Ronart Cars
Corporate brand
UnclaimedRonart Cars is a British specialist manufacturer of bespoke sports and racing cars, best known for the open-cockpit W152.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
Ronart Cars is a British specialist sports-car manufacturer and constructor based in Peterborough. Rather than operating as a high-volume vehicle producer, the company has concentrated on individually specified, low-volume cars for road use, track-day driving and historic-inspired sports-car enthusiasts. Its designs combine original bodywork with mechanical and stylistic references to earlier racing cars, particularly front-engined Formula One and sports-racing machines of the 1940s and 1950s. The business was founded in 1984 by Rona and Arthur Wolstenholme. Arthur Wolstenholme had conceived the basic idea for the company’s first car, the W152, in 1981. Prototype design and construction began in 1984, and the car was shown publicly at the 1985 International Classic Car Show. Production began during the middle of the decade and developed into Ronart’s principal long-term programme. The W152 was not intended as a direct replica of a single historic racing car. Instead, its appearance drew on several period themes, including an exposed external exhaust, a raised headrest fairing, a long bonnet and small Brooklands-style aero screens. The W152 uses a lightweight, open-cockpit structure with two seats and, on most examples, no doors or full windscreen. Early cars used a backbone chassis designed by Spyder Engineering, while the Mk2 version, introduced into production in 1996, used a redesigned chassis built in-house. The car’s body can be produced in materials including fibreglass, aluminium and carbon fibre. Its running gear is based substantially on Jaguar components, including selected XK6, AJ6 or V12 engines, Jaguar independent rear suspension and braking hardware, combined with specialist steering, pedal-box and suspension adaptations. This approach allows the car to retain a classic mechanical character while incorporating more contemporary structural and safety development. Ronart briefly pursued a more mainstream and technologically ambitious product with the Lightning V8. Launched at the 1999 London Motor Show, the car used a carbon-fibre body and a tubular spaceframe chassis. It was powered by a Ford Mustang SVT Cobra-derived V8, offered in standard and supercharged forms, and included equipment unusual for a small specialist sports-car project, such as electrically adjusted heated and cooled seats, navigation, a reversing camera and electric windows and mirrors. More than twenty direct orders were reportedly taken at the launch, but the programme remained small. After a change in ownership and investment priorities, the factory was closed in 2003; seven Lightning V8 cars had been completed and delivered. Ronart also became involved with the Vanwall name. From 2004, Arthur Wolstenholme licensed the brand and developed three Vanwall-related designs over approximately the following decade: the Grand Prix Racer, Vanwall 2S and a replica of the Vanwall 58. In 2006, Iain Sanderson joined Wolstenholme in Vanwall production and work on the W152. The same period saw the creation of the Lightning Car Company to develop the Lightning GT, an electric sports car intended to reinterpret the Lightning V8’s design language with modern technology. The Lightning GT was presented at the 2008 International London Motor Show. Although the W152 was manufactured under licence by Vanwall for a period, production subsequently returned to Ronart Cars. The W152 remains the company’s defining and continuing model, while Ronart’s broader identity is associated with bespoke engineering, small-series construction, dramatic period-influenced styling and customer-specific specification. Publicly available information does not establish a large international retail network, listed ownership structure or current high-volume production operation.
History
Ronart Cars was established in Peterborough in 1984 by Rona and Arthur Wolstenholme. The company’s first major project was the W152, a sports car conceived by Arthur Wolstenholme in 1981 and developed into a prototype from 1984. The prototype appeared at the 1985 International Classic Car Show, and production followed during the decade. The W152 established Ronart’s distinctive identity. It was an original design inspired by the appearance of front-engined Formula One and sports-racing cars from the 1940s and 1950s rather than a reproduction of one specific historic model. Its open cockpit, external exhaust treatment, raised headrest, long front end and Brooklands-style aero screens created a deliberately period-influenced appearance. The car was intended for both road-legal use and track-day driving. Early W152 cars used a backbone chassis designed by Spyder Engineering, a company with experience producing chassis for Lotus-related applications. From the Mk2 generation, which entered production in 1996, Ronart redesigned and built the chassis in-house. The car used a mixture of specialist construction and donor-car engineering. Jaguar components supplied much of the mechanical foundation, including XK6, AJ6 and V12 engine options, independent rear suspension, front suspension elements and braking hardware. Ronart adapted these systems with modern coil-over dampers, a revised pedal box, steering modifications and other bespoke components. Structural and durability testing included seat-belt certification work and an accelerated hydropulse test intended to simulate approximately 100,000 miles of use. In 1999, the company moved beyond its established open-cockpit format with the Lightning V8. The carbon-fibre-bodied car was launched at the London Motor Show on 19 October 1999, only several months after development had begun. Its design combined a modern convertible profile with a Ford Mustang SVT Cobra-derived V8, a multi-tubular spaceframe and a five-speed manual transmission. The standard engine specification was reported at 320 bhp, with a supercharged higher-output option. Development included work on the interior, suspension and handling, as well as experiments with a lower-cost carbon-fibre manufacturing process known as SPRINT Technology. Pre-production work was organized at Westwood Farm in 2002. The Lightning V8 project was interrupted by an ownership and strategy change. In June 2003, the new owners closed the factory after redirecting investment toward another car manufacturer. Only seven cars were completed and delivered, despite additional orders being cancelled when production ended. Ronart’s activities then broadened through its relationship with the historic Vanwall name. In 2004, Arthur Wolstenholme licensed Vanwall and developed three designs over the next decade: the Grand Prix Racer, Vanwall 2S and a replica Vanwall 58. Iain Sanderson joined Wolstenholme in 2006, working on Vanwall production and the W152 programme. During this period, the Lightning Car Company was established to create the Lightning GT, an electric sports car using a design language related to the earlier Lightning V8. The Lightning GT was unveiled at the 2008 International London Motor Show. The W152 was produced under licence by Vanwall for ten years, after which manufacturing continued through Ronart Cars. The W152 therefore became the company’s most enduring product and its principal link between the original business, the Vanwall period and the current Ronart operation. Available reference material identifies Ronart as continuing to manufacture the W152 from Peterborough, but does not provide reliable information on current annual volumes, ownership, management structure or export markets.
