QUAIFE Engineering History

 That name is QUAIFE.

Since 1965, the aims of the company have been constant, striving for excellence in the high-tech world of cutting edge transmission manufacturing, but never forgetting the human touch that makes all the difference.

On the surface, the story of QUAIFE is one of success and expansion. Dig deeper and it's easy to see how consistent hard work, dedication and investment - both in machinery and human capital - have transformed the company from a one man effort to a seventy strong global leader in the motorsport industry, one that exports 75% of its product overseas.

That story began forty years ago when engineering entrepreneur Rod Quaife acted upon a chance suggestion from Norton motorcycle specialist Ray Petty. It was tempting enough for Rod to change his strategy he was then involved in and began afresh to specialise in motorcycle gearbox design and production. Enthusiasm and skill made good any financial shortcomings in these early days, and soon the new company - known as RT Quaife Engineering Ltd - began producing the first Quaife transmissions that converted four speed Norton gearboxes into five speed units. Motorsport success soon followed, culminating in John Cooper testing at the TT on a Quaife equipped 350 Norton in 1967.

By now, QUAIFE was producing components for the AMC Motorcycle factory in Woolwich and Norton's great competitor, Triumph Motorcycles, expressed an interest, ordering five speed gear clusters for its Daytona racing machines. After taking the first three places at the race that year Triumph purchased the rights for the five speed cluster, which it then productionised and used for the next thirteen years.

 This success led to expansion, with RT Quaife Engineering relocating to a factory at Tonbridge in 1971, but as the British motorcycle industry declined, orders dwindled and a change of direction was needed. And having added an extragear ratio to a motorcycle gearbox, Rod Quaife reckoned he could repeat the trick with a car transmission, so he set about designing a five-speed, close-ratio gear cluster for the Ford Rocket 'box, as used in the phenomenally popular Escort RS2000. This went on sale in 1971, pre-dating the first Ford five speed rear wheel production gearbox by ten years and proving an instant hit with the motorsport industry, so much so that it's still in production today!

So began a program of constant development and range expansion, which has seen QUAIFE adopt the mantle of market leader in both transmission design and product range. Before long, Quaife Engineering was producing half-shafts, performance hub kits, gear linkages and final drive ratios for a number of applications. The two wheel market hadn't been forgotten during this period, as Rod's son Mike hit the circuits at this time, racing a Yamaha using QUAIFE gears.

As the 1970's moved into the 1980's the company continued to expand and the profile of its clients continued to grow, as did the variety of product it was manufacturing, whether for front, rear or four wheel drive cars. For example, Quaife could count Team Toyota Europe as a client at this time, as well as Adam Opel in Russelheim, while a new product - the now famous ATB differential - was finding its way into the road going Maserati bi-turbo supercar.

 Surely the ultimate challenge for a QUAIFE product surfaced in 1986 and 1987, when the company provided ATB differentials for both Leyton House and Benneton Formula One teams. Harnessing over 1000 bhp, a Quaife equipped Benneton, driven by Austrian Gehard Berger won the 1986 Mexican Grand Prix without stopping for tyres!

QUAIFE thrives on diversity and by the mid-1980's as total traction all wheel drive cars were making their name in rallying, Quaife decided to develop its own four wheel drive system, based around the ATB differential units. To prove the system, Mike Quaife constructed a Gartrac shelled Mk3 Escort, complete with an ex-RS200 Ford BDT engine, hooked up to the four wheel drive system. Boasting 450 bhp, the Quaife Escort enabled the company to develop, refine and sell motorsport-orientated four wheel drive systems to the rallying fraternity at a competitive price.

And with business expanding, active involvement in motorsport became a constant theme for the remainder of the century, leading to the build of another, more powerful (650bhp!) MK5 Escort in 1992, built this time by Gordon Spooner Engineering. Ever innovative, this car saw Quaife debut its now common sequential gearshift, allowing the Escort to be highly competitive at both British and European Championship levels.

By 1994 QUAIFE had outgrown its premises, moving to its present location near Sevenoaks, enjoying three times the space of the previous unit to house an increasing amount of CNC machinery and 25 staff. Commercially, the product range diversified still further, with ATB differentials being fitted to everything from vans to ambulances, while QUAIFE contemplated another move - from the dust and mud of the rallycross tracks to the solid tarmac of the racing circuits.

To that end an Escort GT car was built, but it soon became clear this would be outclassed by sleeker, purpose built machinery. Therefore QUAIFE decided to beat the opposition at its own game, stunning the GT crowd by designing and building its own unique, V8 powered four wheel drive GT racing car, which hit the tracks in 1999, just after the unveiling of the road going version. Plenty of development followed, but it allowed QUAIFE to enjoy circuit racing success right up to Mike Quaife's retirement from active motorsport in 2002.

