Invicta Motors Ltd is a franchised car dealership group based in the United Kingdom. The group stocks a selection of vehicles across its five dealerships. The company was established in Canterbury in 1923 as a petrol and services and repairs station and is now part of parent company Cambria Automobiles plc. Invicta Motors’ headquarters can be found in Swindon — the base of operations for Cambria Automobiles plc, which also trades under the name of Motorparks and Doves.
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History
The Invicta Motors Ltd brand began in 1923, when the Thompson family created a petrol station, service and repair workshop in Canterbury.
The building was damaged in 1936, when a rogue cigarette caused an explosion at the petrol station, resulting in the complete rebuild of the building. The company then expanded to include an agricultural dealership, truck dealership and body shop. Invicta progressed further to businesses in Margate and Ramsgate in the 1980s.
Invicta Motors Ltd was acquired in 1996 by Summit Motors Investment (UK) Ltd (SMIUK), a subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation of Tokyo. It was then expanded to incorporate the Ford Folkestone dealership, with an Ashford site also added to the portfolio.
Invicta Motors Ltd was run by SMIUK along with their other brands Grange, Dees and Doves until Cambria Automobiles Holdings Ltd purchased the SMIUK group on 31 December 2007.
The next extension of the Invicta brand took place in November 2009, when Cambria Automobiles plc purchased Northampton Mazda from Autohaus Limited, becoming Northampton Motors.
Invicta extended further on 25 February 2010, when the brand acquired the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Drake and Fletcher businesses.
Awards and recognition
In July 2014, parent motor retail group Cambria Automobiles plc received the Franchised Dealer Group of the Year Award 2014 at the 2014 Motor Trader Awards.
Operations
Invicta Motors Ltd stocks a variety of car manufacturers, including Ford, Honda and Mazda at their five dealerships. Dealerships can be found at the following UK locations: