West London Classic Specialist -late 1980’s?

[Tony P-P]

For no real reason other than nostalgia I’m trying to remember the name of a high-end classic dealer who was based in West London, in the mid to late 1980’s.

All I can remember is regularly dropping in to browse the stock in a big warehouse/workshop which I think was in a mews or side-street, possibly in the Bayswater/Queensway/Ladbroke Grove area. And wishing I could afford one of the DB6’s they regularly had…

Can anyone out their help jog my memory?

Cheers.

[williamp]

Autodrome?

[Tony P-P]

Thanks! I’m pretty sure that was the one.

Obviously it was pre-internet times so no trace of it when I search for it (also a name you’d never choose today as it’s too generic!).

If anyone can remember any more, do chip in…

[I-am-the-reverend]

Autodrome!

I had a 1966 Cooper S to sell in 1991/2 and they wanted to come and collect it and sell it on commission.

I declined. They were gone not long after that.

[Risonax]

Gets a mention in this ad:

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1481534

[thegreenhell]

This advert is from around 1991/2. If you went in with £30k you could have your choice of Aston Martin DB4, 911 2.7 RS Lwt, or a delivery miles Dodge Stealth...

[alabbasi]

I remember a place that sold classic cars near the Wandsworth roundabout. Is that place still around?

[uk66fastback]

thegreenhell said:

This advert is from around 1991/2. If you went in with £30k you could have your choice of Aston Martin DB4, 911 2.7 RS Lwt, or a delivery miles Dodge Stealth...

Do you have that pic at a higher resolution?

[thegreenhell]

It's an image from the interwebs, not mine. This is the max resolution it came in - https://thumbsnap.com/i/xr6tJxUM.jpg?1011

[don logan]

williamp said:

Autodrome?

They were in Kings Cross

[williamp]

There were loads near cromwell tube tube Cous, for example.

How about "Straight 8" ( for the ultimate)

[NomduJour]

alabbasi said:

I remember a place that sold classic cars near the Wandsworth roundabout. Is that place still around?

Chelsea Cars is, Classic Automobiles moved to Hampshire a few years ago.

[lowdrag]

Could have it have been Christies, or was that the 90's (for the first time they went under)?

[alabbasi]

NomduJour said:

Chelsea Cars is, Classic Automobiles moved to Hampshire a few years ago.

Thanks. That's the one

[reddiesel]

Victoria Garage was a particular favourite of mine back them , I believe they went Bankrupt . They had a particular thing for restored Bright Red Mk2 Jaguars and E Types . Anyone remember them ?

[alabbasi]

Let's not forget mulliner park ward, the coach builder in wilsden that built the Rolls Royce bodies

[reddiesel]

alabbasi said:

Let's not forget mulliner park ward, the coach builder in wilsden that built the Rolls Royce bodies

Indeed and now occupied by the Great Trade Centre in Hythe Road if my memory serves me correctly ?

[chris-e]

alabbasi said:

I remember a place that sold classic cars near the Wandsworth roundabout. Is that place still around?

Joe Macari is in Wandsworth, still trading some lovely motors. I've seen a blue Lancia 037 he had for sale and it's still my number 1 wish list

[Monty1502]

I used to visit Autodrome every time I went down to London from Yorkshire to see relatives, I'd go on the train and walk to their premises to see what they had in stock. Always a selection of Ferrari's Porsches's etc.

I remember being there when a client who'd stored his Ferrari 355 ( ? ) there was having a screaming match with them as they'd parked his car resting on the gearbox on some sort of raised kerb in their storage area, very entertaining, but not too good for the chaps car !

A few years later when I'd saved up enough money I made the mistake of buying an Alfa Spider from them, I told them I was coming down from Yorkshire to collect it and was immediately leaving to drive down to Italy and around Europe for six weeks. They assured me they'd give it a full check over and make sure everything was in order. I turned up to collect it and they said they hadn't had time to check it so I spent the next six weeks driving round Europe with a blowing exhaust and an air filter that vibrated loose and fell off every fifty miles or so !

The good old days !!!