 By then the racing torch had been passed to the next generation, as Mike's son Phil had begun racing a Radical, and Sharon Quaife's son, Adrian is a double Mini Max Champion and lap record holder in karts. And it's this eye to the future that accounts for a large part of Quaife's extraordinary success. QUAIFE has always been a keen supporter of Formula Student, supplying product across the globe to automotive engineering students, of which the next generation of technical directors are selected. But this eye to the future extends beyond the customers and the staff employed by QUAIFE, because the company has always been keen to invest in the latest production technology.

Today the fruits of QUAIFE's investment are easy to see, in a company that employs 75 people. After all, you can't ignore the 3D solid modelling design department, the pattern making shop, the state-of-the-art CNC gear cutting, milling and turning machinery or the inspection facility that's assisted greatly in QUAIFE achieving ISO9001 Quality Management status. As a consequence, QUAIFE offers a unique 'one-stop' facility, comprising an integrated design, manufacture and assembly service, something few - if any - of its rivals can boast.

 These impressive capabilities combine with an expertise base that allows QUAIFE to offer not only performance gear kits, but bespoke motorsport transmissions in both two and four wheel drive formats for a huge variety of vehicles, whatever the requirements. Whether you desire straight-cut, helical cut, Group N, close-ratio, H-pattern or sequential or even a transmission set-up that allows you to utilise a motorcycle engine in a car, then QUAIFE can cater for your high performance driveline requirements.

Motorsport is QUAIFE's ultimate testing ground, where compromise isn't tolerated and only the best will suffice. Other companies may come and go from the sector, but year in, year out, QUAIFE's transmission products are successfully used in everything from GT circuit racing, rallycross and rallying, assisting teams and individuals at all levels of the sport to maximise their performance, whatever the road ahead holds.

 But that's just one facet of the QUAIFE success story, as besides offering bespoke high performance transmissions, QUAIFE has a made a global name for itself pioneering the development and manufacture of Automatic Torque Biasing differential units. Designed to optimise traction irrespective of conditions, QUAIFE's patented ATB differential units offer unrivalled control and performance without the drawbacks of traditional performance differentials. As a consequence they have proved massively popular in motorsport, the performance aftermarket and the important OE manufacturer sector, where the ATB's combination of performance and low maintenance has proven a particularly attractive proposition.

So much so that the acclaimed Focus RS used a QUAIFE ATB differential straight from the Ford factory. As does the 352 bhp Noble M12 supercar, as does the new Chrysler Neon RT sports saloon, which packs a 240bhp punch, which the QUAIFE ATB unit handles easily. Indeed such is the demand for this product that a bespoke engineering facility was acquired at the end of 2003 in Cornwall solely to produce ATB units, which boasts some 65,000 sq ft of production capacity. This was timely because at the end of 2004, it was confirmed the QUAIFE would act as official supplier of performance differentials to General Motors, allowing the company to boast that it's an OEM supplier to the 'big three,' car manufacturers.

 On the commercial front, QUAIFE has developed an innovative 'On-Board-Power' system, which dispenses with the need for a bulky, noisy compressor. This has proved highly successful, with QUAIFE supplying its 'On-Board-Power' package to public utilities and road side tyre replacement companies amongst others.

In recent times QUAIFE has been quick to adopt new technology to promote its brand and product range, using a constantly updated website that have proved highly successful. This has brought the QUAIFE brand to a new global audience, assisting the company in its quest to seek out new customers, clients and commercial partners, whilst investment in information technology allows for easy communication and maintenance of long-standing business relationships.

 Many of those attracted to the product come in person to QUAIFE's HQ, situated in Sevenoaks in Kent, just ten minutes from the Brands Hatch motor racing circuit. The company always welcomes visitors to its factory, with tours of QUAIFE's advanced facilities possible for trade and retail customers, as well as individuals, clubs and schools.

So what can you expect from QUAIFE in the future? In its fortieth year, the pace of development and innovation shows no sign of slowing, in fact the opposite is true.

 Exciting developments are planned at all levels, but one project - which combines QUAIFE's unique knowledge of bike and car transmissions - is sure to attract attention, because QUAIFE is producing its own, bespoke, high performance road car. Designed around QUAIFE's latest Qtek sequential gearbox, the car has been developed to take either car or a motorcycle engine, depending on the customer's wishes. Bold, daring and innovative, it's totally in tune with the company's philosophy of excellence in both the two and four wheel arenas, so we're certain that Rod Quaife would have approved.

