John Whalley Bishops stortford

[038tipo]

Dear All.
Just wondering if anyone knew if there was a problem at John Whalleys garage?
Have been trying to get through for 3 weeks and now number is disconnected.
I thought they may be closed for holidays but hope it's not something worse than that...
Paul

[ncundy]

I think he retired a bit ago 

[Neil]

Yes I had heard he closed up (retired?) recently too.  Also does he still have a Stratos?

[sparehead3]

Yes, I'd read he'd retired - not sure where everything has gone though and I can find the thread on evoforum. Not that long ago - few months maybe.

[038tipo]

I knew he was only going in twice a week but the staff carried on, where did you read this?

[coltom]

http://forums.delphiforums.com/n/main.asp?webtag=evoforum&search=y&msg=27920.1

[sparehead3]

That was the thread, thanks for putting the link up Colin.

[038tipo]

Thanks for that Colin I have re joined the evocorner forum which I have not looked at for years and saw the post, I am more than a little angry and disappointed he did not let me know as I was a customer for over 25 years and recommended him as he was good and honest.
I think that the fact most owners now use their car at best on special occasions, meant that his regular service work went down and he wanted to take a more less active role there. It is another garage in the area which has now disappeared,  hardly any left now.
I personally have had some good times there and with John in Italy and his knowledge and general view will be missed for sure.
Paul
 

[Richard Fridd]

Old ad

[Andy D]

It was always interesting to talk to John when taking my car in and I had the pleasure of getting a lift with him in his integrale back to the train station on one occasion.  He certainly didn't spare the horses!

When they closed I received a text message from them thanking me for my business in the past.  Bishops Stortford was a bit of a trek for me but I did feel that my car was in good hands. 

[JollyClubUK]

Did Snowdonia over the weekend had the pleasure of seeing Johns Stratos rep in action and WOW does it go.
Spent time chatting to him about his Rallying career, cars he has owned and prepared.
True gent and Lancia legend.

[frankxhv773t]

That's interesting. I'd assumed John Whalley had long departed this world. Some 25 years or more ago I did rates assessments on his premises both in Station Road, and again after they had moved to Stanstead Road, but spent far more time talking Lancias than what I was being paid to discuss. He told me he'd had a big smash in his Stratos, leaving a significant dent in his forehead, and rebuilt it with Kevlar panels to make it stronger. I gather his party piece was to take prospective integrale customers on a test drive to the very elongated oval roundabout on the M11 junction, put on a fixed steering angle, then proceed to lap it just using throttle to navigate the varying tightness of curves.

[JollyClubUK]

That's interesting. I'd assumed John Whalley had long departed this world. Some 25 years or more ago I did rates assessments on his premises both in Station Road, and again after they had moved to Stanstead Road, but spent far more time talking Lancias than what I was being paid to discuss. He told me he'd had a big smash in his Stratos, leaving a significant dent in his forehead, and rebuilt it with Kevlar panels to make it stronger. I gather his party piece was to take prospective integrale customers on a test drive to the very elongated oval roundabout on the M11 junction, put on a fixed steering angle, then proceed to lap it just using throttle to navigate the varying tightness of curves.

Definitely alive and well, a true Lancia legend he kept me entertained with some of his rallying stories and for an older guy her certainly can handle that Stratos.