Who remembers KINGSBURY MOTORS?

[ertyuio]

KINGSBURY MOTORS Ltd which was also known as " Kingsbury Motors Hire " was located on Kingsbury Road LONDON NW9 in the 1960's until the early 80's as far as I know. They had lots of vehicles that they used to hire out for movies or Television, like the WHO5 spaceship, Classic cars which appeared in Dad's Army, John Steed's Bentley open tourer.....
I discovered recently that the classic car I own which was part of their stock and would like to get in touch with the owner's family or relatives, or ex-members of staff.
The Manager was Mr Fred WILMINGTON at this time. These people must have been real car lovers.
I 'd like to trace the history of my classic car.

Could you give me any information about KINGSBURY MOTORS ?

[V8s ONLY]

Looks like nobody. We're all too young.

[johnnyhmax]

Well you all might be "too young" to remember Kingsbury Motors" but I'm not.
I was young when I worked there on and off from circa 1968/1969 to the mid seventies.
My brother also worked there for a good few years after I left.
I'm beginning to research and write about my experiences whilst working at Kingsbury Motors.
I drove an amazingly varied selection of cars & motorcycles. Some very famous and unique, and a lot of prototypes.
Lots and loads of good TV, Film, famous and not so famous characters and stories, enough to fill a small book, which I'm working on.....
I thought I'd type in Kingsbury Motors, AND look what happened,
I came across this site and question a few months ago,
I've now been able to register and reply to "Who remembers Kingsbury Motors"
Since old age is sneaking up on me with a vengeance
Writing and getting it to-gether takes a bit longer.
To the original poster of this question, I'd like to say
"Je m'appele johnny et je parle tres bien Francais"
More to come soon if anyone is interested.
johnnyhmax

[Yellowcommando]

My dad worked there from about 66 to 75.
He used to bring all the cars home. Went to portugal with him and my brother to film OHMSS in the Corniche convertible...The chairman with Gregory Peck....plus numerous Hammer films Z cars Dixon etc etc.... unfortunately not a lot of photos..but as a kid I would play in the yard..Ernie's milk float..Dr whos Bessie..and of course the J Jones van from Dad's Army..which they built a mock up of out of a transit I believe..my mum did a lot of driving for ads etc too..

[neutral 3]

johnnyhmax said:

Well you all might be "too young" to remember Kingsbury Motors" but I'm not.
I was young when I worked there on and off from circa 1968/1969 to the mid seventies.
My brother also worked there for a good few years after I left.
I'm beginning to research and write about my experiences whilst working at Kingsbury Motors.
I drove an amazingly varied selection of cars & motorcycles. Some very famous and unique, and a lot of prototypes.
Lots and loads of good TV, Film, famous and not so famous characters and stories, enough to fill a small book, which I'm working on.....
I thought I'd type in Kingsbury Motors, AND look what happened,
I came across this site and question a few months ago,
I've now been able to register and reply to "Who remembers Kingsbury Motors"
Since old age is sneaking up on me with a vengeance
Writing and getting it to-gether takes a bit longer.
To the original poster of this question, I'd like to say
"Je m'appele johnny et je parle tres bien Francais"
More to come soon if anyone is interested.
johnnyhmax

Fantastic memories !! Looking forward to reading about them !

[Mr Tidy]

I only remember them from my years handling motor insurance claims when we used to arrange for our motor engineers to go there to inspect damaged cars!

Hopefully there is a great story to come.

[ertyuio]

It would be very interesting to read about your memories. The classic car I own was bought by KINGSBURY MOTORS in august 1968 and did straight away 2 episodes of " The Avengers " and then many films and tv series until the end of the garage, I guess 1983.
Since I own this car ( 2012 ) I 've managed to find out many films and tv series it has appeared in, but not all I guess.
There is also one question : originaly the registration was MWF435F until 1977 when Kingsbury fixed a private plate OPH2. I guess this must have been an extra expense, but why ? Whas it for a particular purpose ? A particular film ?


Here is an updated list :

1968 : THE AVENGERS season 6 with Patrick Macnee and Linda Thorson
Episode : “I wish you were here”.

1968 : THE AVENGERS season 6 with Patrick Macnee and Linda Thorson, Robert Harris and Veronica Strong
Episode : " Love all " .

1969 : MY LOVER MY SON - a film by John Newland with Donald Houston, Romy Schneider and Dennis Waterman filmed at the MGM British Studios where the car had the accident which I mentioned when I found the insurance papers. If you see this film, you will see the collision.

1969 : GALTON & SIMPSON COMEDY - Episode " The Suit " with Leslie Phillips and Jennie Linden. Car driven by Leslie Phillips.

1969 : THE MAIN CHANCE - Episode 1 season 1 " What about justice " with John Stride and Kate O'Mara.

1970/71- SHIRLEY'S WORLD
Episode : A mother's touch, with Shirley MacLaine.

1971 - THE PERSUADERS - Episode: “That's me over there”
with Roger Moore, Tony Curtis and Geoffrey Keen.

1971 : DR WHO - Episode "Day of the Daleks"

1972 : ENDLESS NIGHT - a film directed by Sidney Gilliat with Hayley Mills, Hywel Bennett, George Sanders, Britt Ekland, Lois Maxwell

1972 : BLESS THIS HOUSE - Série TV with Sidney James - Episode " A Rolls by any other name "
​Car driven by Sidney James.