Part No Applications: NMG1005, C-AJJ3387Q, TMG20820

Article Date: Jan 28, 2006
Car Accociations: MINI,NEW_MINI,SPRITE
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Order and Shipping Information

Worldwide Shipping Charges
Shipping Address Policy
Worldwide General Shipping Information
Shipping Schedule
When Will I Get My Order?
Entering APO/FPO Addresses
Backorders

World-Wide Shipping Charges

How can I get a shipping estimate?

Just click "Buy Now" on the product page to add it to your cart. Continue shopping and when ready for the shipping estimate, begin the checkout process. Shipping charges for most items are calculated and displayed during order checkout. You will NOT need to log in or create an account to use the 'shipping quote' button.  If you're not ready to order, simply use you browser's "back" button to return to previously viewed pages.

Shipping Methods appropriate for your destination are displayed to you during order checkout. Once you've decided on the items you'd like to order, consider how quickly you would like to receive your shipment(s), evaluate the shipping cost displayed, and choose a shipping method.

What if no shipping charges are displayed?

Shipping charges are calculated at time of shipment based on the actual package weight and dimensions. In some cases, we may not have weights or dimensions in our computer system for one or more of the items you ordered. In this case, shipping is not quoted. The amount you will be billed is the carrier's standard charge. We don not charge any handling fees. The cost of shipping your order will be sent to you in a confirmation email message at the time of shipment. No action is required on your part.

Shipping Address Policy

When you order product using your credit card we initiate a process to check the address information you enter to see if it matches the address that your credit card issuer has on file and matches your billing address. If they do not match then the issuer of the credit card will not approve the transaction 100%. This is because much of credit card fraud occurs by having products shipped to the address of the person who stole the credit card instead of to your address – the billing address. The fraudster steals the credit card, orders products and has those products shipped to the fraudsters’ address and you don't know anything about it until you get your credit card bill.

This works great for those people that have products shipped to their home address and their credit card bill is also mailed to that same address. But some people use a PO Box or their personal credit card to order products for business. In those cases they want the product shipped to their office but the statement (billing address) is still being mailed to their home address or PO Box. This normally would be a rejected transaction because of the two legitimate, but different, addresses.

The way to get around this is with an Alternate Shipping Address. You can add an Alternate Shipping Address to your credit card so that orders will be accepted at both addresses. The alternate shipping address does not have to be your business address but is used here simply as an example.

Simply use the toll-free number on the front or back of your card to contact your credit card company and create an Alternate Shipping Address which is simply a note on your account authorizing purchases that are delivered to a destination other than your billing address. With the Alternate Shipping Address feature in place you can have credit card orders shipped to two different addresses but your credit card bill will continue to be mailed to the original billing address.

Add the Alternate Shipping Address to your credit card account before placing your order. After your credit card company has updated your credit card account you can then order products with your credit card and have them shipped to the alternate shipping address you have on file with the credit card issuer.

* Please note that on your initial order items must be sent to the billing Or ‘Alternate’ address as registered with your credit card company. See this Policy for more details or contact our sales staff at 800-946-2642.

Mini Mania, Inc. primarily uses FedEx, UPS and the US Postal Service to ship orders world-wide, each of which may be available only in certain areas. Truck freight items may be shipped using our choice of a variety of motor freight carriers. The customer pays shipping costs unless stated otherwise.

When choosing a shipping method, remember that carriers charge considerably more for expedited delivery. Expedited delivery also generally requires the package be signed for at the time of delivery. Check with your selected carrier locally if you or your authorized representative may not be available to sign for the package at the time of delivery.

For some destinations, we offer the choice of Mail (USPS). While often less expensive, remember that items shipped via Priority Mail, while insured, are not always reliably delivered and cannot be tracked. By choosing Priority Mail, you accept responsibility for your order once it leaves our facility.

Customers outside the domestic United States should exercise particular care when selecting a carrier or expedited shipping methods. If in doubt, consult with your potential carrier for information about shipments to your country. Import duties, local taxes, customs charges, etc. are the responsibility of the customer. If Mini Mania is invoiced by any carrier for import duties, local taxes, customs charges, or similar fees, the customer's credit card on file will be charged immediately for these fees, and an invoice explaining the charges will be sent to the customer.

Shipping Schedule

Most orders phoned in to Mini Mania before 12 noon Pacific Time are shipped the same day; orders received later usually ship the next day. If you must receive your order by a specific date, please make this clear when placing your order.

