Scottish Aviation Scamp

The Scamp was an attempt by aircraft builders, Scottish Aviation at Prestwick, Ayrshire, to market an electric car. Twelve were made in total but the project was cancelled when the car failed tests at M.I.R.A. in 1967.

Scottish Aviation started out in 1935 as a flying school but turned to war work, most notably the maintenance and preparation of the Liberator Bomber. They became part of British Aerospace in 1977.

In 1964 Scottish Aviation began to work on an electric car design with a view to producing a small urban runabout to be marketed through Central Electricity Generating Board showrooms. The design used four large 48-volt Lucas lead acid batteries and each rear wheel had its own electric drive motor. Tests gave a top speed of 36 mph and a range of 18 miles in urban conditions.

The project was boosted by great publicity when driven by racing driver, Stirling Moss, and a public showing at the Ideal Home Exhibition in 1967.

Before production could commence the Scamp had to pass tests at the Motor Industry Research Association's test track at Nuneaton. It was subjected to normal tests but failed on several counts; most notably the structure began to break up under the rigorous rough road test over granite sets. Shortly after this the project was abandoned.