Humber / Hillman / Rootes / Chrysler / Peugeot

I recently bought this on ebay. It commemorates the opening of the Coventry Humber New Works in 1908

Wow! That's polished up nicely

Hi all I believe that the offices for the 1908 new works, are what is now Lloyds bank in Gosford Green.

Here's a story from Rootes at Ryton or I should say from Chrysler as it was in the late 70's. My dad spent quite a bit of his working life there and left just as things were really going sour and Chrysler were just about to jump ship at the end of the 70's. He was Maintenance Manager. I remember visiting him in his office built up on a bridge overlooking the tracks. This is when they were building the Avenger early seventies. All pretty impressive for a 14 year old. I worked there one summer during the Coventry fortnight when I was 15 with the Commandos who were an industrial cleaning outfit. I was paid a fiver a day which was an absolute fortune back then. Fast forward to 76 or 77 and my dad was driving a lime green Chrylser Alpine that they were building at Ryton at the time. Probably matched his nylon shirt. He was called out early one Sunday morning following a major breakdown so he sped up the road, round the first bend and smacked into a milk float parked up with no lights while milkie was out on his rounds. Damage to the front of his car? Substantial. Damage to the milk float? Not a scratch, not even a broken bottle. He waited and waited but to no avail, Milkie was obviously getting his, erm, breakfast somewhere nearby so off dad went. He had the complete front of the car swapped out while sorting out whatever the problem on the track was and went home sometime later. I remember that night the police came around. Apparently he had been seen leaving the scene of an accident. "Do you drive a green Chrysler sir?" "Yes it's parked up outside" "Do you mind if we take a look at it sir?" "No not at all officer" "Sorry to bother you sir. Good evening"

The car is a Triumph Renown!

I did too! But in the 50's and 60's. My Nan always got my sister and I in although we had moved down to Walkford in Hampshire by then. I suspect it was The Standard at Canley.

Ryton, 1971

Thanks Philip. Seeing your Hillman Imp brought back memories of when I borrowed my friend's Imp and before I returned it I pulled into a garage to put some juice in it, guess what? I couldn't find the tank! Had to get someone from the workshop to show me Post copied from topic Coventry Model Railways on 17th Nov 2016 6:00 pm

Hi NormK, Apart from four water pumps in the space of a couple of years it wasn't that bad. A lot easier on my pocket than filling up my Wolseley, but even the Imp had to go when Pam & I were saving hard for getting married. My dad had it, so I still had use of it. Good old dad. Mine was red with black trim.

Mum and Dad had a Hillman Imp and one day they were at a busy junction when it just died and wouldn't restart. Dad got out to push while an impatient queue built up. Up pops a gang of blokes who'd been watching from a nearby pub. They picked the car up, still with Mum inside and carried off the road! It seemed like quite a rascal of a car and Mum partially learnt to drive because Dad spent so much time pushing it with her steering.

Hi Everyone, This is my first post on Historic Coventry! Used this place many times for information, it's fantastic. I'm a photographer based in Coventry, and I'm trying to do a project in the run up to the city's bid for The City of Culture 2021. I'm living in the new estate built on the old Peugeot/Humber works in Stoke (Now called New Stoke Village, apparently). I'm trying to find any old photographs of the plant/the local area through the various stages in its life, and hear any stories that you may have, or may have heard. Anyone on here an old worker at the plant? Do you still live in the area or nearby? Have any interesting stories about working there and its redevelopment/demolition over the years? Old photographs of the area would be absolutely brilliant to see, and of course anyone that provides information will get a special mention! Look forward to meeting you all!! Steve H

Welcome to our friendly forum Let's hope there's a good response to your request You may also find this thread of some interest