This is an overview and legacy of RS Williams.
Keep scrolling to learn about the company's origins, how Richard built a dedicated and experienced workforce, established a successful race team, gained a reputation for renowned engine rebuilds, and developed an impressive network of clients and contacts.
The 1960s marked the beginning of it all. London was buzzing with art, music and fashion, epitomised by the country's influential music exports. However, Richard had a different passion than art – engineering. After carefully considering two job offers from AC and Aston Martin, he ultimately chose Aston Martin. And thus, the legacy began.
Richard Williams left school and began an apprenticeship with Aston Martin at Feltham. He then served his apprenticeship under the tutelage of John Wyer, the Aston Martin Race Team manager, and Sir David Brown, who led Aston Martin to victory in 1959 with the DBR1 driven by Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori.
Pictured: John Wyer
A beautiful sight of Aston Martin project cars 212/214/5 lightweights on the back of the Aston factory transporter.
Four years later, Aston Martin relocated to Newport Pagnell and Richard went with them where he met actor and comedian Peter Sellers. Sellers, a serial Aston owner and car enthusiast, frequently visited the factory. Richard then left Aston Martin to work for Sellers, taking care of both Sellers' road and race cars while living above the garage at Seller's home in neighbouring Elstead. Richard also managed the nascent Peter Sellers Racing Team, preparing and racing Lotus 23s, Formula 3 Lotus 35s, and Mini Cooper S's.
Pictured: Actor and comedian Peter Sellers and Swedish actress Britt Ekland
With £1,000 from mother Ivy (who managed the accounts) and helped by Sellers recommending his services to other Aston owners, and still only 23-years- old, he set up Richard Stewart Williams Limited (RS Williams) under railway arches in Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, London. The Company was formed.
Richard and his wife Carol used to engage in their own marketing by placing RS Williams business cards under the windscreen wipers of Aston Martins around London.
During the 1970s, the company experienced significant growth by servicing, selling, and racing Aston Martins. Richard enjoyed much success in the competitive world of motor racing with Project 212 and Mike Salmon, DBR1/1 and of course DB4’s. During This time Richard also managed various Le Mans teams.
Richard Williams navigates a right-hander in his DB4/108/R and collects his prize at Wiscombe Hill Climb.
One of the more successful outcomes of the unique marketing approach of Richard and Carol was when Don Thompson reached out to have some work done on his 1958 MKIII Drophead. Richard gladly accepted the job, which led to Don's son Neil Thompson joining RS Williams. Some might consider it fate. In that same year, Richard and Neil moved to larger premises on Padfield Road in Brixton.
Pictured left to right: Lady Downe, Mike Salmon, Neil Thompson, Richard Williams and Lord Downe.
Richard’s helping hands with an Aston Martin DB5 in the pits at the 6 Hour Relay Race, Donnington, 7 October 1978.
Mike Salmon racing Lord Downe’s Ford GT40. This was the same GT40 that was retired in the 1967 Le Mans after fire damage.
Francois Duret's "Mad Frog" DB4 Racer was named after his antics both on and off the track. This marked the first instance of using a DB4 lightweight as a race car, making Richard a pioneer in this movement. To date, we have built a total of 11 of these Astons.
Richard and the wider company had a successful career in the 1980s. Richard was approached to run the Group C teams and managed the Aston Martin Nimrods in 1982, 1983, and 1984, as well as the Ecurie Ecosse C2's in 1985, 1986, and 1987. Under his leadership, the teams became World C2 Sports Car Champions in 1986.
In 1989, he also managed the Aston Martin Works Group C team. During this time, the usual day-to-day business had to pause, and RS Williams primarily sold parts while Richard worked from Milton Keynes in Proteus Technology. Ray Mallock, Michael Bowler, Neil Thompson and the core RS Williams team all followed suit.
Mike Salmon, the winner of the Lloyds and Scottish race series, drove an RS Williams prepared DBR1/1 owned by Viscount Downe. The team members at that time included Richard Williams, Viscount Downe, Lady Downe, Neil Thompson, and, of course, driver Mike Salmon.
