Past Nottingham dealerships

[Fun Bus]

The other day I was driving up Nuthall Road, Nottingham and as I passed what is now a Halfords I recalled the days when it was 'Wheelhouse' and as a kid would love passing as I knew I'd see something nice in the window. It got me thinking about other dealers which are no more such as:

Hooleys Ford on Derby Road and on Loughborough Road in West Bridgford.

Cowie Ford on London Road - also on Lower Parliament Street I think?

W A Hatfield Rover in West Bridgford, Jack F Hopewell Rover in Tollerton, Walkers of Carlton and Mann Egerton on Derby Road - next to the Rolls-Royce franchise.

Trust Vauxhall at Castle Marina - became Reg Vardy and is now a PC World.

So, which am I missing? I know it's Nottingham based but being a Nottingham lad all my life it's what I remember best.

[Balmoral Green]

Fun Bus said:

Jack F Hopewell Rover in Tollerton

I used to work there, loved it. Very different to todays motor trade. There were far too many AR dealers in and around Nottingham at the time though.

Knowles at Epperstone
Hopewells at Tollerton
Farmer & Carlisle at W Bridgford
Hatfield at W Bridgford
Rose of Ratcliffe
Willoughbys at Beeston
Nicholsons at Chilwell
Hammonds of Daybrook
Redhill Garage
Mann Egerton

All of them lovely little garages, and lovely, lovely people. We all knew each other well.

And as many again a short run up the A52 to Derby.

It was damned hard to retain a margin, as shopping for the best price was a doddle for the customer

[Fun Bus]

Balmoral Green said:

Hopewells at Tollerton

I worked there when they were at Plumtree and had lost the Rover franchise. A family friend once bought an 800 Sterling from there too.

Balmoral Green said:

Rose of Ratcliffe

Radcliffe I've no excuse for forgetting that one - I lived in Radcliffe for 20 something years!

Balmoral Green said:

Hammonds of Daybrook

I worked here to but when it was under the Priory banner.

Edited by Fun Bus on Thursday 9th January 19:41

[asn163]

Hanger Motors (Ford) at Lower Parliament Street and Burton Joyce.

Sytners on Woodborough Road, Mapperley.

Shipside? motors (BMC), Huntingdon street.

[Vulgar LS2]

The SAAB garage on alfreton road/talbot street.

Deans of Nottingham in bulwell now fabric warehouse

Speeds Volvo, alfreton road

Speeds Dihatsu (sp), bottom of Hucknall bypass

New Crown Vauxhall, Bulwell

Swithlands Fiat, Bulwell

[slimtater]

Vulgar LS2 said:

The SAAB garage on alfreton road/talbot street.

Beechdale??

Or were they also linked with Technico Fiat?

Edited by slimtater on Thursday 19th May 19:59

[Fun Bus]

Just thought of another. The Mazda dealer which stood where Sytner MINI is now. And, Speeds Volvo on Radcliffe Road, West Bridgford.

[simonigrale]

Sytner Nottingham on Huntingdon St, I started work there as a parts aprentice in 1997 and stayed there until it moved in 2004 to the new place on Lenton Lane. It never had the same magic.

Slightly out of area but Simon Gamble at Smalley - He always had a few Ferraris in, think it shut around 2000. New houses there now.

I remember my old man buying an Alfa 75 V6 Veloce new in 1989 from D K Morley Alfa Romeo in Ilkeston.

[Robin Hood]

A few more blasts from the past:

Oscrofts, Castle Boulevard, Vauxhall Agents, the showrooms are now office furniture
Cowies previously Hangers, previously Carter Gate Motor Company
Shipsides
A.K. Austin (BMC)
C.H.Truman, Rovers, on the right corner opposite the end of Woodborough Road then on Huntingdon Street at the site that became Sytners when they moved from Woodborough Road
Atkeys (BMC)
Beeston Light Car Company
Jag Agent where Argos is now on Parliament Street that I can't remember the name of
AFG Mapperley, Nissan, now Nottingham Autopark

Edited by Robin Hood on Thursday 19th May 23:37

Edited by Robin Hood on Thursday 19th May 23:41

[Vulgar LS2]

slimtater said:

Vulgar LS2 said:

The SAAB garage on alfreton road/talbot street.

Beechdale??

Or were they also linked with Technico Fiat?

Edited by slimtater on Thursday 19th May 19:59

Yes thats it Beechdale, been boarded up for a few years now.

Hooleys on Derby Road, now Budgens.

[raceboy]

Stephen Palmer TVR/MG in Long Eaton
Goulders Lancia in Mapperley Plains

and was in Kendrick Cars (or something like that) on Castle Boulevard.

[Zp]

Fun Bus said:

Hopewells at Tollerton

I bought a Rover 214SLi from there.... and my FIL bought his BRG Rover 800 Sterling from there. (when it was at Plumtree)


And my FIL had the offices next door.

I also bought a Fiesta from Lamcotes in Radcliffe.

[Balmoral Green]

Me, August 1st 1984, 'B' reg day, Hopewells at Tollerton.

[Sam12]

Hi,

I am the son of Nik Wheelhouse in Nottingham.

If anyone has any photos of any of the cars in the Wheelhouse/ Plains Garage then I would love to see them. I am trying to get a collection of photos of the cars we have had over the years.

Many Thanks,
Sam

[CheesyFootballs]

Wow - thread resurrection or what?!

Hi Sam, is the old man still around, selling cars?

[Fun Bus]

Cheesy. Your FIL. Also had a Nightfire Red Sterling, and a dark blue Scorpio Estate? Other company cars were Rovers, namely 214Si 3drs?

[CheesyFootballs]

Fun Bus said:

Cheesy. Your FIL. Also had a Nightfire Red Sterling, and a dark blue Scorpio Estate? Other company cars were Rovers, namely 214Si 3drs?

He certainly did.
And several Range Rovers in the early '90's.
You remember him?

[Sam12]

Haha yeah sorry just been searching everything and anything and came across this forum topic!

No we stopped selling cars about 3/4 years ago. But we still have bits and pieces every now and then!

I am told we have had a 911 2.7 RS a yellow diablo and a pink countach. These are the photos I really want to try and find!

I have found a few of the countach.

Cheers,
Sam

[Fun Bus]

CheesyFootballs said:

Fun Bus said:

Cheesy. Your FIL. Also had a Nightfire Red Sterling, and a dark blue Scorpio Estate? Other company cars were Rovers, namely 214Si 3drs?

He certainly did.
And several Range Rovers in the early '90's.
You remember him?

I worked at J F Hopewell for a year or so. I remember him and the company. Decent bunch.

[CheesyFootballs]

He was a great bloke.

Sadly died 12 years ago (next week in fact) at 62 years old

When Tim Charlesworth took over the garage selling grey imports, the FIL had a few of those too!