Company History
Harold Rolfe Owen was a man with a vision, a vision which continues today. He was always a risk taker, at the age of 18 he was badly injured when his plane crashed during World War I. Soon after his introduction to the motor industry (with Jack Barclay), he established his own business in Mayfair. In six short years, the name H.R. Owen was synonymous with Rolls-Royce and Bentley. The outbreak of World War II saw H.R. Owen and, indeed, the British motor industry itself, grind to a halt. Owen, himself, died in 1940 when tank manoeuvres aggravated his old injuries. It took another risk taker, Yorkshireman Fritz Swain to rekindle the business and keeping the original name, he reopened in Berkeley Street with just 40 cars. Post-war regeneration and the rise of the entrepreneur saw the company flourish. The past 30 years or so has seen new marques added and changes of ownership and the H.R. Owen name goes from strength to strength.
1932
Captain Harold Rolfe Owen opens H.R. Owen at 17 Berkeley Street, London
1939
The showroom closes for the duration of World War II
1940
Captain Owen dies as a result of aggravating injuries sustained in World War I, aged just 41
1946
Yorkshire businessman Fritz Swain buys the company and re-opens in Berkeley Street
1960's
New showrooms open, including the Kensington premises which today houses Lamborghini London
1970
H.R. Owen is sold to Heron becoming the luxury arm of the group
1982
H.R. Owen celebrates its 50th Anniversary with a series of high profile events culminating in a Midsummer Ball attended by H.R.H. Princess Alexandra
1994
H.R. Owen is sold to Malaya Group Plc
1997
In the year the H.R. Owen name celebrates its 65th Anniversary, Malaya Group Plc adopts the name for the group
2000
H.R. Owen Plc purchases Jack Barclay becoming the largest Rolls-Royce and Bentley retailer worldwide
2001
H.R. Owen opens a Sports Cars aftersales 'supersite' at School Road, North London to service Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari, Maserati and Lamborghini
2003
The split between manufacturers of the Rolls-Royce (BMW) and Bentley (Volkswagen Group) brands is reflected at dealer level with H.R. Owen Plc retailing Bentley at its Jack Barclay dealership and Rolls-Royce at premises in Park Lane
Lamborghini London relocates to a larger and more prominent showroom in Old Brompton Road
Heathrow and Chiswick BMW dealerships are acquired
2004
H.R. Owen is proud to be the 'official dealer' at London's MPH'04 at Earls Court
Lamborghini Manchester opens
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars London relocates to Berkeley Square, Mayfair
2005
Appointed official importers for Bugatti
2006
Alfa Romeo dealership in Parsons Green opens
H R Owen Chiswick relocates to a bigger, state of the art BMW showroom in December
2007
H.R. Owen acquires a second Ferrari and Maserati dealership in St. Albans.
2008
H.R. Owen becomes the world's largest Bugatti dealer
H.R. Owen Sports Cars opens new Premier Park aftersales super-site in North West London for Ferrari & Maserati servicing
2010
H.R. Owen Specialist opens in South Kensington showcasing a wide range of pre-owned luxury, sports and prestige vehicles under one roof
H.R. Owen acquires the South West London based Dovercourt Audi Aftersales business from The Dutton-Forshaw Motor Company and re-brands it as the Jack Barclay Service Centre.
2011
H.R. Owen completes the move of the Jack Barclay Bentley service facility from Vauxhall to a new state of the art facility in Wandsworth. The new site is the world’s largest and most advanced dedicated Bentley servicing operation with 24 bays and 16,000 sq. feet of Bentley workshop, bodyshop and parts department including the only pre-1955 parts holding in the world.
H.R. Owen opens the world’s first dealer managed Ferrari Atelier at The Berkeley in Knightsbridge complimenting the existing Ferrari showroom in south Kensington.
H.R. Owen acquires Broughtons of Cheltenham Limited who operate three Bentley franchises, in Cheltenham, Pangbourne and Byfleet as well as an Aston Martin franchise and an Audi aftersales operation in Cheltenham.