Lancia Motor Club

Here is a photo of the Brooks dealership, which may be of interest. The caption reads "Tony Brooks, another famous racing driver (nicknamed the Racing Dentist...) had a Lancia dealership in England after he retired from racing. Behind the BMW is a Lancia Fulvia Sedan and a Flavia Coupe".

In the 1960s there were a few people who knew that B20s were fine cars that could be bought cheaply in Italy and imported into the UK. Harry Manning did this with B20s and Flaminias, also Dan Margulies and Tony Brooks did the same. I tried to find out who imported the B20 that I owned, which first came into the UK in 1967. It wasn’t Harry or Dan and I think it was likely to have been Tony Brooks. I quite liked that idea.

Colin

I read somewhere that David Piper brought B20s over from Italy in the 60s, does anyone know more about this? He's still around (and winning court cases) so perhaps Jack should interview him for a piece in VL.

When chatting to David Piper one day a few years ago, he acknowledged that the money he made from importing Aurelia B20's and spare parts into the UK in the early 60's (often with Dan Margulies) helped support his racing costs in a big way. However he has no memory or records of the cars he brought in.
Regarding the Tony Brooks Lancia dealership, I always found them to be very enthusiastic in my dealings with then.
In the 70's I bought a new Fulvia 3 Coupe, then a new 1600 Beta Coupe from Tony Brooks as daily drivers when Gerald Sims was the sales manager. I also bought a used Fulvia 1600HF (which subsequently needed an engine rebuild under warranty) for myself for fun and the ex-Lancia press Fulvia 3 for my Dad - XYM38N - from Tony Brooks in the mid 70's.

Gerald Sims who was a hugely enthusiastic Italian car fan then went to Ivor Hill in Wimbledon in the late 70's and they became the largest Lancia new car dealer in the UK I believe.
I bought a used Monte Carlo S1 then a new Gamma Coupe from them while Gerald was there.  My dad was having trouble with the Fulvia gearchange by this time due to arthritis and so we got an early Delta 1300 from Ivor Hill and my rh man at work had a company Delta GT which was great fun.
Gerald Sims also took on a Maserati dealership and a De Tomaso dealership - brave man! He lent me a Pantera and a Merak SS,each for a couple of days but I was never brave enough to buy - residuals!!!
Instead I went to Porsche 911 as a daily driver (via an Alfa GTV6 and then a Lotus Excel from SGT Taplow - residuals!!) and I am still there now some 30 years later.
  

I forgot to say that Jacky bought me our (now her) aluminium Fulvia Sport OPD23E from the 'dead car' lot at Tony Brooks in the late 70's for £200 for the perfect set of 5 x FPS 13" alloy wheels. It had a broken engine, seized brakes, paint falling off  etc etc.
By this time she was driving a Fulvia Berlina S2 and she thought I would like to put the FPS wheels on her car. Neither she nor I realised then that they were 13" wheels and therefore they would not fit an S2 car! Never mind - they are still on her Sport today.

Hi Chris, sounds like you know the garage well. Does it still exist do you know?  There was once a Fiat/Lancia along the road here in Maidstone, which was called "Union Street Motors", which had a ramp to access the first floor workshops if I remember correctly. I seem to  remember s/h tappet shims were available for something like a pound each. When talking to David Piper did he mention his experience of the Brands Hatch 6 hour race in the Flaminia Coupe? I can't find much info on that apart from some results and one article. Richard

How about a David Piper signed Lancia "cover"

Another Lancia importer, Hoffman.Three  ads, an ebay Hoffman letter and a photo of the showroom. Also a David Piper imported Aurelia pic

No plate evident.....is same B 12 around any more?

P

Advertised recently just under 13K. I will post the link later.

Dignified transport indeed. Here is the link http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C326543#

Yes, the one Ade sold on behalf of a late owner of same.

P

David Piper also lodged at John Maltbys house.and was pleased that there was a lathe in the front room that he could use, I met a few years ago and talked to him about his time at Maltbys, he had fond memories.

Every one should have a lathe in the front room! On the subject of David Piper, may I recommend the book "Pipes", which now read has set me on a hunt for"Sun on the Grid". Back to the subject of Garages, there is a B20 on this forecourt.

Back to mid sixties London, does anyone here know if this garage with Lancia logo still exists? (from Gideons Way) richard

An article about Mr Beedon, including Lancia char-a-bancs http://cottonites.co.uk/transport/beeden.htm

A nice design

The Registro Aurelia Italiano's Spring meeting in 2008 (I think) was based in Chaux de Fonds and during that meeting we visited various houses either designed by Le Corbusier or modified to his design. Fascinating. And then the following year there was an exhibition at the Barbican in London celebrating his portfolio of work.

