When Charles Borg and Marshall Beck started their tool company in 1903, which by 1910 was supplying the first sliding clutch to over a dozen car makers, it probably never occurred to them that their names would still be world famous over 100 years later.

Both of them came from humble roots; Charles Borg had emigrated from Sweden to America in 1881 and had worked as a furniture maker and as a machinist for some years before teaming up with Marshall Beck, who was of German origin. Together with Charles’ son George and their chief machinist Gust Nelson, they developed and patented the original sliding clutch.


In 1918 they moved their factory from the original site in Moline, Illinois to Chicago. In 1928 Borg & Beck was merged with Warner Gear and other companies to form Borg-Warner, with George as its first President.

In 1931 Borg & Beck clutches came to England when Automotive Products were granted a license to use the name. A Humber 16hp saloon was the first car to be fitted with the new technology, but soon Borg & Beck was the market leader in the UK, not only for passenger cars but for many other vehicle types as well. Many icons of the British motor industry such as the Morris Minor, the (original) Mini and the Jaguar E-Type were all fitted with Borg & Beck clutches.


In the racing world, a Borg & Beck clutch enabled the Jaguar XK120C and later in the 1950’s, the D-Type to dominate the Le Mans 24 Hours. Drivers like Stirling Moss, Mike Hawthorn and Graham Hill all relied on Borg & Beck.

The success story continued throughout the decades both in terms of a continuous presence in motor sport and OEM contracts won. The aftermarket also grew in volume and diversity thus becoming an important and integral part of the development of the Borg and Beck business.

As vehicle designs changed over the years, so has component technology with Borg & Beck at the forefront of product and range development.

BORG & BECK