old garages

[mab01uk]

"Rob Walker with his Minisprint at Corsley Garage, near Warminster.


(Street view July 2021)

[mab01uk]

Thanks for posting up those pics of Woodcote Motor Company, Mab.

Been looking for information and pics of that garage for a long time now. That's where TVB 56F, my Mk2 998 Cooper, came from originally

Another early photo (1936) of the Woodcote Motor Company, Epsom, Surrey (later University Motors) has come to light.
Other later photos are on page 33 of this thread:-
viewtopic.php?p=205341#p205341


(Sadly the Art Deco garage and cinema are long gone...)

[111Robin]

And someone pointed out where it was and the fact it’s still there! It’s in Lochearnhead

Indeed it is. I've driven past it for many years and always wondered if there was anything interesting lurking behind the doors (not my car btw, my brother's)

[mab01uk]

The now-long gone Art Deco 'Belle Vue Garage' on Whitegate Drive, Blackpool (Photo taken Oct 2006, demolished April 2010).
"The site became a Sainsbury's Local Store, then Nisa. They have at least preserved the shape of the garage canopy and built the place in an Art Deco style."
Photo: Alistair Parker

[GraemeC]

Thanks for posting up those pics of Woodcote Motor Company, Mab.

Been looking for information and pics of that garage for a long time now. That's where TVB 56F, my Mk2 998 Cooper, came from originally

Another early photo of the Woodcote Motor Company, Epsom, Surrey (later University Motors) has come to light.
Other later photos are on page 33 of this thread:-
viewtopic.php?p=205341#p205341

When did it get demolished? I worked in Epsom in 2001-2005(ish) and I think I remember it being there then.

[mab01uk]

Thanks for posting up those pics of Woodcote Motor Company, Mab.

Been looking for information and pics of that garage for a long time now. That's where TVB 56F, my Mk2 998 Cooper, came from originally

Another early photo of the Woodcote Motor Company, Epsom, Surrey (later University Motors) has come to light.
Other later photos are on page 33 of this thread:-
viewtopic.php?p=205341#p205341

When did it get demolished? I worked in Epsom in 2001-2005(ish) and I think I remember it being there then.

Sadly redeveloped 2008 as seen below, so you are correct it was still there in 2001-2005.
They also had a BMC/BL Special Tuning counter and Peter Beadle the Parts Manager could recall most Mini part numbers straight from memory without looking at the part number books or later microfiche's! (and he owned a white 'Cooper S' spec Mini Pickup).


University Motors, Epsom 1980 with a new roof.

[nick@dunsdale]

And someone pointed out where it was and the fact it’s still there! It’s in Lochearnhead

Indeed it is. I've driven past it for many years and always wondered if there was anything interesting lurking behind the doors (not my car btw, my brother's)

Screenshot 2021-12-29 133500 (1).jpg

Passed this one myself a few months ago on camper van trip recognized it straightaway from this thread

[Pandora]

Robin111, another couple of shots of Goodall's in Dunfermline, all now gone.

Al

331796653.gallery.jpg

331796656.gallery.jpg

[111Robin]

Thanks Al, building a nice collection of these now thanks to you
Robin

[r.tec]

Well, not that old.
Year must be 1989. Location Berchtesgaden, Bavaria.
I took this photo during a holiday trip because the garage seemed to me to have such a nice Alpine touch.

134A (5) bea kl Berchtesgaden.jpg

By the way the senior boss of the enterprise used to be the race director of the famous but long gone Rossfeld hillclimb. Then always a round of the European Hillclimb Championship.