About ten years ago I went to an exhibition to celebrate the work of modernist architect Wells Coats – this was at the reopening of the restored Isokon building in Hampstead that he had designed in the 1930s. Wells Coats was a well known Lambda owner. I was in the company of John Turner and at the exhibition we were delighted to find a book about Coats that include a description of him giving Le Corbusier a lift in the Lambda. Le Corbusier was reputed to have exclaimed: “Ah, a Lancia – better tighten seat belts!” This was of course at a time when only in airplanes would you have expected to have seat belts.

Colin

Thanks for the replies. Found this

.          Another char-a-banc

The photo of the man sitting on the Lambda running board is the classic picture of Wells Coates. It would be good to have a better copy of this - the only one I have also is divided into three sections.

Colin

The car looks cut and shut too?

Part of a letter dated Sunday 25th May 1941

"no rain for 6 weeks" - it can't be England then .....

1970s Fiat/Lancia timewarp garage http://bbs.scoobynet.com/non-scooby-related-4/691152-fancy-a-new-70s-fiat-or-lancia.html and a pic from the BB

Not a Lancia Garage, but this is Collier Motors, with Hot Rod Magazine article in the Further Reading section http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collier_Motors

That Danish find is astonishing !!  You never know what is around the corner and long may people continue to turn up treasures like that !!

                   Andy

PS And well done Richard, you never cease to amaze me with the photos and information that you turn up. long may may that continue too !!

Thanks Andy, some articles may have been seen here before, but a long time ago, so apologies for any repeats. Richard

Was there an update on this lot which included the two Fulvias? Richard http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2216336/Abandonded-treasure-trove-100-classic-cars-including-Ford-Model-T-sold-unless-mystery-owner-claims-them.html

A blue Sport in this one, plus some other special bodied cars http://retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=print&thread=134323

Looks like he has an interesting new job, lots of nice toys!

Don Donnithorne house and studio www.christchurchmodern.co.nz/2008/08/41-yaldhurst-rd-donnithorne-house-studio/

My boss said "Trent, I need you to do me a favor. We are delivering this Zagato saturday and I need you to drive it for a few hours to make sure everything is good to go."

Don also owns a Dedra automatic as well as other Lancias, helped to get him the last right hand drive auto gearchanger knob anywhere when his broke!

Brian
8227 8)

From http://www.rrsilvershadow.com/EGall/E1980Belfast.htm Stanley Harvey's RR distributors sold Lancia as well

A Fiat/Lancia garage no more, but this is the site of "Union Motors" in Union Street, Maidstone, just down the road.

Not a Lancia Garage but a manufacturer of engine gaskets amongst other things. Now derelict but pictured here with an Italian team en route to Silverstone via Sidcup, Kent.(Maybe of interest to London Members) http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/industrial-sites/71386-richard-klinger-factory-sidcup-may-2012-a.html Maybe worth a visit to these old buildings whilst they are still with us?

Klinger is still with us.

Well known for Klingerite gasket material, the company is now named ElringKlinger AG, based in Germany.

It is a very succesfull manufacturer of gaskets, heatshields, etc, for all automobile manufacturers.

Sébastien

Also http://www.heritage-explorer.co.uk/web/he/search.aspx?start=1&crit=&cid=85&tid=934

This is the old Lancia garage in nearby Staplehurst, now a domestic appliance showroom, with a garage still at the rear.

This is the old Lancia garage in Derby on Ashbourne Road. I had a friend working there and when it closed in the early 90's he rescued quite a few bits for me.


A bit OT but I used Elring valve stem seasl on my Fulvia engine!

A history of the "Old Motor House" including mention of Lancia char-a-bancs http://www.theoldmotorhouse.co.uk/

And Jones Brothers http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/Jonesbros.htm

Back to "The Garden of England" and a photo of the old Lancia Garage in nearby Wateringbury

At http://edithsstreets.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/river-brent-park-royal.html?m=1 there is mention of a Lancia test track in Park Royal. Any further info anyone?

