Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22782 Location: UK

Hi all,

In the early years of the 20th Century there were many small companies, producing cars in the hope of gaining a useful slice of the car market. Many started out in general engineering, a sizeable proportion as cycle manufacturers. Over time, most disappeared.

Were new cars (or lorries, vans, motorcycles) ever built in your area, ie where you live and/or work? Are there any car manufacturers still in business near to you?

RJ
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Rick - Admin
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Old Wrench · Joined: 23 Dec 2013 Posts: 226 Location: Essex and France

Walklett Bros, (Ginetta) Witham, Essex.

Ford at Dagenham.
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Well, apart from that, did you enjoy the play, Mrs Lincoln?

peppiB · Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 10:34 am Post subject:

Best known for guns and heavy armour, Armstrong made some cars in the early 1900's, the only 1 I have ever seen is in the Discovery museum in Newcastle. His factory stretches for half a mile along the banks of the Tyne in Scotswood. Now owned by Rolls Royce, until recently it was producing lightweight battle tanks

About 8 miles down the road (A19) is Nissan

Riley Blue · Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1751 Location: Derbyshire

As far as I know none were made in Chesterfield but when I lived in Somerset I discovered cars were manufactured in the village of Chewton Mendip, not far from Wells, and named 'The Mendip'. Of 300 built, only one is believed to survive.
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David

1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5

norustplease · Joined: 11 Apr 2011 Posts: 825 Location: Lancashire

We are near the home of Leyland Motors which is only a couple of miles away. Leyland Trucks are now owned by PACCAR, but are still a major manufacturer in the area and the brand lives on.
After that Blackpool was probably our nearest manufacturing centre for cars, with TVR and Duple, the bus body builders, based there.

The Leyland Commercial Vehicle museum is worth a look, if ever you are in the area, incidentally.
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1953 Citroen Traction
1964 Volvo PV544
1957 Austin A55 Mk 1
Boring Tucson SUV

MikeEdwards · Joined: 25 May 2011 Posts: 2701 Location: South Cheshire

Near where I am, there's the Bentley factory which also used to make Rolls-Royce and had some involvement in making (or perhaps painting) heritage MG shells. We've also got Whitby-Morrison ice cream vans, and another that I forget the name of.

A little further away we used to have ERF and Foden trucks, both of which have now gone though I believe one of them was also owned by Paccar towards the end. And I guess Ellesmere Port isn't that far away to count as local, manufacturing Vauxhalls still, just passed 5m Astras made there. And I think there's a Ford (or maybe now Jaguar) plant around that area too.

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22782 Location: UK

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4855 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Hi
I was brought up in Guildford the home of Dennis Bros (Buses, Trucks, Lawn Mowers and in early days cars). The nearby village of Shalford was the home of the Nelco Solocar a forerunner of the blue trike.
A saturday/holiday job was at a Vauxhall/Bedford garage F? Barnes who did custom bodies on truck chassis for mobile libraries.
Drummond Bros where my father, and I later, worked produced the production line lathes and gear hobbers and cutters which were supplied to such as Ford for the engine and gearbox production lines.
Moving to Bristol i worked near the Bristol cars factory and of course Bristol Commercial vehicles is there as well.
My parents lived at Nailsworth later which is near Stroud where the Hampton car was made.
I am now near to Blackburn and when I moved here I would still see chassis being delivered to East Lancs Bodies by drivers sitting out in the weather just as I saw them leaving Dennis's in Guildford as a kid.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

ukdave2002 · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4235 Location: South Cheshire

on my commute into the office I drive past the location of the old Ford plant on Trafford Park, where the model T was assembled.

I think the location is pretty much where the Event City exhibition halls are today ? across the road from the Trafford Centre...I'm sure someone will know for sure.

Dave

rjt10/4 · Joined: 26 Nov 2012 Posts: 214 Location: Minions Cornwall

growing up in ash vale my dad worked for hestair dennis in Guildford for over 20 yrs then moved to wadham kenning in Waterlooville making ambulances

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7213 Location: Edinburgh

Not exactly early 20th century but I live about 25 miles from the site of the BMC Bathgate Truck and Tractor factory (1961 to 86).

Peter

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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 7093 Location: Derby

PAUL BEAUMONT · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 1281 Location: Barnsley S. Yorks

My current home is South Yorkshire and I regularly visit the small village of Wentworth near Rotherham. Manufacturing centre briefly of the Sheffield Simplex. 3 known to survive - though only 2 in the northern hemisphere!

BigJohn · Joined: 01 Jan 2011 Posts: 954 Location: Wem, Shropshire

Africar, in Lancaster, and Norustplease, you forgot Bond cars in Preston.

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4855 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Hi Ray
http://www.guildford-dragon.com/2013/07/03/piecing-together-the-story-of-shalford-engineering-firm-nelco/

also see this for other Guildford products.

http://www.guildford-dragon.com/2013/09/16/guildford-products-reached-parts-britain-world/

I keep in touch with the area through the Dragon.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10