Does anyone remember Charles Barber & Sons Northwich

[P1 MKF]

Does anyone remember this garage/Dealers from Northwich. Originally VW back in day. They had Honda/Citroen, SEAT and MG Rover amongst Birtwistle Peugeot and a used car sales pitch

[droopsnoot]

I remember them as VW / Audi dealers, I used to pop past there from time to time looking for used quattros, and don't recall ever seeing one there.

[towser44]

They also owned the Nissan dealers that used to be on Manchester Road in Lostock. Did my work experience there and the son (James I think it was) ran that one.

[apotek]

many many years ago were they Triumph and Bond equipe

[Sheepshanks]

I was taken gently by the arm and guided to the door after asking about discount on a new Polo. "I don't think we'll able to do business today, sir!"

[ndtman]

ISTR that they used to provide the recovery truck at Oulton Park. I could be totally wrong though

[P1 MKF]

ndtman said:

ISTR that they used to provide the recovery truck at Oulton Park. I could be totally wrong though

Yes they used to, a nice V8 one too if I remember :-)

[P1 MKF]

towser44 said:

They also owned the Nissan dealers that used to be on Manchester Road in Lostock. Did my work experience there and the son (James I think it was) ran that one.

I remember going in there (in the early to mid nineties) and seeing/getting 200SX brochures etc when they were there, located at the petrol station and then come 2001 I joined them as a Sales Executive till 2004 and James Barber was actually my boss funnily enough :-)

[P1 MKF]

Sheepshanks said:

I was taken gently by the arm and guided to the door after asking about discount on a new Polo. "I don't think we'll able to do business today, sir!"

Ha Ha that doesnt surprise me. Very good times though and rather good to work for. Used to get away with all sorts and so did the boss's to be honest

[Sheepshanks]

P1 MKF said:

Sheepshanks said:

I was taken gently by the arm and guided to the door after asking about discount on a new Polo. "I don't think we'll able to do business today, sir!"

Ha Ha that doesnt surprise me. Very good times though and rather good to work for. Used to get away with all sorts and so did the boss's to be honest

It was a probably a 'thing' that county town VW dealers did in those days. They saw themselves as upmarket somehow.

A mate had pretty well word for word the same experience at the VW dealer in Newcastle (Stoke-onTrent). He did manage to rescue the situation - I ended up buying from a dealer in Wigan (A&B maybe?) and recall being very happy with the price.

[Fane]

I used to see Norman Barber (lovely man) with his Bentley at Vintage-Sports Car Club events in the 90's - he was close friends with another VSCC man who ran a VW dealership in Wrexham called John something - any ideas?

[JimmyConwayNW]

P1 MKF said:

I remember going in there (in the early to mid nineties) and seeing/getting 200SX brochures etc when they were there, located at the petrol station and then come 2001 I joined them as a Sales Executive till 2004 and James Barber was actually my boss funnily enough :-)

James barber used to have the nickname skin and bone didnt he? Very gaunt chap. I remember the garages there, used to be quite a few around that area all pretty much gone now. Turned into a skate park at one point afterwards used to go there as a kid.

[dirky dirk]

i went past skip brown the other day,
surprised to see that still going

[P1 MKF]

dirky dirk said:

i went past skip brown the other day,
surprised to see that still going

Skip Brown in Tarporley?

[droopsnoot]

P1 MKF said:

dirky dirk said:

i went past skip brown the other day,
surprised to see that still going

Skip Brown in Tarporley?

Ridley, rather than Tarporley, I'd say.

[dhutch]

droopsnoot said:

Ridley, rather than Tarporley, I'd say.

This. Very close to there I grew up.

https://www.google.com/search?q=skip+brown+cars


Daniel