[steve65]

Moreton in Marsh

[66Traveller]

Must be at least 1980 - that is a W plate Allegro 3 (its got side indicators)

[mab01uk]

Advertised in 1961 as the Dawnier Motors Ltd. showroom, the building now known as Ewell Honda was designed by William H Arend & Son using the expertise in reinforced concrete of Truscon Ltd.
The showroom faces out onto Ewell by-pass, at the corner with London Road (the main route through the centre of Ewell). Ewell's by-pass was built in the early 1930s to divert traffic around the outside of the village. The growth of car ownership in the inter- and post-war years led to the construction of by-passes to alleviate congestion, and with by-passes came buildings catering to the needs (and desires) of passing motorists; petrol filling stations, road houses and car showrooms sprang up along their route.
Ewell Honda, a motor car showroom of 1961 by William H Arend & Son, with engineering by Truscon Ltd, is designated at Grade II for the following principal reasons: * Architectural interest: it is a stylish building which uses its portal frame construction to create a striking futuristic aesthetic; * Rarity: the building is a rare example of an ambitious and architecturally successful post-war motor car showroom.
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/ ... al-listing

The futuristic Grade II listed 1960's showroom building is rather hidden in the old photo above but it was a BMC/BL Garage and showroom in the 1960/70's, I grew up nearby and remember as a kid BMC Works Minis occasionally on show in the showrooms and later brand new unregistered MK3 Cooper S's lined up outside amongst rows of the recently launched more mundane Mk3 Minis and Clubmans waiting for buyers.

[snoopy64]

Moreton in Marsh

Dads first Allegro DDD49T came from Cutts of Campden & my first MG Metro!, but I can’t picture the garage in Moreton which would have been closer!?!

[mab01uk]

The old Organ Inn Roundabout, Ewell before it was replaced by the busy traffic light controlled crossroads of today.....the Grade II Listed 1961 built car showroom building of Henlys British Leyland garage in the (left) background is now a Honda dealer as stated in previous post above.
A Morris Ital attempting to keep on the heel of an MG Midget exiting the roundabout. On the forecourt there are two examples of the Austin Maxi, a Rover SD1, Princess, a Triumph Dolomite & of course a Mini.






Dawnier Motors 1968

[Simon776]

Moreton in Marsh

Dads first Allegro DDD49T came from Cutts of Campden & my first MG Metro!, but I can’t picture the garage in Moreton which would have been closer!?!

It was on the right hand side of London Road as you head out of Moreton - I think it, and the industrial estate behind, is all housing now. This 970S was there in the early 1980's

AHY 990B.JPG

[snoopy64]

Got it! The Cotswold Casements building places it for me

[63monte]

DBE05326-B503-47A0-8EEF-F868ED8552AF.jpeg

A trio of Mk3 S’s from South Herts region of the original MCC rendezvous at East Sheen Alfa Garage in Upper Richmond Road West in January 1981, prior to going on to Ferring to visit John Cooper’s garage.
East Sheen Garage is now a branch of Bathstore.
Photo shows Colin Maynard in the left, Arni Wookey and myself.
Please, no comments about the vinyl roof on my Teal blue S, it was the girlfriend’s (now wife) idea as she was the main driver and she thought it looked great! It was sold two years later along with my immaculate Almond green S which one of the last Mk1 1275’s, due to us needing a deposit for our first house. Fortunately I had two other Mk1 S’s, one of which I still have today.
My Teal blue S still survives but DVLA show it has had a colour change and is now Red. Arni’s Aqua S seems to have disappeared from the DVLA records but Chris Anstey’s Bronze S is still alive somewhere. Chris took this photo.

[mab01uk]

"It’s March 1985 and we’re standing kerbside in Stanningley, near Leeds. We find ourselves looking at one of those small family-owned dealerships that seemed to be part of every community back then, despite many manufacturer’s (including British Leyland back in Filmer Paradise’s era) desire to close them down in favour of larger, out of town gin palaces. Today, that battle has largely been won, but back in 1985 dealers such as West Yorkshire Motor Group were still very much the norm."
Memories : Stanningley, Leeds, 1985:-
https://www.aronline.co.uk/opinion/leeds-1985/

[richardACS]

What a great thread this is, some of the art deco garages were (and if remain) are still wonderful peices of architecture.

Are there any Downton images of the buildings today?

and also any of HA Saunders/Mann Egerton at Whetstone/North Finchley N12. I spent many a weeks hard earned cash in that establishment. I was always served by Nick who was a wonderful patient parts man - and I recall where Keith Dodd (of Mini Spares fame) cut his teeth before going out on his own at a premises on the North Circular.