old garages

[Pete]

Talking of Kennings, this cinema complex used to be the Sheffield branch and other than being an MG dealer was a distibutor for Morris amongst others.

[georgek]

Found a nice Austin showroom 150 Park Lane, London W1 I think but can't find present day building?

That's 'The Car Mart Ltd' which I think was bought out by the Kennings group and it latterly became if I'm not mistaken the first Hard Rock Cafe in London :

Pete, thanks for that very interesting, I went down Park Lane twice on Google maps and still missed it!!!

[IAIN]

A bit early for a mini but I found this garage, it's in ( or was ) 560 Pershore Road Selly Park, I think Birmingham,while looking for Archers, Rookery Road, Handsworth, which I never found.

I think that's an Austin sign above the kiosk door.

[Pete]

Yep Taylor and Grainger were an Austin dealer.

[RS6]

In Preston (Lancashire) the Morris dealership was held by Loxham's on Corporation Street, which was subsequently taken over by Dutton Forshaw.

This is the Loxham's site in 1965...

.

as Dutton Forshaw in 1978 (prior to demolition of The Public Hall)...



and today...



The Austin dealership in the town was held by Dunderdale & Yates at Austin House on Fishergate.

This is the site in 1944 when the premises were requisitioned as a 'shadow factory' to manufacture parts for the Halifax bomber - hence the policeman on duty and the anti tank traps placed around the building. The sign above Austin House is a leftover from the previous tenant, Lookers of Preston.



This is the site in 1964...



and today...



There was also a BMC 'sub-dealership' in the town called Stan Marks Ltd. whose showroom was on Lancaster Road. Their workshop was a short distance away on Garstang Road.

This is Stan Marks' showroom prior to demolition...



and today...



This is Stan Marks' workshop in 1960...



and today...

[georgek]

Interesting history and pictures nice to see the before and after especially the 'shadow factory' to manufacture parts for the Halifax bomber!

[Pete]

The after shots more often than not always seem to show some disposable hut covered in cladding or glass. Some garages did escape the developers , here's Slade's Garage, once an Austin dealership in Penn, Bucks. Now a sports and classic car showroom.....

[RS6]

The after shots more often than not always seem to show some disposable hut covered in cladding or glass. Some garages did escape the developers , here's Slade's Garage, once an Austin dealership in Penn, Bucks.

Very true Pete. Here's Slade's Garage in the 1960's...

[Longbridge 1]

Just joined the forum and noticed this thread about old garages and as a Brummie lad i well remember Archers in Handsworth, as visiting my Grandparents we used to drive past it at the top end of Rookery Road on the left just be for you turned on to the Soho Rd. It was still there the last time i drove past it earlier this year but a bit run down and i think still used as some form of garage

Regards
Steve

[IAIN]

Thanks Steve
I think I found Archers on google street view. It looks like its called Direct Autos now. Not quite what I expected for an old Austin garage. Times change.

[monte chris]

This is a bit tenuous and not quite 'in period' (1980) - a parade to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of 14th Battalion of Sherwood Foresters:

Good to see the price of petrol hasn't changed too much in the past 30 years!

Very interesting in seeing the past and present pictures of Slade garage. Never gave it a second thought even though I go past it most days!

Cheers

Chris

[Pete]

Another one for the Brummies this is Evans & Kitchen Austin main dealer. Austin Gypsy seen perched on the roof ready to demonstrate it's agility. I think they were told to remove the ramp pretty soon after !


Not sure the building exists anymore ?

[Pete]

Closer to home, Rodney Bloor's Sports Motors of Manchester ..



That Zephyr was the tow barge for many an exotic sports racing car.


Mr Ratcliffe senior and aspiring racing driver Harry outside Ratcliffe Bros, Mount Green Garage Littleborough. Clearly a Morris (and Wolseley) dealership which explains why nearly all of the BRT/Vita race minis were Morris's......

[georgek]

The Car Mart Ltd, Austin garage 382 Streatham High Rd picture taken in 1954 sadly not as nice now!!!

[RS6]

Closer to home, Rodney Bloor's Sports Motors of Manchester ..

Is now an Indian Restaurant.

[AMCO72]

Aren't those old garages and dealerships just amazing. I especially liked Slades that RS6 posted. Wonder if it has been converted to a dwelling now, like an old branch-line railway station. I dont suppose the conditions for the poor mechanic were all that wonderful though, no hoist only a pit. Come to think of it a lot of these smaller garages were family run, so the owner may also have been the 'poor' mechanic while his wife took over office duties and pumped petrol. We had a few like that in NZ years ago; all gone now of course, and some that struggled on got taken over by the oil companies and dragged into line according to company policy. If petrol sales fell off the place was shut down, often to become a roadside cafe, some of which did very well. We have definately lost something in this day and age.

[Pandora]

Aren't those old garages and dealerships just amazing. I especially liked Slades that RS6 posted. Wonder if it has been converted to a dwelling now, like an old branch-line railway station.

nope, http://www.sladesgarage.com/

the cars are more modern, but the backdrop is preserved.

I used to know their salesman, I think his name was Ed Sendall?

[1959si]

Does anyone have any pictures of a garage called M.B.Motors 334-336 New Cross Road SE14 or have any ideas where to search? This was where my 1959 Morris Mini Minor was sent to, although i have not had any luck on finding a picture of the place.

Thanks,

Simon

[Longbridge 1]

Just recalling some other garages i remember local to me in the Longbridge area but have long gone. Spot-On at Northfield (Triumph Dealership) ,Tessall Garage i think was an Austin dealership and Owens of Rubery was i think a Morris Dealership from my failing memory. The Spot-On premisis is still there and at one time a cycle shop and now a car wash outlet, and Tessall lane was knocked down and in its place is now a job centre (very ironic) and Owens became a indoor market but has now been bulldozed . Sorry i have no photos to put on here but somebody out there may be able to help?

Cheers
Steve

[tomkidd]

Following on from the Preston Garages here another image. I also seem to remember that recently when they built the new building for the University on Marsh lane they discovered an old sign that had been covered up for years. I can't find anything about it on the internet but it was in the local paper.