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RS Williams prepared race cars loading up on the Transporter for the Dubai Grand Prix, which marked the world's first appearance of the Aston Martin Nimrod Le Mans Car. The racing started.
Standing in the white shirt is Roger St John Hart, an early owner of an Aston Martin Zagato who later became a customer and friend of RS Williams. The car in the picture is a DB4 Lightweight, which has been tuned and serviced by RS Williams.
DB4GT Zagato 2 VEV at Oulton Park. Jacqueline, our financial director is the young girl beside the car.
Viscount Downe's Aston Martin Pace Petroleum Nimrod raced at Le Mans. Drivers Mike Salmon, Simon Phillips, and Ray Mallock held the 4th position throughout the night, trailing the three Works Rothmans Porsche’s. The team ultimately finished 7th overall at Le Mans, earning the Steering Wheel Club award for being the first British car home this year.
Team mechanics: George Fowles, Jim Stokes, Neil Thompson and Martin Pugsley at Le Mans 1983 with the Bovis Nimrod.
Packing, cleaning up and going home after 1983 Le Mans.
Viscount Downe’s Bovis Nimrod on the track at Le Mans. Unfortunately, both Bovis Nimrods crashed in the same accident during the 6th hour that year.
Roy Salvadori navigated Viscount Downe’s DBR1/1 with precision at Goodwood, with the invaluable assistance of RS Williams in the creation of a film capturing the iconic moment.
Hot off the press: RS Williams has developed a 6.3-litre V8 engine. In 1988, the rights to the project and the vehicle for the 6.3-litre engine were sold to Aston Martin Works. The vehicle was later re-acquired in the early 90s and became the RSW 7-litre engine development car.
This same year RS Williams raced one Ecurie Ecosse C2 at Le Mans, with Bovis sponsored C285 DFV.
The Goodwood film shoot from the previous year – a cinematic masterpiece crafted with the legendary Roy Salvadori at its helm.
The Ecurie Ecosse C2 Le Mans World Championship winning team included drivers Ray Mallock, David Leslie, and Mike Wilds. They were joined by RS Williams team members Neil Thompson and Martin Pugsley. RS Williams ran two cars, one with a DFV engine.
Ecurie Ecosse C2 World Le Mans Team with special guest Postman Pat, we also ran a second car again this year.
The Aston Martin Le Mans team at Proteus Technology Milton Keynes consists of Richard Williams, Neil Thompson, Michael Bowler, and Ray Mallock.
A phlegmatic Richard Williams in the pits as the AMR1 team manager.
AMR1 Works-Aston team manager Richard Williams issues instructions during a mid-race stop for AMR1/04 at the 1989 Brands Hatch 1000km.
Chief mechanic Neil Thompson is overseeing the AMR1 on the grid, while the car looks sleek on the track.
RS Williams relocated to Cobham and assembled a dedicated, loyal, and experienced workforce. This workforce possessed extensive expertise in Aston Martin servicing, fabrication, engineering, and race preparation. As a result, RS Williams was poised to become one of the top companies in the Aston Martin heritage industry.
The team achieved further success in racing, including participating in the N24 and a long-distance endurance race from Peking to Paris. This period was marked by significant achievements, anniversaries and upgrades. It was truly a transformative decade for RS Williams.
RS Williams was appointed by Aston Martin owners Victor Gauntlett and Peter Livanos to build four Sanction 2 DB4GT Zagatos for Aston Martin from 1988 to 1991.
Santa Pod 7 Litre V8 Zagato Volante. Richard drove this vehicle over a distance of one mile in 13.44 seconds.
The Goodwood Revival, started by Lord March in 1998, marked the return of the Tourist Trophy since 1966. In the picture, we can see Project DP212, a car prepared by RS Williams, with Mike Salmon behind the wheel.
A year later, the same Project DP212 returns at Goodwood Revival, this time with Martin Brundle behind the wheel.
The skilled workforce established in the 1990s witnessed the introduction of modern interpretations of Heritage Aston Martins in the early 2000s. The team built two Sanction III Zagatos, upgraded the 7-litre V8 engine made in the 90s, and also initiated a contemporary racing team featuring the Aston Martin N24.