1973 : SPECIAL BRANCH with George Sewell and Roger Rowland. Season 3 Episode 11
" You won't remember me. "

1973 : THRILLER by Brian Clemens - Episode " Spell of evil " with Diane Cilento, Jennifer Daniel

1973 : SOME MOTHERS DO ' AVE 'EM - Episode " George's house " with Michael Crawford, Michele Dotrice.

1973 : SOME MOTHERS DO ' AVE 'EM - Episode " The baby arrives " with Michael Crawford.

1974 : THRILLER by Brian Clemens– Episode “Sign it death“ with Patrick Allen

1975 : PUBLIC EYE - Episode " The Fatted calf " with Alfred Burke.

1976 : THE FALL AND RISE OF REGINALD PERRIN with Leonard Rossiter . Season 1. Episode 6

1976 : LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE - Episode " The kink in Foggy's Niblick" with Bill Owen, Peter Sallis.

1977 : THE PROFESSIONALS series 1, Episode " Where the Jungle Ends ".

1977 : THE SQUEEZE - Film directed by Michael Apted with Stacy Keach, David Hemmings, Edward Fox.
Car driven by Stephen Boyd, his last film.

1978 : RETURN OF THE SAINT – Episode " The brave Goose " - with Ian OGILVY

1978 : THE PROFESSIONALS - Episode " Everest Was Also Conquered " with Richard Greene

1979 : DR JEKYLL LIKES THEM HOT - Italian film directed by Steno with Paolo Villaggio and Edwige Fenech

1979 : THE PROFESSIONALS series 4, Episode "Acorn Syndrome".

1979 : MINDER, Season 1 - Episode 1, "Gunfight at the ok Laundrette" car driven by Dave King.

1979 : SHOESTRING Season 1, Episode 4 "An Uncertain Circle". With Trevor EVE.

1979 : THE PROFESSIONALS, Episode " Week-End in the Country ".

1979 : MURPHY'S STROKE - with Pierce BROSNAN, Niall TOIBIN, Tony DOYLE -

1980 : THE PROFESSIONALS series 4, Episode: Blood Sports.

1980 : MINDER Season 3, Episode "Dream House". With George COLE and Dennis WATERMAN

1980 : SUNDAY LOVERS, a film directed by Bryan Forbes. Part 1 of the film is called “An Englishman's Home” with Roger Moore and Denholm Elliot. Roger Moore plays a chauffeur and drives the car. The film was shot in Windsor, Heathrow Airport and in France near Bordeaux at the Chateau de Roquetaillade (supposed to be England).

1982 : ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES - Lord Ridgemere's car in famous episode: A Touch of Glass. The most wiewed episode of the series.

1982 : ANYONE FOR DENIS ? - Comedy written and played by John Wells.

1982 : THE PROFESSIONALS - Tv Series - Episode " The untouchables ". Car fitted with fake plates.

Many thanks for your precious help !!!

[Elderly]

ertyuio said:

It would be very interesting to read about your memories.


1969 : MY LOVER MY SON - a film by John Newland with Donald Houston, Romy Schneider and Dennis Waterman filmed at the MGM British Studios where the car had the accident which I mentioned when I found the insurance papers. If you see this film, you will see the collision.

That was the first film I worked on, but I don’t have that many memories of the film itself;
my memories are of the lifestyle that a strong ACTT union and working for MGM bought the people working on it .
I do remember one of the unit drivers ( an ex-boxer ) but doubt that he had anything to do with the action vehicles.

I do have the movie poster and the still photographer’s 5” x 4” negative, but not any copy of the film.
OP - do you have one? It might jog my memory and I’d love to get a copy.

[Lellybelle67]

Does anyone remember Fred Johnson worked for Kingsbury motors early 70,s

[Dapster]

ertyuio said:

1982 : ONLY FOOLS AND HORSES - Lord Ridgemere's car in famous episode: A Touch of Glass. The most wiewed episode of the series.

Looks like a Shadow II, Volvo 340 and that must be a Classic Range Rover behind them.

[hilly10]

ertyuio said:

KINGSBURY MOTORS Ltd which was also known as " Kingsbury Motors Hire " was located on Kingsbury Road LONDON NW9 in the 1960's until the early 80's as far as I know. They had lots of vehicles that they used to hire out for movies or Television, like the WHO5 spaceship, Classic cars which appeared in Dad's Army, John Steed's Bentley open tourer.....
I discovered recently that the classic car I own which was part of their stock and would like to get in touch with the owner's family or relatives, or ex-members of staff.
The Manager was Mr Fred WILMINGTON at this time. These people must have been real car lovers.
I 'd like to trace the history of my classic car.

Could you give me any information about KINGSBURY MOTORS ?

Out of interest what is your car

[stevewak]

Yellowcommando said:

My dad worked there from about 66 to 75.
He used to bring all the cars home. Went to portugal with him and my brother to film OHMSS in the Corniche convertible...The chairman with Gregory Peck....plus numerous Hammer films Z cars Dixon etc etc.... unfortunately not a lot of photos..but as a kid I would play in the yard..Ernie's milk float..Dr whos Bessie..and of course the J Jones van from Dad's Army..which they built a mock up of out of a transit I believe..my mum did a lot of driving for ads etc too..

Would love to hear from you if you can turn on emails or email [e-mail]