscars. Caburn developed a new chassis designed to accept Ford Sierra engines, while the open body retained styling associated with the Lotus Elan. Total production across the three manufacturers was approximately 20 vehicles.
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