Our Heritage
Founded at the beginning of the turbocharging era, Turbo Technics is a world leader when it comes to turbochargers and turbocharging. Developed from a passion for engineering, our core speciality has always been around high speed rotating machinery and its application to vehicles of all types.
From performance turbochargers to replacement units, from high-speed balancing to flow-setting machines, we live and breathe turbochargers and are recognised world-wide as setting industry standards.
THE EARLY YEARS
PERFORMANCE TURBOCHARGING
Turbo Technics opened its doors on June 1st 1981, at the beginning of the turbocharged car era, on an industrial estate in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. Initially formed to build on the general interest in turbocharging as a means of increasing performance, the first product from the TT stable was a turbo system for the British Leyland Metro, with support from BL, including a full centre-page spread in their dealer magazine! This was quickly followed by a turbo kit for the original Golf GTi 1600, in conjunction with the German tuning company Dr Schrick.
Soon afterwards, Ford MotorSport asked TT to develop a turbo kit for a one model rally series based on the Escort 1600. TT developed this into a turbo system for the XR3, and Ford used TT’s manifold and turbo design in the iconic RS Turbo.
A move to shared premises in Northampton on 4th December 1982 brought Turbo Technics to a central location in the country, followed in 1984 by further expansion to a dedicated factory unit on the same industrial estate.
The 1980’s saw Turbo Technics really making a name for itself in the tuning business, developing a national and international dealer network and greatly increasing the range of products to cover a wide range of vehicle manufacturers and models.
A particular relationship grew up with Ford, resulting in factory-sponsored turbo versions of the Brooklands Capri 2.8 and Fiesta XR2. Other Ford-based products ranged from the Transit to the renowned Minker, with the most popular model being the Sierra XR4x4.
Between 1981 and 1990, Turbo Technics turbo-charged over 4500 vehicles of various makes and models until the recession of the early 90’s brought about a change of direction.
UNCOVERED
SUPERCHARGING
An involvement with Danish company Rotrex saw a return to the roots in 1999, with supercharged versions of the K-series engines in both the MGF and the Lotus Elise. Supercharging was chosen as the best overall solution to suit the mid-engine layout, and the high speed impeller and drive gave a compact installation.
The supercharger also found a further application on the Rotorway helicopter for altitude compensation, increasing the operating ceiling by around 5,000 feet and several hundred examples were supplied.
