Yank breaker - London

[V8mate]

Does anyone remember a guy called Keith; used to run an American car breakers on the south side of the Blackwall Tunnel, where the O2 arena (Millennium Dome) was built? He was evicted to make way for the Dome.

Bought a few runners from him in the mid-late 80s.

He was as dodgy as any breaker, but his prices were always low enough to make any gamble worthwhile.

After being evicted, he traded from home in nearby Poplar for a bit, IIRC (whole cars). Anyone know what happened to him or his business?

Edited by V8mate on Friday 7th August 22:44

[roscobbc]

'Twitchy' Keith passed away a couple of years or so ago I believe.

[V8mate]

Oh - that's a shame. I didn't want to include the 'twitchy' bit in my OP; you never know who's a member here

Do you know if he left any kind of ongoing business legacy? I always felt that the Dome project ruined him; he was just getting into Maseratis too, before they bumped him off the patch.

Thanks for the info though!

Edited by V8mate on Wednesday 5th August 07:18

[roscobbc]

The guy who ran the breakers before Keith was known as Freddie Clowns Trousers - he is worth a whole new thread!

[graeme36s]

Jese that brings back some memories. Me and my business partner bought a few old tanks from him back then and he would do a fare deal when selling back. Trying to remember, 79 Camaro, white with those rubbery wheel centres. Aweful. A 71 auto SS350 Camaro. Piece of crap to look at (honda metallic red) every panel had a dent and rust but f**k did it do. 5 second 0-60's every time. Back in the late 80's we had just started our own business so for work and play I had a Merc 207D Van. I bought a Lincoln Continental MKV in white with white padded vinyl roof, blue velour in side. (cartier edition of course). £1100 from memory but it was a long time ago. I thought it was the bees knees. I only kept it for a couple of months as the wife refused to go out in it. Preferred to take the van. I'm sure he gave me most of my money back. Can't remember what else we bought but I do remember the SS had to go as the police where starting to pay a little too much interest in our shananagins happy days.

[Al Weyman]

Yeah I remember him in fact the Konis on the front of my IROC-Z I got from him, I remember going down there and the bugger would keep you waiting for hours while on other business. You know I never realised that was the site of the Dome, I have only seen the dome from the Thames and would have thought that was much further down the Thames. Do you remember the rotton greasy spoon cafe, right near the yard, that was the pits.