DERBYSHIRE RARITY BACK HOME

An rare piece of Derbyshire’s car making history has made a return to the county. Better known for the manufacture of Rolls-Royces and Toyotas, few people know that in the 1950s, Derbyshire was also home to the production of the now almost forgotten Paramount car. Now though, the fifth Paramount car ever made has gone on display at Great British Car Journey at Ambergate in Derbyshire after being discovered at an auction.

Richard Usher, founder and director of GBCJ explained: 'We consider ourselves experts in British classic cars, but the Paramount was a mystery even to the team here. We had no idea this car even existed. It wasn’t until we were alerted to its local history that we knew we had to have this one and bring it home. The Paramount really is a forgotten piece of Derbyshire’s motoring heritage.'

Only 10 Paramount cars were manufactured at the factory in Swadlincote; all of them bear the registration PNU, and were numbered 1-10. 'We’d love to trace another of the Swadlincote Paramounts, but we think it’s highly unlikely any will be in existence which makes ours even more special,' said Richard.

Just 16 Paramounts were produced in Derbyshire, first at the Swadlincote factory and then later in Melbourne, until production moved to Buckinghamshire in 1953.

In total, just 76 Paramount cars were made until 1956 when production ceased. The Paramount boasts Triumph running gear underneath its all-aluminium bodywork which is stretched over a wooden ash frame mounted on a tubular metal chassis.

The Paramount now joins Great British Car Journey’s only other Derbyshire made car – a Rolls-Royce once owned by Scouts founder Lord Baden Powell – in the interactive exhibition. To see the car on display, purchase discounted tickets and find details of opening times at www. greatbritishcarjourney.com/ plan-your-visit/