Tomcat

Introduction

Established in 2001, Tomcat Motorsport Ltd is a specialist manufacturer of Land Rover-based off-road and on-road competition vehicles. The company proudly continues the legacy of the original 'Drew Bowler' Tomcats and their derivatives, maintaining the spirit and performance that made them iconic.

Tomcats are lightweight, highly capable, and fun 4WD vehicles designed for a wide range of uses- from road-going toy sand weekend off-roaders, to serious trailers and competitive race cars. Each Tomcat is engineered with purpose and built to meet the needs of its owner.

With over 700 Tomcats built since Drew Bowler created the first design in the early 1980s, the Tomcat remains the UK's most popular 2x2 kit vehicle to this day.

Platform & Models

Tomcats are built on newly fabricated chassis frame combinations, based on live axle Land Rover platforms including the Defender, Range Rover and Discovered Series 1 and 2. The current range includes;

  • 80" Model - Designed for trailing; compact, agile, and Association of Land Rover Clubs (ALRC) complaint
  • 88" Model - Ideal for trails, team recovery and competitive safaris; also ALRC compliant
  • 93" Model - Purpose-built for which challenge events
  • 100" Model - developed for national and international competitive safaris, hill rallies and other off-road championships
  • 106" Model - An extended version of the 100", designed to accommodate rear-engine layouts or additional fuel and spare wheel storage, perfect for rally raid events.

All Tomcat models are also suitable for use as road cars, and some have even found their way onto the track.

Building Options

Vehicles can be built in a range of configurations:

  • Using selected new and used components (subject to details)
  • with a complete donor vehicle, including registration and V5
  • Entirely from new parts to qualify for registration as a brand-new, road legal vehicle

While the models follow defined development lines, no two Tomcats are ever exactly the same. Each vehicle is tailored to the owner's specific requirements. From supplying a bare chassis frame to delivering a full factory build - or anything in between - Tomcat Motorsport offers a flexible, customer-focused approach, based on your goals and budget.

The Objective

In the early 1980s, Drew Bowler set out to design purpose-built off-road competition vehicles based on Land Rover platforms. His objective was simple; to create machines that could outperform their standard counterparts in off-road events- while remaining accessible and affordable for Bowler and Tomcat owners alike.

This founding principle continues to define the Tomcat brand today. At Tomcat Motorsport, we remain committed to producing cost-effective, competition-ready vehicles and components suitable for both off-road racing and road use.

As the automotive landscape evolves, so do we. Tomcat Motorsport is actively adapting to meet modern performance expectations, comply with legislation requirements, and address environmental responsibilities - ensuring the Tomcat legacy remains strong well into the future.

Tomcat

Environmental Responsibilities

Environmental responsibility is a pressing concern in today's world, and Tomcat Motorsport is no exception. In fact, long before sustainability became a mainstream issue, Tomcat Motorsport had already adopted environmentally conscious practices- almost by accident.

From the beginning, out operations have embraced resourcefulness and sustainability through actions such as:

  • Repurposing Land Rover Vehicles: Instead of scrapping tired or outdated Land Rovers, we we transform them into high-performance Bowler and Tomcat builds. Repurposing existing them significantly reduces carbon emissions compared to manufacturing entirely new ones.
  • Recyclable Materials: The vast majority of materials used in the construction of Tomcat are fully recyclable - with the exception of tyres.
  • Minimal Annual Usage: Tomcat vehicles generally have very low annual milage, especially compared to daily road cars. As a result, their overall emissions footprint is considerably smaller.
  • Local sourcing: We strive to source parts locally wherever possible to minimise the carbon impact of long-distances shipping

In addition to our longstanding practices, we are actively developing new initiatives to further reduce our environment impact:

Modern Donor Vehicles:

We are increasingly using newer Land Rover donor vehicles. This allow us to continue our repurposing philosophy while benefiting from improved baseline efficiency and lower emissions in newer platforms.

Responsible Waste Management:

All waste from manufacturing are handled with care. Recyclable materials are separated and processed accordingly, while contaminated materials are disposed of responsibly and, where feasible, recycled.

Sustainable Manufacturing:

Wherever, we repurpose existing parts. When new components are required, we aim to use fully recyclable materials.

  • No Carbon Fibre Policy: Although recyclable, carbon fibre is currently not cost-effective to process. We have chosen not to use it in our builds but continue monitor advancements in recycling technologies.
  • Fibreglass Recycling: We are exploring effective methods to recycle fibreglass and reduce our reliance on landfill disposal.
  • Fossil-Free Fuel Promotion: As part of our upcoming race series, we aim to promote the use of fossil-free octane fuel. This carbon-neutral fuel keeps in internal combustion engines (ICEs) viable in a more sustainable future and aligns with our values.
  • Alternative Powertrains: We are actively researching alternative powertrain technologies that offer genuine environmental benefits, while still meeting the performance needs of our customers.
  • Renewable Energy of Our Facility: We're investigating the installation of wind turbines, solar panels, and battery storage to power our factory with clean, renewable energy - reducing both costs and our carbon footprint.
  • Factory Heating from Waste oil: our heating system uses recycled waste oil, further reducing our dependence on fossil fuel.

Tomcat Motorsport is committed to continually improving its environmental impact while staying true to its roots - building purposeful, exciting, and sustainable off-road vehicles for the future.

