Is AB Performance Still in Business? (2026 Update)
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Look for AB Performance on AmazonFull story →Andy Bates pitched his bike-engined car business, built around the Sabre model, in series 9.
The company he ran no longer exists as an independent business, having closed in 2024.
A Big Slice for the Cash
Bates wanted £50,000 for 35 percent of the company, a large chunk of ownership to part with, which suggests a founder chasing a recognisable name and quick funding over keeping majority control.
Peter Jones agreed to the terms unchanged. Jones's own history in performance vehicles and engineering businesses made him a reasonably obvious fit for a manufacturer building enthusiast-grade cars around motorcycle engines.
Fifteen Years, Then a Hard Stop
For years after the deal, Bates stayed the go-to name for Britain's small, devoted bike-engined car crowd, keeping enthusiasts stocked with parts and technical know-how.
That ended in 2024, and Bates himself has spoken about how hard closing the business was. Its Facebook page and website passed to MK Sportscars and Kit Car Direct, which now manage parts and servicing, though the Sabre and Arion models themselves were not part of that handover and are no longer being built by anyone.
What Owners Can Still Get
Owners already driving a Sabre or an Arion are not completely stuck, since the two successor firms have picked up parts and service work, even though nobody is building new units of either car.