Cyril G. Morgan Ltd garage business in Caerphilly, Wales.

Thanks to John Cartlidge who provided this item of garage paperwork, relating to a business by the name of Cyril G. Morgan Ltd that was situated in Caerphilly, Wales. The letter was originally posted to John's father-in-law in 1955, Mr M.D. Pratten, of Rumney, Cardiff.

The letter from Cyril G. Morgan Limited relates to an enquiry from Mr Pratten, where he asked them what they'd offer him for his Velocette MAC motorcycle, against either a new Standard 8 saloon, or a Ford 103E Popular. Alas the garage could supply neither car straight away due to shortages of new cars, but they'd be more than willing to supply a suitable used car from their existing stock. The garage in question would normally be able to supply new cars produced by Austin, Ford, Standard or Triumph, plus "all the leading makes of motor cycles".

Two locations are given for this business, one in Piccadilly Square, Caerphilly, the other at Cross Keys Garage, Nantgarw, Glamorgan.

There's an interesting photo and write-up of Cyril Morgan's garage on the Vintage Motorcycle Club (South Wales Section) website: link. Apparently it was quite the place to visit for motorcycle enthusiasts around the area.

Extra information about this garage.

Martin Ford dropped me a line with some extra information about this Welsh garage (thanks Martin):

"I was pleased to see not one but two mentions of Cyril G Morgan Motors who were the leading garage in my old home town of Caerphilly.

"Cyril Morgan was quite a character of a businessman and I recall that he owned an impressive thatched farmhouse overlooking the local Golf Club. The garage was mainly situated at Piccadilly Square occupying 4 premises surrounding the intersection. One of them was indeed the Motorcycle showroom in the picture, the showroom was large enough to accommodate microcars so I would see Bonds, Isettas and Messerschmitts when I passed through on my way home from school. CGM also had another filling station site at Nantgarw Road and another 'full service' garage premises near Treforest Trading Estate. That one looks today, very much as it did in the 1950s.

"The car showroom was on the other side of Piccadilly Square and I noted that the letter was signed by Des Tilley who was the Sales Manager and a near neighbour of ours. He was also a keen amateur rally driver and competed in the 1968 London to Sydney Marathon in an Austin 1800. He also entered the Monte and Welsh Rally with it. In fact it was the Tilley family transport for a while, 'roo bars' are just the thing for the shopping run!

"I also recall that there was a Triumph 2.5 PI outside his house, liveried for the Mexico World Cup Rally in 1970. However, try as I might, I have been unable to find reference to the car on the entry list.

"What I do remember is that a year later I heard that Des was offering a full set of well-used Minilite wheels from the PI for 25 quid! Just right for the Triumph 2000 which was my pride and joy at the time! Sadly, our local Italian cafe owner, 'Pino' Antoniazzi beat me to them. I guess he had more ready access to 25 quid than myself in those days!

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