Where is it
The commemorative BP to Buckler Cars on the frontage of 65 Caversham Road Reading was unveiled at 11.00am on Saturday 25th June 2022. This was at the initiative of the Registrar of Buckler Cars and the drivers of the remaining original cars.
Malcolm Buckler, Derek Buckler’s son, and Simon Ambrose, Derek Buckler’s grandson, unveiled the plaque which commemorates the Buckler company, motor engineers and car makers, which occupied the original buildings on the site between 1939 and 1968.
Unveiling the plaque
Richard Bennett DL represented the Lord-Lieutenant of the Royal County of Berkshire at the unveiling ceremony which was held in the year of the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the company.
The plaque is 300mm wide by 200mm. It is the shape of the badge which was on the radiator of Buckler Cars. A number of Buckler cars were at the ceremony.
A bit of background
Buckler Engineering occupying 67 Caversham Road between 1939 and 1965. It was here, in 1947, that Derek Buckler designed and built his first car featuring an innovative spaceframe chassis. The car, registration DDP201, a won over 200 awards in a variety of motorsport events. Later, in 1949, the production prototype registered ERD 96 was built based on the first car. Bucklers produced a range of chassis for the home builder. Derek is credited with starting the kit car industry. Following Derek’s untimely death in 1964 at age 53 the impetus went out of the company and it eventually ceased trading in 1965.
Bucklers were unusual in that they featured spaceframe construction. The cars were of high quality and supplied either fully built to order with a works body or optionally and mostly in component form for home completion. They were designed to accept a range of mechanical components to enable buyers to create a lightweight sports car suitable for road use and in rallies, trials, speed hill climbs or racing.