- 2008
Lightning GT unveiled
[1]The electric Lightning GT was presented at the International London Motor Show.
- 2006
Iain Sanderson joins Vanwall and W152 work
[1]Iain Sanderson joined Arthur Wolstenholme in Vanwall production and the W152 programme.
- 2004
Vanwall licence obtained
[1]Ronart began developing new cars under licence from the Vanwall brand.
- 2003
Lightning V8 programme closes
[1]Factory closure ended Lightning V8 production after seven completed customer cars.
- 1999
Lightning V8 unveiled
[1]Ronart launched the carbon-fibre Lightning V8 at the London Motor Show.
- 1996
W152 Mk2 enters production
[1]The Mk2 W152 introduced a chassis redesigned and manufactured in-house by Ronart.
- 1987
W152 production starts
[1]Production of the first W152 cars began.
- 1985
W152 publicly launched
[1]The W152 prototype was presented at the International Classic Car Show.
- 1984
Ronart Cars founded
[1]Rona and Arthur Wolstenholme founded Ronart Cars in Peterborough and began prototype construction.
- 1981
W152 concept conceived
[1]Arthur Wolstenholme developed the initial idea for the car that would become Ronart’s W152.
Products and positioning
A British boutique constructor focused on bespoke, low-volume sports and racing cars that combine classic racing-car styling with modernized chassis, safety and performance engineering.
Open-cockpit specialist sports car · 1985
Ronart W152
The W152 is Ronart’s signature model and its longest-running production programme. Its styling reflects front-engined Formula One and sports-racing cars of the 1940s and 1950s, with a long bonnet, exposed exhaust treatment, raised headrest and small Brooklands aero screens. It normally has two seats, no doors and no full windscreen. Mechanical specification is based largely on Jaguar donor components, with XK6, AJ6 and V12 engine options, Jaguar suspension and brakes, and Ronart-specific chassis, steering, pedal-box and safety adaptations. The Mk2 version, produced from 1996, uses a chassis designed and built in-house.
Limited-production V8 sports car · 1999
Ronart Lightning V8
The Lightning V8 was Ronart’s move toward a more contemporary, fully equipped sports car. It used a carbon-fibre body over a multi-tubular spaceframe and a Ford Mustang SVT Cobra-derived V8 linked to a five-speed manual gearbox. The standard engine specification was reported at 320 bhp, with a supercharged option offered during development. The car included features such as Recaro seats, electric windows and mirrors, navigation and a reversing camera. Production ended in 2003 after seven cars had been completed and delivered.
Historic-inspired racing car
Vanwall Grand Prix Racer
The Vanwall Grand Prix Racer was one of the designs developed after Ronart obtained a licence to use the Vanwall name. It formed part of a small-series programme connecting Ronart’s specialist construction expertise with the heritage of the historic British Grand Prix marque.
Specialist sports car
Vanwall 2S
The Vanwall 2S was a Vanwall-branded design developed during the period in which Arthur Wolstenholme licensed the Vanwall name. Public reference material identifies it as one of three new Vanwall-related designs created during the following decade, but does not provide sufficient detail about its production volume or current availability.
Historic racing-car replica
Vanwall 58 replica
The Vanwall 58 replica was developed as part of Ronart’s licensed Vanwall programme. It referenced the historic Vanwall racing identity and complemented the Grand Prix Racer and Vanwall 2S projects. Available material does not establish the number of examples produced.
Brand decisions
2006
Create the Lightning Car CompanyProduct launchBackground
Ronart’s earlier Lightning V8 design provided the styling and conceptual basis for a new electric sports-car project.
Action taken
The Lightning Car Company was established to develop the electric Lightning GT.
Aftermath
The Lightning GT was publicly unveiled at the 2008 International London Motor Show.
2004
License and develop the Vanwall brandStrategyBackground
Ronart pursued an additional historic-motorsport business opportunity alongside its W152 activities.
Action taken
Arthur Wolstenholme licensed the Vanwall name and developed the Grand Prix Racer, Vanwall 2S and Vanwall 58 replica.
Aftermath
The Vanwall programme continued for approximately a decade and included manufacturing work with Iain Sanderson from 2006.
2003
Close the Lightning V8 factoryStrategyBackground
The new owners changed business strategy and redirected investment toward another car manufacturer.
Action taken
The factory was closed and Lightning V8 production was discontinued.
Aftermath
Seven Lightning V8 cars had been delivered, while additional active orders were cancelled. Ronart’s continuing identity remained centered on the W152 and related specialist work.
1999
Expand into the Lightning V8Product launchBackground
Ronart sought to move beyond its traditional open-cockpit, historic-inspired niche into a more mainstream contemporary sports-car format.
Action taken
The company launched the carbon-fibre Lightning V8 at the London Motor Show and began development of a road-going production version.
Aftermath
The project attracted initial orders but ended in 2003 after a change of ownership strategy and factory closure.
1996
Introduce the W152 Mk2Generation changeBackground
Ronart needed to evolve its established W152 design while retaining the model’s period-inspired character and specialist construction approach.
Action taken
The company introduced the Mk2 version with a redesigned chassis manufactured in-house.
Aftermath
The Mk2 became the continuing form of the W152 production programme.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/ronart-cars · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled