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K
Somewhere
1 of 345  Tue 22nd Nov 2011 11:09am  

How about some memories of erstwhile motor dealers/garages? Anyone remember: Old Road Garage, Allesley Old Rd, by the Maudslay Hotel Coventry Garage, Rootes main dealers, in Holyhead Road Parkside Garage, Rover dealers, in Warwick Road Blamires in Queens Road (Vauxhall) C & E Motors Parkgate Motors in Parkgate Road (Rootes) Old Road Garage was an Aladdin's cave of parts for old cars. I was sent there as an early-teenager many times to fetch spares for my dad's Humber Super Snipe, and I don't think I ever came back without what was needed. I had driving lessons from Parkside. I bought a Singer Chamois from Parkgate; reg EHP48C (wonder if it's still around?) probably the most unreliable car I ever had! And Coventry Garage! They had a Humber Pullman in once, as a trade in. They discovered a dull patch on the rear of the roof, so they repainted it. It rapidly went dull again. Than someone had a feel inside the headlining, and discovered sharp points. So they stripped the paint. It had been backed into something, and the large dent repaired with several laths screwed on with self-tappers, and plastered over. They weren't amused at having an expensive repair to do before they could sell it on!!
Coventry Cars and Motoring - Car Dealers, Garages, Petrol Stations
Woodlander
Henley in Arden
2 of 345  Tue 22nd Nov 2011 7:28pm  

Was there a company called Newsomes (Rootes Group cars) on the 'Highway' at the junction with Leamington Road? I seem to recall my father buying a Hillman Minx estate in August 1955 from them. I too had a Singer Chamoix FHP 741C, colour maroon. heavy on tyres I recall.
Coventry Cars and Motoring - Car Dealers, Garages, Petrol Stations
Adrian
UK
3 of 345  Tue 22nd Nov 2011 9:07pm  

Rugby Autocar? Wheatley Street or Ford Street. Ford dealers.
Coventry Cars and Motoring - Car Dealers, Garages, Petrol Stations
argon
New Milton
4 of 345  Tue 22nd Nov 2011 9:39pm  

Can't remember the name but there was a garage in Providence street that sold NSU's with the rotary engine, as I remember, in the late 50's early 60's
Coventry Cars and Motoring - Car Dealers, Garages, Petrol Stations
K
Somewhere
Thread starter
5 of 345  Wed 23rd Nov 2011 3:08pm  

Yes, I remember it too, but I can't recall the name - and I owned a 1968 NSU TT for a time! I bought it from the NSU dealer in Bedworth, though, in 1971. Went like stink, but it was a bit unreliable. Foleshill Garage sold VWs.
Coventry Cars and Motoring - Car Dealers, Garages, Petrol Stations
K
Somewhere
Thread starter
6 of 345  Wed 23rd Nov 2011 3:18pm  

On 22nd Nov 2011 7:28pm, Woodlander said: Was there a company called Newsomes (Rootes Group cars) on the 'Highway' at the junction with Leamington Road?
Newsome's (Sammy Newsome) sold Standards, they became main agents for Standard - Triumph, and I can remember the first Triumph Herald exhibited in their showroom as a bare chassis in 1959. The Chamois wore its front tyres at a rate of knots! Swing-axle suspension. Knocked out its PTFE kingpins likewise. Mine burned oil at under 200 MPP too; and when I stripped the engine, I discovered swarf left under the rear bearing cap. The week before I sold it, the speedo stopped working. The cable had rusted up, and the whole thing went around in the floor. Eventually the plastic sheath wore through, as did the grommet, and the wire cut through, hooking in the underlay mat, from which it tore a big piece, and then jammed completely. Took me 8 hours to change it. A stupid arrangement leading to an almighty struggle when it came to replacing it.
Coventry Cars and Motoring - Car Dealers, Garages, Petrol Stations
TonyS
Coventry
7 of 345  Wed 23rd Nov 2011 3:59pm  