The RS Williams developed 7-litre V8 in all its glory at the Cobham workshop.
In this conversation, Ted Cutting, the man who designed the Le Mans winning DBR1, talks with Richard Williams.
Sir Stirling Moss was reunited with DBR1/1 at the Cobham workshop, with race mechanic Brett Creed sitting alongside.
Racing legend Brian Redman is seen driving the same DBR1/1 at Goodwood Revival a year later.
Richard Williams is seen at Windsor Castle in his 4 Door Lagonda, in front of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, for the St. George's Day Parade.
The N24 V8 Vantage Race car is driven by Michael Mallock, with Brett Creed serving as the chief engineer.
The team achieved further success in racing, including participating in the N24 and a long-distance endurance race from Peking to Paris. Throughout this period of significant achievements, there were also anniversaries, upgrades, and retirements. It was truly a transformative decade for RS Williams.
N24 continues to achieve success by securing the pole position at Magny Cours.
A victory in Portimao, Portugal, along with winners and podium trophies on display at the Cobham showroom.
The RS Williams prepared DB5 Rally Car participated in the Peking to Paris endurance race, adding to a busy and successful start of the decade. The car is pictured here at the workshop in Cobham, crossing a river, and driving across the vast plains of Mongolia.
A lineup of racing green DB4GTs in Cobham is quite impressive. Only 75 GTs were ever produced, and yet there were four lined up at the Cobham workshop.
RS Williams upgraded their in-house engine and machine shops. Additionally, the image shows the RSW-built 4.7 Litre DB4GT Engine running on the in-house engine dynamometer.
Richard retired and handed over to Neil Thompson, who became the Managing Director. Jacqueline Menzies, Richard's eldest daughter, took over as the Financial Director. It marks a new era for RS Williams.
Neil Thompson was presented with this memorabilia in recognition of his over 40 years of service at RS Williams. This is a significant achievement for both the company and personally for Neil.
DB4GT 1 VEV, DBR1/1, DB3S/9, DP199/1 at the Cobham workshop
Managing Director Neil Thompson is in discussion with Lady Diana Downe at our 50 years in business celebration party.
The 6 DB4GT Zagato line up at the Cobham workshop at the same 50 years in business party.
A DB3/S present in the Cobham workshop, along with a plethora of prestigious cars prepared by RS Williams.
DB3S Coupe DB3S/119 undergoing brake upgrades at the Cobham workshop.
From 2020 to the present, RS Williams has undertaken an increasing number of high-profile restorations. Each month, significant Aston Martins pass through the Cobham workshop. In addition, the company's expertise in discreet sales has led to the successful negotiation of some of the world's most important Post War Astons. As a result, RS Williams has reached the pinnacle of the heritage car world.
RS Williams rebuilt engine formation awaits a new life, ready to be reunited with the original Aston Martins.
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Sadly, Richard Williams passed away on August 12th, 2021, at the age of 76 after a short illness. In 2022, he was nominated for an MBE on the New Years Honours List.
We carried out a complete body-off restoration of a DB4GT Zagato Lightweight 0193/R. We proudly exhibited the car at the Goodwood Circuit and Hampton Court Concours, where it received the prestigious "best in class" award. Pictured is Neil & Jacqueline at the 2022 Hampton Court Concours
Some of the prestigious cars that RS Williams has had through the doors include the Aston Martin DB2 LML/50/283, a fully restored DB5/1355/R that went on tour in Argentina, and the Aston Martin DB1 AMC/49/5, before its restoration in 2022.
Managing Director Neil Thompson and Financial Director Jacqueline Menzies at the 2023 Hampton Court Concours.
Success at the 2024 Hampton Court Concours as our stunning DB4GT Zagato (DB4/0199/L), which we meticulously restored here at R.S. Williams, winning in the 1960s class.
An emphatic win for the R.S. Williams prepared and managed DB4GT (DB4/0124/R) in the Stirling Moss Memorial Trophy race at the Goodwood Revival, a fantastic result and a first win for a DB4GT at Goodwood since the great Sir Stirling Moss won in this very same DB4GT in 1960.
