mk1-forum.net

Exminiman wrote: ↑Sun Mar 01, 2020 5:42 pm Not sure where this is from! Just came across it on another forum......

2BFD8A50-2A69-4FA8-BA49-FD05DAD5D0B5.jpeg

I think that was in Sheffield

Yes as said bottom of ecclesall rd Sheffield.
Now a block of student accommodation

Ian Mitchell popped up on here just before the forum went wonky. Ian raced Minis for Team Charles Clark , and unfortunately his post has disappeared. However I did contact him for a chat so more on that soon. Potted history of the firm here = http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/article ... ompany.htm

Someone might recognise this Austin dealer in Dover - County Motors/ Henlys

Nice to see the brand new Mini marking it's territory in the showroom!

JR

One for Mark!

Photo courtesy of Memories of Leeds.

That's my Uncle Bob Soper's old shop, later renamed "The Rally & Speed Shop".

http://mk1-performance-conversions.co.uk/bob_soper.htm

Thanks for sharing, that's one I haven't seen before.

Looks like a BMC dealer bottom right. Location unknown.

Henlys, October 1980
"It’s October 1980, and we’re looking at the used car forecourt of Henlys – one of the most recognisable dealer groups to sell British Leyland’s finest. It’s days after the launch of the Austin Metro, and there’s a real sense of optimism inside the showroom, which is probably the first time the sales and servicing staff have felt this way since the Rover SD1 appeared on the scene in June 1976."
https://www.aronline.co.uk/memories/hen ... ober-1980/

Great photos on this site - amazing how may ADO16s there were!

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

Cogger & Hawkins

Austin cooper s

"There was a tempting array of used cars on the forecourt of Mann Egerton in Morden, Surrey - one bright morning in 1977.
What looks like a nearly new Maxi HL is priced at £2,685 but sadly the sticker on that lovely Series 1 Jaguar XJ6 (which clearly captivates the boy in the boots) is blurred.
A lot of money has clearly been spent fixing "Leyland Cars" signage on that fine art deco building. A mistake perhaps, as in that era of turmoil "Leyland Cars" was a short-lived name (introduced late '75 - dropped early '78) and a new corporate identity would soon be coming along."

(My younger brother Steve Bell, did his apprenticeship as a BL Mechanic at Mann Egerton in Morden, before starting his own garage business and racing Mini Se7en/Miglia).




Same Garage site in 2020 below...fine art deco building now gone.

Kennings Hull..

Austin dealership in Bridgwater, Somerset - in the 1950s. (now Malvern Tyres).

'British Leyland Chronicles' says:-
"This garage belonged to Harry Ball, father of Tony Ball MBE who played an important role in the history of BMC & British Leyland, helping launch the Mini in 1959 and later holding senior executive roles. He headed the BLEO sales & marketing division under Michael Edwardes during the period Metro was launched. Harry Ball's Grandson is West End singer and Radio Presenter Michael Ball!"

What a sacrilege that these art-deco buildings where demolished.
The lovely former art-deco cinema in Northampton (aka "the Deco") has at least been kept, though it was made into a "Jesus Freak Church"

mab01uk wrote: ↑Thu Jan 07, 2021 8:10 pm

Austin dealership in Bridgwater, Somerset - in the 1950s. (now Malvern Tyres).

'British Leyland Chronicles' says:-
"This garage belonged to Harry Ball, father of Tony Ball MBE who played an important role in the history of BMC & British Leyland, helping launch the Mini in 1959 and later holding senior executive roles. He headed the BLEO sales & marketing division under Michael Edwardes during the period Metro was launched. Harry Ball's Grandson is West End singer and Radio Presenter Michael Ball!"

Wasn't Tony Ball responsible for this marketing stunt in the early days?


One of the glut of mini restoration programmes featured it, and him, a few years ago. (May have been 'for the love of cars' proramme, can't remember).

'S'-type wrote: ↑Sat Jan 09, 2021 6:40 pm Wasn't Tony Ball responsible for this marketing stunt in the early days?

Yes, he was.




"Tony Ball, managing director of Austin Morris, with his son Kevin Ball, in September 1979, celebrating 20 years of the Mini."

"Tony Ball is acknowledged internationally as one of Britain’s top marketeers and most popular public speakers. A brilliant motivator, humorist and raconteur, Tony started his career as an apprentice on the shop floor of the Austin Motor Company and rose to become its youngest ever Sales Director. He’s the man who actually launched the legendary Mini in the swinging 60’s."
http://www.tonyball.co.uk/page_1.html

mab01uk wrote: ↑Thu Jan 07, 2021 7:53 pm




Same Garage site in 2020 below...fine art deco building now gone.

Was that not a bloody crime against Architecture, heritage, good taste, and just about anything else you want to list?

Al

This was Douglas Wilson-Spratt’s accessory shop attached to his Delta Garage Austin dealership in Leighton Buzzard. Not just famous for his streamlined WSM Sprites he did own and compete in a few Minis including my 1071...