From http://www.oldclassic.co.uk/prewar-lancia.htm

I have never before seen the phrase 'The car for high speed with definite safety features'. Brilliant. I wonder when Lancia Alperton stopped using it on their paperwork?
Chris

Not the Park Royal test track but aerial views "just outside the Lancia factory"

Apologies for error on earlier post ref the statement on the pre-war Lancia England invoice etc:.
I should have said 'The car for high speed with definite safety values'. Still brilliant though.
Chris

More on Hoffman http://www.steinerag.com/flw/Artifact%20Pages/PhRtS380.htm

I love it when car interests and other unrelated interests come together.
One of my oldest closest friends from school (W London in the 60's) Clive, became an architect in California and now lives in Hertfordshire. He has no interest whatsoever in old cars and his and my common interest from the 60's when we sat at the back of the Mathematics 6th form was Jeff Beck, still the best rock guitarist in the world who we take every opportunity to see and meet.
But.....Clive is also a huge fan iof Frank Lloyd Wright who designed the Hoffman showroom.
So our interests have coincided again. I will take pleasure in showing him this post when we are next together again for a few days  in a few weeks.
Chris

On the subject of unrelated topics, from my Guy Griffiths post is a photo of his Vauxhall Bridge Road premises, which appeared on Ian Dury's "New Boots" LP

Inside Toly's garage+article from http://www.autoweek.com/article/20070629/free/70625008&template=mobileart

A fulvia in the background at Garage Dumon

Richard - your forum award is well deserved !!

That Hoffman link is well worth a click just for the sketches...  I didn't have time for a read but intend to come back for it. 

David

Another garage. What is she saying I wonder?

"I preferred the old side hinge"

or

"Didn't Charlie Crocker leave some money in here for me?"

or

"those carb rubbers won't last five minutes without that support set correctly"

David

Here she is again

The caption for that is "shouldn't these carpets be green".

David

"Was Lancia or Zagato supposed to put the sills on?"

The inner by Lancia and the outer by Zagato, or subcontractor I suppose. The inner membrane is not a full length one on the Sports I have dismantled. I see the 6 x 14s are not fouling the rear arches, which some have modified by means of a roller

I can’t see her membranes, but her arches look fine to me. Do you think she is about to try a bump-start?

Colin

Here's a picture of Donald MacKenize Motors of Inverness taken in 1984 when I was up there on holiday.  They still exist today but sell Alfas from another site.  It looks like this is now a Tesco today.

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5015/5564401188_bc3a047c44_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8165854@N08/5564401188/)
Donald MacKenzie Motors (http://www.flickr.com/photos/8165854@N08/5564401188/) by Mick Travis (http://www.flickr.com/people/8165854@N08/), on Flickr

Good stuff Andy, anyone else got a pic?

Here's something I've just found on Flickr - a picture of Clover Leaf Cars Ltd of Basingstoke taken in 1980.

(http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5323/9681731833_a92dde3aee_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/72620239@N05/9681731833/)
Cars 1980 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/72620239@N05/9681731833/) by KiwiGippy (http://www.flickr.com/people/72620239@N05/), on Flickr


And here's a shot from round the back of the dealership.

(http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3682/9584686033_51a779a809_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/72620239@N05/9584686033/)
Clearing Snow (http://www.flickr.com/photos/72620239@N05/9584686033/) by KiwiGippy (http://www.flickr.com/people/72620239@N05/), on Flickr

And a couple more.

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7157/6779142705_80cf765b4e_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/72620239@N05/6779142705/)
A Group of Lancias (http://www.flickr.com/photos/72620239@N05/6779142705/) by KiwiGippy (http://www.flickr.com/people/72620239@N05/), on Flickr

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6787346539_4aab98f4e8_b.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/72620239@N05/6787346539/)
1983 Lancia Delta HF Turbo & Fiat Panda 4x4 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/72620239@N05/6787346539/) by KiwiGippy (http://www.flickr.com/people/72620239@N05/), on Flickr

From Samuel G in France

One more, and some to follow

Three pages of former premises! Can anyone add a UK Lancia HQ contribution to this lot? http://forums.autosport.com/topic/85638-tnf-tourist-guide-to-former-premises/ love the photos

My local Lancia garage . sweeny & Forte Clontarf , Dublin  I bought quite a few lancia's there. They were good at selling lancia's as there were a lot of lancia's in the area . The showroom is now a supermarket. ??? :'(

How much is that Fulvia in the window  ;D  ?

Sent from Samuel in Molsheim

David Piper did indeed bring in several B20s, one of which, a third series 73 DLH, I bought from John Maltby in 1972.  DP was a lodger at Maltby's house in Watford Way in Hendon for a while.  73 DLH features in the Neils Jonassen book Lancia Aurelia In Detail.
Regards

More  via Samuel

And

More

The first Fiat Dealership I worked in...'77 to '89

From Lanzarote

That sky...  I haven't seen anything but grey for weeks.

Have fun !!

David

My integrale with a Thema 8.32 somewhere between San Remo & Torino August '91

No Lancia sign, but 1968 and a Fiat sign.

