Mike Hewland ran a small engineering business at Maidenhead in the UK with a specialty in gear cutting. In 1959, Bob Gibson-Jarvie, the Chief Mechanic of UDT Laystall racing team running Cooper F2 cars, sought help from Hewland as gearbox troubles were experienced. This led to six successful gearboxes being designed and built in 1959, marking Hewland's entry into the gearbox business.
The first transaxle product, the Hewland Mk.I of 1960, was a minor modification of the Volkswagen Beetle 4-speed transaxle. It was used upside-down with custom-made differential housing side plates for the midship-engine Lola Mk.III. The Hewland Mk.II was a similar 4-speed transaxle with further modifications for the Coventry Climax-engined Elva Mk.VI 1.1-litre sports racer in 1961.
The Hewland Mk.III of 1962 became the first product available to the public. It utilized the magnesium alloy case of the Beetle transaxle to house five pairs of bespoke straight-cut constant mesh spur gears with dog rings operated by custom-made brass shift forks. The removal of synchromesh parts created space for an additional pair of gears for a 5th speed. This Mk.III proved popular for small displacement formula cars and racing sports cars, forming the foundation for later products.
The Mk.IV featured a tail casing made by Hewland, with the selector rod positioned on the right side lower, facing forward. This design simplified shifter linkage for chassis manufacturers. Alongside its high-torque version, the Mk.V, the Mk.IV became a significant seller, contributing to Hewland's growth. The Mk.VI of 1965 was an improved version of the Mk.IV, establishing Hewland as a dominant volume production transaxle manufacturer in the small displacement midship-engine racing car market. Its adoption as a de facto standard in the newly established Formula Ford series further solidified its position.
The advantages of the Hewland transaxle series included dog-ring gear selection for extremely quick shifting. The design also allowed for changing gear ratios on the 2nd through 5th speeds without removing the transaxle from the vehicle or detaching it from the engine. Its upside-down usage enabled dry sump racing engines to be mounted low on the chassis. The 3rd, 4th, and 5th gears shared the same thickness and drive/driven axis distance, making them interchangeable. The magnesium alloy Volkswagen case contributed to its strength and light weight.
While Hewland has been claimed as the first company to make racing car gearboxes, earlier examples exist. A transaxle in an aluminum alloy case for racing purposes in a midship-engine configuration was designed by Ferdinand Porsche and built by Horch in 1933 for the Auto Union Type A. Valerio Colotti produced gearboxes for racing before 1959, with his transaxle for midship-engine racing cars debuting on May 10, 1959, at the Monaco Grand Prix on a Behra-Porsche. Colotti's 5-speed T.32 transaxle, weighing less than 35 kg, was used by Rob Walker in 1960. Lotus Engineering also created a transaxle for the front-engine Lotus 12 in 1957, designed by Richard Ansdale and Harry Mundy. This unit was adapted for midship-engine use in the Lotus 18, which debuted on April 8, 1960.
Hewland dominated racing in the 1960s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. The company's product range included iconic gearboxes such as the DG (Drag), FT200 (F2), TL (Lola T70), Mk.IX (F1), and the FGA/FGB/TGA/DGB family, which were used by Formula 1 teams during the DFV engine era. Hewland remains a leading company in racing transmissions, with a focus that has shifted somewhat toward custom engineering work for vehicle manufacturers. In addition to traditional manual transmission products covering most racing and rallying classes, Hewland now offers complete semi-automatic transmission system components, including shift actuators, throttle actuators, compressors, shift position sensors, and steering wheel paddle-shift systems.
Hewland has been involved in the Formula E racing series since its inauguration, supplying transmissions to the entire grid of competitors. The company continues to be a key supplier in this series.
Hewland has diversified into various markets beyond traditional racing transmissions. The company provided a custom high-torque transmission for the Buckeye Bullet 3, which holds the electric land speed record at 549.4 km/h (341.4 mph). Hewland has also contributed to various track day cars, notably the Caparo T1 and BAC Mono, both of which featured gearboxes designed and manufactured by the company.
In a July 1974 interview in Car&Driver magazine, M. Hewland discussed his work with head engineer John Logan on a 500 cc, single-cylinder, sleeve valve engine. This research, aimed at Formula 1, stemmed from Hewland's experience in a 'Mobile Labor Force' at Bristol during World War II. Hewland claimed the racing version of the engine achieved 70-73 HP and 47.5 Lb.ft, with a fuel economy of .45 lb/HP/Hr, while an economy engine achieved .39 lb/HP/Hr.
In early 2021, Hero Motors Company bought a stake in Hewland. The company currently employs 130 people at its Maidenhead facility and supplies transmissions for Formula 1, Formula E, DTM, LMP, Rallycross, Prototype, and GT Sportscar series.
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