Car Dealers, Garages, Petrol Stations

Is it me or is that a bit Art Deco?

Yes Helen -

May 1939:

It certainly has the look of moderne about it. Shame there isn't any more images.

That was originally an isolation hospital, I believe.

I love this picture. In the distance to the left on the skyline can be seen the spoil heap of Binley pit. Note the Bond mini car moving towards the London Road and the building with the flat roof bottom right was Brandish's where I bought my first motorbike in 1965. I think this building was the temporary home of Woolworths although some say Marks and Spencers, after the war??? Also see Elliott's at the top of Gulson Road. Memories Post copied from topic Whitefriars Street (inc. Whitefriars Lane) on 7th Oct 2021 5:02 pm

Glad you liked it, matchle55. There are others I'll seek out from a few mislabelled on the Archives.

Walter Brandish was second in the Senior TT in 1922 on a Triumph Ricardo.

MR. Thanks for the information. We took over the lease of the small showroom as an extension of our Gas Showroom next door. I think the dealership was the Motor Mart and not Brandish. We later opened both units as Corks Wine bar. I remember the Daimler Dart.

MR I thought you were saying the small showroom with the Daimler Dart was owned by Brandish's, it was definitely owned by the Motor Mart, it was not manned, their premises on London Road were only a two minute walk up the road before the Ring Road was built.

Gas Centre. Brandish's had a Daimler dealership in Whitefriars Street, which is supported by copies of their adverts.

MR I have looked at the adverts and understand what you are saying, however, Brandish's never sold Daimlers in the many years that we traded in the street. I stand by saying the Motor Mart rented the small showroom which was owned by Rank.

I'll be honest I'm not sure I understand this conversation but the 1953 directory says: Brandish's was on Whitefriars Street and underneath it has Vauxhall and Daimler Coventry Motor Mart was 86 London Road and underneath is has Riley However if there was an unmanned showroom (basically a display case) it probably wouldn't have a phone. What date range are you thinking of, Gas Centre? Looking at the cars of the era, while the Vauxhalls of the time were very different, the Rileys and the Daimlers were similar.

I used to look inside the showrooms of Brandish's around 1957/8 they had the Cresta, Velox and maybe the Wyvern. I was too young to drive then but liked the look of the cars.

Thanks to Dennis Morgan on FB. I'm not sure I remember this one despite spending a lot of time in Earlsdon when small. Earlsdon Avenue South, where Elsie Jones House is today.