WILLIAMS F1 CHAMPIONSHIP WINNING CAR

Back in the early 80s, our boss was visiting Leyland Trucks for a typical day of selling nuts and bolts. Little did he know he’d stumble upon something unforgettable—a Williams Cosworth 3.0 litre DFV Formula 1 car, fresh from its championship-winning days!

The car, which was driven by Australian world champion Alan Jones, was at the Leyland Vehicles plant in Lancashire. On that day, a member of the Williams support team was behind the wheel, taking it for a spin on the private road leading up to Lancaster House, Leyland’s HQ. Needless to say, workers on their lunch break flocked to get a glimpse of the iconic machine in action. Who wouldn’t?

Fast forward to today, and that very car is still going strong, now racing in the Masters Heritage series. You can even catch it on video from Silverstone in August 2024, gearing up for another run.

While the Leyland Truck plant has seen its ups and downs, finally finding its feet under Paccar ownership, Thomas Smith Fasteners has kept going, just like that Williams F1 car. Both standing the test of time!