Wasn't C&E Motors on the corner of Fletchamstead Highway & Sir Henry Parkes Road, where Homebase now is?
Coventry Cars and Motoring - Car Dealers, Garages, Petrol Stations
K
Somewhere
Thread starter
8 of 345  Wed 23rd Nov 2011 6:37pm  

In the time when I knew it, yes (don't know about Homebase though). In earlier times it was in town; I can't remember where now, but they made a lot of bodies for Alvis (along with Charlesworth and Carbodies of Coventry, and Mulliner (Birmingham Mulliners?) and many more like Gurney, Hooper and so on. They ceased making bodies after WWII, and took on a Vauxhall main dealer franchise.
Coventry Cars and Motoring - Car Dealers, Garages, Petrol Stations
Alvisnick
France
9 of 345  Sun 11th Dec 2011 11:32am  

Ref Keith Leslie - C & E Motors - Vauxhall Garage - This firm was the end of the line from the prewar firm of Cross & Ellis. They were 'trade' coachbuilders and did indeed, as has been mentioned, build bodies for Alvis and others. I have an Alvis car and the coachbuilders plate says Cross & Ellis, Clay Lane, COVENTRY. Don't know where Clay Lane is/was? The coachbuilding firm went out of business in 1938 and the last bodies built there for Alvis for their Speed Twentyfive tourer cars were unfinished, wood frames only. They were sent round to Charlesworth Motor Bodies at Much Park Street for panelling and finishing.
Coventry Cars and Motoring - Car Dealers, Garages, Petrol Stations
magicmalkin
welshpool.powys
10 of 345  Thu 8th Mar 2012 7:10pm  

There was a Triumph Dealership in "Orchard Street" called would you believe Orchard Garage! Not far off the main drag that runs past the Memorial Park heading towards Kenilworth. Percy Blamires, that always had "posh" cars I seem to remember, Mr. Blamire kept his own plane at Baginton and used to take part sucessfully in air races!! When you think back to the size of the likes of The Parkside, Bridge Clock, Newsomes, Rugby Autocar, big employers in those days, lots of "apprentices"!!, remember them?
Coventry Cars and Motoring - Car Dealers, Garages, Petrol Stations
creteskyblue
crete
11 of 345  Fri 9th Mar 2012 9:55am  

Talking of garages does anybody remember the small petrol forecourt on the Tile Hill Lane just down from the Newlands, I think there were only two pumps selling Cleveland fuel. Regards.
Enjoy life,remember we walk this way but once.

Coventry Cars and Motoring - Car Dealers, Garages, Petrol Stations
NormK
bulkington
12 of 345  Fri 9th Mar 2012 10:58am  

Correct me if I am wrong but was the garage mentioned closed because of some kind of contamination in the ground?
Milly rules

Coventry Cars and Motoring - Car Dealers, Garages, Petrol Stations
NeilsYard
Coventry
13 of 345  Fri 9th Mar 2012 11:09am  

Moving to more recent times it's amazing how many petrol stations have disappeared over the last few years in Coventry. The ones I'm thinking of are: 1. Shell on Tile Hill Lane 2. Shell on Broad Lane 3. Esso on Broad Lane 4. Was it a Q8? on the corner of Holyhead Road and Grayswood Avenue 5. Shell on Holyhead Road where the Mini dealer is now 6. Shell on the Allesley old Road I'm sure theres a load more - supermarkets seem to have really made an impact.
Coventry Cars and Motoring - Car Dealers, Garages, Petrol Stations
scrutiny
coventry
14 of 345  Mon 4th Jun 2012 8:26am  

This pic also supplied by Colin of Radford Garage. Lol now Big grin Thumbs up
Coventry Cars and Motoring - Car Dealers, Garages, Petrol Stations
artful
lancashire
15 of 345  Mon 4th Jun 2012 5:17pm  

The BLUE STAR Garage and a workshop behind, occupied by Alec Farr who was a car body repair specialist. He eventually moved to Lythall's Lane. Behind his workshop there were some 40 or so lockup wooden garages.
Coventry Cars and Motoring - Car Dealers, Garages, Petrol Stations

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