Crayford Engineering
Crayford Engineering, commonly known as Crayford, was a British car coachbuilder based in Westerham, Kent. It was started in 1962 by engineer Jeffrey Smith and sales director David McMullan (MBE). In the 1970s they set up Crayford Auto Developments, Ltd. to handle automotive work.
Crayford specialized in turning European coupés and saloons into convertibles and estate cars. Their notable conversions included the Mini Convertible, BMC 1100/1300 Convertible, Corsair Convertible and Cabriolet, Capri Cabriolet, and the rare Triumph TR7 Tracer Estate. They also created a Princess hatchback conversion, which gave the car a hatchback look.
Other conversions included the Tempest (a Volkswagen Scirocco convertible), Ford Cortina Mk I and Mk II convertibles, Cortina Cabriolet Mk II, Corsair Convertible and Cabriolet, and Capri Cabriolet. In 1966 Crayford converted 57 Wolseley Hornet Minis into convertibles for Heinz to award as prizes.
Crayford also made several Mercedes-Benz W116 station wagons, and much of their conversion parts and glass came from the Ford Granada. Jeff Smith’s designs were featured at the London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 22:50 (CET).