The company was originally founded in 1948 by Frank Butterworth and Harry Smith in an old mill building in Hudson Street, Rochdale where as well as general motor repairs they made some alloy bodies, usually single seat, for racing Austin 7s and other cars at first for themselves but later sold as the Mk II. The 1959 Riviera was a convertible version of the GT and available in two and four seat versions with optional hardtop. It cost £140 and about 50 were made up to 1961. In 1961 the original premises were destroyed by fire and the company moved to Littledale Mill.