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 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