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This page: Paperwork that relates to The Car Mart, a once well-known London motor emporium.

The Car Mart Limited Annual Outing to Brighton.

Firstly, a slightly grubby but nonetheless interesting item that turned up a while ago. This folded card, measuring 8"x5", was handed out to employees of The Car Mart Limited (and Associated Companies) on their annual day out in 1931. This year the destination was Brighton, whether this was the case every year or not I don't know. The cover of the card shows a workshop, devoid of any mechanics, with a half-finished motor-car up on jacks, with just a couple of tiny mice for company! Clearly the workers had already boarded the coach bound for Brighton.

"Cars we have known"

Inside the cover, and shown above right, was a light-hearted description of some of the 'cars' they'd experienced. The inclusion of various people's faces suggests that this was a gentle ribbing of certain Car Mart employees, probably the management. For example, "The Major", a "De Luxe model for the Connoisseur. Lavishly upholstered - also wood work in pickled oak and completely equipped for all Sport, Dancing, Wireless and Skating. Propelled by steam - cooled by Solent water - Guaranteed 100 A.1 at Lloyds and 1,000 A.1 in Park Lane. Code word: Buy British". The "Skipper" was described somewhat unflatteringly as having an ".. exceptionally heavy chassis .." with ".. ashtrays everywhere ..". The "Watney" had several dubious features too, such as ".. spontaneous exhaust if super-charged ..".

On the opposite side of the sheet, the 1pm menu for their meal, scheduled to be at 1pm on June 27th 1931, at The Aquarium Restaurant in Brighton. Various tasty delicacies were on offer, including fillet plaice, lamb, roast beef and Yorkshire puddings.

On the back cover, two sets of song lyrics are given, presumably to be sung on the coach trip down to Brighton ... both with a motoring theme to them, based on popular tunes of the day ...

Our Outing
Air - "I Love a Lassie"

We love an outing;
A jolly Car Mart Outing;
And once a year we throw our cares away;
Of axles, brakes and steering
We're sick and tired of hearing,
So please don't mention "Shop" to-day.

On Brighton Front
Air - "Tipperary"

It's a long way to all the benches,
To the wash and to the pit,
To the jacks and monkey wrenches,
To the drill and to the bit.
Now we're down at Brighton
In the sun - or in the rain,
You can bet the fun is going right on
Till it's time to go back again.

Does anyone remember The Car Mart Limited? The company can trace its roots back to 1908, and was approved agent for the sale and service of many familiar motor-cars of the day, including Austin and Rolls-Royce no less. Kennings took the firm over in 1968. The Car Mart Limited was formed by a Major R.S. Grigg, possibly the 'Major' referred to in the 'cars we have known' skit shown above.

Enclosed with the above leaflet, is this small single sheet as shown below. Signed by R.S. Grigg, it refers to a silver salver that had been produced to celebrate The Car Mart Limited's 21st anniversary, in October 1929.

Motor show invite, 1937.

Also well-thumbed is this letter, sent by The Car Mart's Sales Manager A.P. Field in 1937 to a prospective customer for an Austin commercial vehicle. In it, Mr Field advises that representatives of their emporium would be attending the Commercial Vehicle Exhibition at Earl's Court, and may be found on the Austin Motor Company's own stand. Dates for the exhibition were the 4th to the 13th November 1937.

The letter-heading mentions the company's very appropriate telegraphic address ("Karbargins, London"), and their actual address, which was Austin House, 297-279 Euston Road, London NW1. Who the letter was actually sent to though isn't mentioned.

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Old Classic Car (C) R. Jones 2023. Content not to be reproduced elsewhere.

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