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This a before and after of oldest petrol station in England, they say....

Two photos below, but link to the Pathe news vid, is worth watching -

on google maps you can see the railway bridge behind.

https://streaming.britishpathe.com/hls- ... 4.mp4.m3u8

Walkerburn Garage in the Scottish Borders, looking run down in the last streetview images. building altered over the years.

Was once a thriving Renault dealership in 70's, also one of the last fuel stations in this area, with pumps so close to a main A road, they were behind the area that is boarded up.



Now




.
Then

Some old photos of my local BMC/BL Dealer 'University Motors' in Church Road, Epsom, Surrey (formerly The Woodcote Motor Company Ltd.) which would always have a long queue in the parts department on a Saturday Morning as people bought spares for their DIY home servicing and repairs, (access to Parts Dept plus Workshops were up the ramp on the right and exit was on the left of building)......times have moved on and later generations have no idea that this was a common weekend occupation for many motorists in the 1960's and 70's!
They also had a special BMC/BL Special Tuning counter where you could buy or dream about the goodies you would like to bolt on your Mini and Peter Beadle the Parts Manager could recall most part numbers straight from memory without even looking at the parts books or later microfiche's! (and he owned a white 'Cooper S' spec Mini Pickup).

"Peter Beadle was parts manager at the BL/MG distributor University Motors in Epsom back in the seventies and in October 1978 was a founding member of the MG V8 Register. He then went on to be a member of the team which created the legendary MG parts supplier, the Sprite and Midget Centre in Richmond, that later became Moss Europe."
http://www.v8register.net/subpages/V8NOTE300b.htm

The earlier Woodcote Motor photos below look like it is the showroom launch of the ADO16, and the later photos show its eventual closure at the end of the University Motors era, later to sadly be demolished for a new block of flats/shops.

This was Hawkins & Sons the local Ford garage in Epsom, Surrey for many years.

Nearby Ewell Downs Motor Services, an Esso Petrol Garage is still there on the A24 roundabout in Ewell, Surrey but these nice old photos of a bygone era were a bit before my time.....

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

Anyone got an “after” photo as it is now ?

Exminiman wrote:Anyone got an “after” photo as it is now ?

Can't remember the last time I saw a Renault Fuego.

Fuego transaxles are a popular fit in Lotus Europas

Al

Kennings, Church St, Burnley..

Andrews of Bournemouth, 1969

Pete wrote:Andrews of Bournemouth, 1969

I tell you what, there must have been some wind loading on that Austin / Morris sign!

Al

Pete wrote:https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/nostal ... e-15961962

Newfangled reflective pressed alloy plates on that, how very modern! Don't see many of those on Minis at shows anymore.

WMU 211G wrote:

Pete wrote:https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/nostal ... e-15961962

Newfangled reflective pressed alloy plates on that, how very modern! Don't see many of those on Minis at shows anymore.

. My old MEG had them on in 1967!

I bet they looked dead swish Pete! Still available from some of the classic plate firms but most people go for black and silver / white. Had a lovely set of raised digit / reflective plates made up for my '73 XJ6 which transformed the look of the whole car, thinking of ordering a set for WMU.

RS6 wrote: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...

I've just been looking at this post & in particular what the Loxhams garage in Preston looked like in the sixties, my Midget rolled out of this garage in January 68, this is what the car looks like today 51 years later.

The Automobile Palace Llanfair PG on Anglesey where my Great Uncle bought a brand new Almond Green Austin Mini Super Deluxe in 1967! Now long gone despite its 80s revamp...