Most Internet orders are processed the next business day and are shipped within 1-2 days.

If there is more than one item in your order, we will ship your items as they become available.

Depending on availability, your order may be sent in more than one shipment. You will be charged shipping for each shipment.

You may choose to contact us by phone or e-mail before placing your order in order to ascertain availability.

When Will I Get My Order?

For Ground shipments, see the maps below for approximate delivery times. For expedited shipping choices, please see your chosen carrier’s web site for details, terms and conditions. Note that in all cases, shipping times do not include the day the order ships, weekends or holidays.

UPS Ground Delivery Transit time Map for Domestic Customers

FedEx Ground Service Delivery Map

Entering APO & FPO Addresses Correctly

Having trouble entering an APO or FPO address on our order form? Following these steps should help:

• Enter the recipient's full name and address in the relevant fields.
• Enter "APO" or "FPO" in the City field.
• Enter "AE" in the State/Province/Region field if the recipient is stationed in Europe, Canada, Africa, or the Middle East. Enter "AA" if the recipient is stationed in the Americas. Enter "AP" if the recipient is stationed in Asia or the Pacific.
• Regardless of where the recipient is stationed, select "United States" from the Country drop-down menu.

  Following these steps will ensure that you're charged the correct shipping amount and that your order will be delivered in a timely fashion. All shipments to APO/FPO addresses are sent via U.S. Priority or First Class Mail. We estimate 5 to 7 business days for delivery once the order has been shipped; however, some destinations may take up to 21 days.

  
  
  
  
  
  

  Backorders

  We endeavor to stock most of the items we sell. The automatic shipment notification email you receive will identify backordered items and indicate the approximate date we expect to receive the item at our warehouse. Be sure to contact us if you wish to cancel your backorder to avoid unnecessary shipping and restocking charges once your backordered items are shipped.

  
  
  

We will match the published price of any US supplier* -- even their current sales prices! If you find an item advertised at a lower price, make a notation in your online order, call or email us your price match request (see terms and details below). We'll sell you the SAME item at the SAME price! If you've already purchased the item from us, we'll even price match (for store credit only) as long as you contact us with your request within 10 days of placing your order.

This offer is restricted to identical items offered for sale in writing or on the web. When making your price match request, you must provide us with a link to the competitor's Internet URL for the item, a copy of the written ad or written quotation, which must include suppliers part number, description and price.

Price Match Terms and Fine Print

We may choose not to price match in some cases; here are some reasons why:

• The competitor's product is not an exact match (identical manufacturer & model) with ours.
• The competitor with the lower price does not have the item in stock at their warehouse.
• The competitor's total price (including shipping, handling, rebates, taxes, etc.) is higher.
• The competitor's product is used, refurbished, reconditioned, or a display model.
• The competitor is not selling in US dollars.
• The product is a clearance or closeout item.
• The item is not found within the first 10 items listed on major search engine results.
• The competitor is not manufacturer authorized or has advertised below the manufacturers minimum allowed price for the item.

* Qualified U.S. Suppliers are established businesses that routinely and regularly sell the item to be matched from an established physical storefront or warehouse.

While we endeavor to maintain the accuracy of item availability, descriptions and availability, we reserve the right to correct errors. We reserve the right to choose not to honor this offer.

How to Request a Price Match

Place an order on-line and leave a comment at checkout. Provide the competitor's name, part number, item description, URL link to the exact item and the competitor's price anlong with your request to price match. If we agree to match the price, your order will be processed at that adjusted price. In the event we cannot match the price, we will notify you by email. We will hold you order for 3 business days.

Alternately, you may call us with your request. We'd love to talk with you. We will generally respond to price match requests within one business day.

SHIPMENT PROBLEMS?

Claims for missing items or error in shipment must be reported within 5 days of order receipt .

BACKORDERS

We endeavor to stock most of the items we sell. For Classic Minis, parts are frequently in limited supply and are difficult to keep on hand. the automatic shipment notification email you receive will identify backordered items and indicate the approximate date we expect to receive the item at our warehouse.

Be sure to contact us if you wish to cancel your backorder to avoid unnecessary shipping and restocking charges once the item(s) you’ve ordered is shipped.

Some items are made available on a Special Order basis. These are typically items with very low demand that we choose not to keep in inventory, or items that are custom built or built to order. These items are ordered from their suppliers solely to fulfill your order. As such, these items require a 100% non-refundable deposit at the time the order is placed (power-unit orders require a $1,000 deposit before work begins). Because of the nature of Special Order items, your order cannot be cancelled once your order is accepted and deposit taken, nor can returns be accepted once the item has shipped.