Quinton Hazell originally started as an automotive parts manufacturer in Colwyn Bay, North Wales the owner Eric Quinton Hazell started manufacturing ball joints and steering components in 1946.

At its peak in the 1950s and 60s, QH sold to more than 160 countries worldwide.
Born in Burnage, near Manchester, on 14 December 1920, he attended Manchester Grammar School where he proved his sporting prowess as an excellent swimmer and rugby player. On leaving, instead of going to university, he chose to embark on an apprenticeship in a chain of garages owned by a family friend in Colwyn Bay.

He was 18 when the Second World War broke out and was sent to France with the British Expeditionary Force in 1939. Evacuated from Dunkirk, he finished his service as Battery Quarter Master Sergeant Royal Artillery.
During the war, Hazell saw how the Americans presented their motor spares – well-coded and easy to use – and after demobilisation visited the United States to observe how their motor trade was organised.
He returned in 1946 and, with the help of a pounds 5,000 legacy, a staff of four friends and his wife Morwenna (Parry-Jones) , set up his own company to manufacture and sell motor parts.

1971 he purchased an empty factory at Redditch, previously owned by BSA, which would provide double the capacity of the Colwyn Bay plant, in order to take advantage of opportunities expected from joining the Common Market.

In 1966 Quinton Hazell head office is based in Hazel House, Blackdown, Leamington Spa and by 1972 have also acquired a factory in Preston to make vehicle exhausts.

2 May 1979, Quinton Hazell announces that they are sponsoring this year the famous Isle of Man TT race

He is appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Warwickshire in 1982 and was appointed a CBE for political services in 1978.

In 1995 Eric was knighted and he died a year later in Barford, Warwickshire on 24 June 1996, aged 76, as Sir Quinton Hazell MBE.

1973 The remaining parts of Quinton Hazell was sold to Burmah Oils and then again in 1986 to the American firm, Echlin.

It was then owned by Dana Corporation from 1998 and Affinia from 2004 before being acquired by Klarius in 2010.

1986 Part of Quinton Hazell had been sold to a management buy out from Burmah Oils which was then renamed Partco, but by 1999 it has been bought out by Uniparts to form Leylands Cars spares division which was established in 1975.

2011 Unipart Automotive was sold to H2 Equity Partners.

February 2013, Klarius owner of Quinton Hazell is now in administration and have closed down the Mochdre, Conway Road Factory after its first opening 67 years ago.

The intellectual property rights relating to the Quinton Hazell Automotive business were sold to Tetrosyl I-Tec, which owns brands such as T-Cut car polish.

https://www.tetrosyl.com/brands/qh/