Caterham has toasted its best sales in 20 years after customers snapped up its Seven range.
The British sports car specialist sold more than 600 of the Caterham Seven model last year — its best result since 1996.
Britons snapped up more 55 per cent of them, and the French and Japanese made up the bulk of vehicles shipped overseas.
The group, which has been selling cars since 1973, said the EU referendum result had no impact on its exports and they had remained “consistently strong” throughout the year.
It sold more than 100 Sevens in France and more than 60 in Japan, and said customers were particularly drawn to its Seven 310 and retro Seven Sprint models.
The latter proved particularly popular and made up 10 per cent of total sales, after all 60 of the samples sold out at its launch.
Caterham, which makes all its models in the UK, has a reputation among sports car enthusiasts for its low costs, with prices ranging from £17,000 (NZ$21,000) to £50,490 (NZ$86,800).
Chief executive Graham Macdonald said: “Despite the political change, as we forecast, Brexit's impact on our business has been negligible.”
Caterham Cars has its roots in the Lotus Seven sports car, designed in 1957 by Colin Chapman. The Lotus Seven was offered in kit form to allow buyers to avoid car tax in Britain.
Caterham Cars was a major dealer of the cars, and bought the rights to manufacture it when Lotus discontinued the model.
The company is now owned by AirAsia tycoon Tony Fernandes, of Malaysia.
-Daily Mail