Tim Dutton in trouble

[DippedHeadlights]

Article here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7368734.stm

Google news search finds some local paper articles, one mentions threat of jail, another that his company is in compulsary liquidation.

[Sam_68]

Did nobody tell them he has a fine, long-standing tradition of building badly-engineered deathtraps?

No sense of humour, some people...

[Ozzie Dave]

I loved my Dutton, a great vehicle I used used daily for 4 years, it had a sense of humour(so did you to drive it) but I had extensively modded it. still I prefer to build anything myself, so I know how its done or can do any changes. Didn't the guy check and do research when he bought it?

[Rebuilda]

I heard a rumour that the vehicle was built to the customers (excessive) specifications. How true that is only Tim and the customer can tell. It would normally have been 6 occupants and the customer insisted on 8 or something like that.
As its base vehicle is a suzuki samuri and the extensive modifications included stretching the chassis to suit I am sure it would have been strengthened properly. I also heard that some of the components used weren't up to the marine engineers requirements.
This is all rumour as I don't know all the facts. I am certain however that the news stories I have read have been sensationalised, some more than others, and all of them made to shame Tim as the bad guy. I honestly don't believe Tim would have knowingly sold a vehicle that wasn't suitable for purpose, the smaller conversions have crossed the english channel without sinking and I don't think Windemere is that rough even in the worst weather. Its a real shame to see a long standing british company persecuted into receivership like this.
Yes I'm biased, I own three of his earlier kit cars, but he must have done something right to have sold so many over the years.
Best of luck Tim.
Adrian.

[tomTVR]

Did he actually go to prison then? Surely far too harsh.

[Mr2Mike]

No, he got a suspended sentence though.

BBC said:

Dutton-Wooley was given a six-month jail term suspended for two years for making false claims.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7575208.stm

[Chris71]

Is he the same Tim Dutton that owns and races a hugely valuable Bugatti T59? If so, he can't be doing too badly from his 'floating coffins'.

Dutton were also the biggest kit manufacturer in Britain for many years I suppose.

[Sam_68]

Chris71 said:

Is he the same Tim Dutton that owns and races a hugely valuable Bugatti T59?

No, that's a different Tim Dutton, I think - son of Ivan Dutton, the Bugatti Guru.

[Chris71]

Sam_68 said:

Chris71 said:

Is he the same Tim Dutton that owns and races a hugely valuable Bugatti T59?

No, that's a different Tim Dutton, I think - son of Ivan Dutton, the Bugatti Guru.

Ahh. That would make more sense!

Let me see S4 Phaeton or a Type 35...