Robson Graham

Graham Robson was one of the world’s most respected automotive historians, with a long history in the British motoring and motorsport industries, and over 160 books to his credit.

Born in 1936, and educated at Ermysteds Grammar School in Yorkshire, Graham went on to study Engineering at Oxford University. He joined Jaguar Cars as a graduate trainee, becoming involved in design work on the Mk II, E-Type and Mark X.

Beginning as a hobby, Graham became a rally co-driver, eventually joining the Sunbeam ‘works’ team in 1961, and taking part in rallies up to International level (once with Roger Clark), but stopped rallying by 1968. During this time he joined Standard-Triumph in Coventry, in 1961, as a Development Engineer, mainly on sports car projects. He then ran the re-opened ‘works’ motorsport department from 1962 to 1965, this being the period of the birth of Spitfire Le Mans cars, TR4, Vitesse, Spitfire and 2000 rally car developments.

Graham’s writing career began with rally reports for magazines, these evolving into a job with Autocar from 1965-1969. He was recruited back to industry at Rootes to run the Product Proving department, then, after a brief period in 1972 as technical director of a safety belt company, became an independent motoring writer.

Graham lived ‘by the pen’ and ‘by the voice,’ not only writing but commentating, presenting and organising events of all types. A unique and much-loved character, Graham died in 2021.