Our History

Tomcat Motorsport Ltd was founded in 2001 by Paul Williamson - proud owner of the oldest production Bowler, which he still competes in when time allows - and Steve Wells, who once owned Bowler chassis number 2. The company was established to continue the production of Tomcat vehicles and to provide support for the Bowler Wildcat 100s after Drew Bowler shifted his focus to the development of the renowned Bowler Wildcat 200.

Shortly after taking over, Tomcat Motorsport expanded the vehicle lineup with the introduction of two new models; the 93 and the 106, adding to the existing range of the 80,88, and 100. This marked the beginning of a significant era of innovation and product development.

In July 2003, Paul and Steve, together with new partner Ian Frame, acquired a company to manufacture their own fibreglass bodywork. Ian's extensive expertise in composites enabled the team to enhance and diversify the bodywork offering. This included the development of doors, dashboards, GRP transmission tunnels, rear cooling scoops, and - in 2004 - the first Tomcat produced with an all-metallic get coat finish.

The same year, Tomcat Motorsport moved from its original, cramped premises into a significantly larger workshop, tripling its available space. This move allowed for increased efficiency, investment in new equipment, and the ability to support both kit builds and full "turnkey" Tomcat vehicles. The new facility also expanded the company's service to include 4x4 repairs, competition vehicles preparation, and ongoing servicing.

After 23 years of successful operation in Skellingthorpe, Tomcat Motorsport Ltd was acquired by Hoften Holdings Ltd in 2024, with Paul Williamson continuing as a key figure in the business. In August 2024, the Skellingthorpe facility was closed, and operations were moved to a new, purpose-built factory on Coach Gap Lane, Langar, Nottingham (NG13 9HP).

A Global Reach

Thanks to strong media coverage in the British off-road press and the enduring popularity of Land Rover-based platforms, Tomcat Motorsport has developed a global reputation. Vehicles and kits have been exported to a wide range of international markets including the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean, and even Iceland.

From modest beginnings to international recognition, Tomcat Motorsport Ltd remains committed to producing capable, exciting and bespoke off-road vehicles that honour their heritage while embracing the future.

The Future

Motorsport is constantly evolving, with new generations of competitors, technologies and expectations reshaping this landscape. At Tomcat Motorsport, we recognise the need to adapt in order to stay relevant and meet long-term demand.

While our current tomcat model range remains highly desirable - with consistently strong sales and loyal customer support - we are mindful of the future. As such, while there is no immediate plan to alter our existing lineup, we are actively exploring developments to ensure the continued success and sustainability of Tomcat Motorsport. Key areas of focus for the future include:

Reliance on donor cars for current models

One of the key challenges we face is the declining availability of used live axle Land Rover components. As these donors vehicles become increasingly rare, their cost continues to rise- affecting both supply and affordability. In response, Tomcat Motorsport is actively developing new solutions and product evolutions that reduce our reliance on traditional live axle donor vehicles.

Our primary objective is to enable customers to build any model from the existing Tomcat range using significantly fewer - or, ideally, no - donor components. We've already made substantial progress in this area and are committed to pushing this development further.

We'll continue to share updates on our progress through our social media channels, so stay tuned.

Target Audience

Tomcat Motorsport has built a loyal and passionate following over the years, and we are truly grateful for the continued support of our customers and community. We remain committed to preserving the core of what makes Tomcat vehicles special. As such, we have no intention of altering the design of our ALRC-complaint models and will continue to produce the popular 100" and 106" variants in their current, proven form.

However, for the Tomcat brand to continue growing, we must broaden our appeal and reach new audiences. To do this, we are actively working to showcase Tomcat Motorsport to a wider enthusiast market - particularly through the development of our road car programme, which offers a unique alternative to other specialist sports cars.

To support this evolution, subtle refinements will be made to complement our existing model range. These changes aim to increase usability and modern appeal without compromising the vehicle's performance on original spirit. Areas of development include:

  • Integration of more modern drivetrain options
  • Improved interior comfort and layout
  • Enhanced accessibility
  • Practical additions such as functional rear flatbread or enclosed boot space

Read assured, any design enhancement will be implemented with care to preserve the essence and off-road capability Tomcat is know for. We value for feedback and will continue to share our progress and updates through our social media channels.

New Models

Development of the Tomcat model range has never stood still. Even today, Tomcat remain lightweight, capable, and - depending on specification - both powerful and highly competitive. Whether used for motorsport or leisure, they continue to offer an engaging and rewarding driving experience.

However, on challenge is becoming increasingly clear: Land Rover live axle donor vehicles, once central to Tomcat builds, have not been manufactured since 2006. As result, sourcing suitable donor vehicles is becoming more difficult and costly.

To address this, we are now looking ahead to develop a new Tomcat model based on modern Land Rover components. This new vehicle will, like our current range, be available in kit form and continue to offer the exceptional value Tomcat Motorsport is known for.

Most importantly, this will not replace our existing model range. The current 80", 88", 93", 100" and 106" models will remain in full production, with no plans to phase them out. The new model is intended to run alongside the established lineup, expanding our offering and ensuring we remain relevant to future generations of enthusiasts.

We are still in the early stages of development, and at this point, no further information will be released. When we are ready to share more, updates will be provided here on our website - not via social media.