The new owner of the Thrifty Car & Van Rental UK franchise, Scot Group Ltd has come a long way, over the last 35 years. Scot Group is a family run Company, which commenced trading in 1971 with a fleet of three Mark II Cortinas, one Escort and five commercial vehicles, all of which were second hand. The Company, initially called Scot Hire, began as a partnership between Clive Spokes and Maureen Bull, which was run from their home.