Wadhurst

In Torino - Barrone has an old time Lancia shop. The father worked in the factory in the early 1950s - the garage is now run by his son, but had (in 2013) some interesting cars….

Some great photographs appearing on this thread.

If, in the last shot, that is standard pegboard, there are some fairly heavy duty bits of kit there. Presumably there was work carried out on commercials as well as cars.

                                     Andy

I would love that tool board (with tools) - I would build a wall just to put it on

Filiale in Padova, c. 1960s. This is where Lancia relocated their engineers in 1943 out of Turin to be away from the bombing. The building was later renovated.

I remember it well, took my driving test in Sidcup in the late 60s in a battered old Ford Consul, 1955 vintage. Used to pass this en route to work in Sevenoaks. Nice to see some of the Kentish garages.

A advert from the garage Richard mentions in Lanzarote. 

That peg board... Perhaps get some posters done for us to put on garage walls and pretend.

Not sure but this looks a bit like the one in Park Street Luton.

Brian
8227 8)

Taken in 2005 at Per Lyden? near Amsterdam with my Dutch friends 2c.


Brian
8227 8)

.      From this link it seems a Tony Brooks garage was on the Brooklands Road Shell site http://forums.autosport.com/topic/36818-tony-brooks-merged/page-3

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From Houston

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From Betaboyz

From French forum, via Samuel in France http://forum.lancianet.fr/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11801&p=122712&hilit=thema#p122712

Sorry, forgot to take a photo before I removed the sign on Saturday morning ....... from high on the wall of a defunct garage in Amiens ! Was tottering on a ladder with an angle grinder so a bit too nervous to remember

I did pay the owner before removing it .....

Needs some restoration !

The 2nd photo shows a lovely detail of the "sellotape" around some spares found in the same garage

 

Prompted by seeing the Bassi Fulvia at Brands http://www.garagebassi.it/eng/aboutus/   Also displayed, some photos in a folder

??

From memory that looks like the workshops outside the Phoenix at Hartley Wintney.

It certainly is. Looks good in Black and White!
Regards, John

For anyone who doesn't know, I believe Denis Jenkinson lived above them for a while. It's also where he set off from for a Boxing Day blast on public roads in a Grand Prix car.

That's it - the Phoenix Garage. Stanley is correct, Denis Jenkinson lived there and ran a business (Weber carbs I think) from there. It is likely that Jenk's ghost still lives there in the company of other illustrious ghosts. See link below for a potted history of the place. Nowadays, the Phoenix Garage is under the capable management of Nick Benwell, who does good things with Lancia and other fine cars. No prizes for spotting that the black and white photo was taken last week. I was interested in capturing this view, which shows hardly any  evidence of the past 50 or so years.

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/february-2006/101/simon-taylors-notebook

Well done Colin. I had assumed that it was an old photo!

Not sure if this one has come up before - so posting in case....

A former Lancia showroom - Albemarle St in London....

Tilley's, London Road, Burgess Hill. around 1988-89, I think....

Flattened now, with a Co-Op in it's place :(

Starting to get a bit more time again, so have started to renovate the garage sign - removed from a defunct Lancia garage in Amiens just after Christmas

Gave up with the masking tape after a while ....... plus will stop invading this post and will add a finished picture to one of the others !

Wonderful! I love ephemera like this. Looking forward to seeing the finished article which I'm sure will be worth the effort you're putting in.

Germany?

From Alan Cooper


Brian
8227 8)

Apologies if this is a repost, but came across this Lancia garage in another post thought thought it was worth flagging as not a bad location for a weekend away (hook of Holland) nicely placed for Amsterdam.
http://www.franke-lancia.nl/

City garage:

City Garage AG
Landstrasse 108
5430 Wettingen
Switzerland

Unfortunatly no street view from this side.

Regards Karl

Where I bought my Flaminia GTL many years ago. I think the car has since appeared as a barn find needing a complete rebuild in recent Viva Lancia adverts.

From N.Y. Times https://mobile.nytimes.com/2010/11/14/automobiles/14LATHE.html

Ryde

Jaan Hjorth is a very knowledge nice bloke, who gave me advice when I rebuilt my Flaminia gearbox

Some footage from the TV series Gideon's Way (1965/66) featuring a Lancia dealer - in Barnet?

A couple of Flavias inside although nothing outside that I can see.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHStWbwv_KU

Prompted by Octane's Asmara article

Does anyone here know if this Flaminia is still active? Richard

.

According to DVLA it hasn't been taxed since Nov 1983 & there is no MOT history recorded - however, it states that the last V5 issued was in Mar 2018 so maybe someone is currently re-commissioning/restoring it ...

.