Martin Colvill began selling Lotus cars in South West London in 1966. In March 1970, he partnered with Bobby Bell to establish Bell & Colvill. The duo ran their sales and service operations from West Horsley and Caterham, successfully serving customers for over four decades. In 2012, they sold the business to a local businessman and car enthusiast, though both remained dedicated as non-executive directors until their passings in 2017 and 2022.
Bell & Colvill’s engineering achievements were numerous, including the design and creation of the first Esprit Turbo in 1978—well before the factory version was released—as well as Alfa-Romeo turbos and a variety of Lotus modifications. Recognising the potential of the Lotus Elise and Exige for tuning and track use, they pioneered special editions and track-specific upgrades.
Since 2012, Bell & Colvill has undergone significant evolution while staying true to its commitment to outstanding customer service and a passion for representing exciting brands. In 2013, Morgan appointed Bell & Colvill as a main dealer, followed by McLaren Automotive in 2019, naming Bell & Colvill as the UK’s first Aftersales-only retailer. McLaren Guildford now operates at their state-of-the-art aftersales facility on the Slyfield Industrial Estate, serving Lotus, McLaren, Morgan, Subaru, and Saab customers with comprehensive service and parts departments.
The iconic West Horsley location remains the company’s headquarters and showroom for Lotus, Morgan, and Subaru, with a refreshed facility to welcome customers.
Bell & Colvill is proud to have earned the following distinctions:
- 2020: Lotus Aftersales Retailer of the Year
- 2020: Top UK Lotus Sales
- 2021: UK & Europe Retailer of the Year
