'Elmsleigh Autos of Enfield'?
Discussion
Has anybody here every come across old photos, adverts, business cards, etc related to 'Elmsleigh Autos of Enfield'?
They were a main Opel Vauxhall dealership (and later a Ford dealership - finally closing c.1989).
My 1978 Opel Manta 1.9SR Berlinetta coupe was originally a demonstrator at this garage and I would like to find out more about this dealership for my car's history file.
To date, I've been drawing a blank in my search for information or photos...
They were a main Opel Vauxhall dealership (and later a Ford dealership - finally closing c.1989).
My 1978 Opel Manta 1.9SR Berlinetta coupe was originally a demonstrator at this garage and I would like to find out more about this dealership for my car's history file.
To date, I've been drawing a blank in my search for information or photos...
It's quite surprising how difficult it is to find information like this. I've been looking for similar stuff about the company that supplied my car, Ewins of Banbury, and other than some very old information it's quite hard to come across anything.
I have spent a bit of time looking through flickr for old photos of the area that might include the place at roughly the right time, so that might be somewhere you could look. Always a bit tricky when it's a fairly big place, and when you add "historic" into the search and get modern photos.
I have spent a bit of time looking through flickr for old photos of the area that might include the place at roughly the right time, so that might be somewhere you could look. Always a bit tricky when it's a fairly big place, and when you add "historic" into the search and get modern photos.
droopsnoot said:
It's quite surprising how difficult it is to find information like this. I've been looking for similar stuff about the company that supplied my car, Ewins of Banbury, and other than some very old information it's quite hard to come across anything.
I have spent a bit of time looking through flickr for old photos of the area that might include the place at roughly the right time, so that might be somewhere you could look. Always a bit tricky when it's a fairly big place, and when you add "historic" into the search and get modern photos.
This is so true, I tried finding info on Silks of Walthamstow, who sold my HB Viva,though they still exist, FA about the Vauxhall times, and TRUST Vauxhall in Northampton who apparently sold my much Later GSI, again sweet FA. I have spent a bit of time looking through flickr for old photos of the area that might include the place at roughly the right time, so that might be somewhere you could look. Always a bit tricky when it's a fairly big place, and when you add "historic" into the search and get modern photos.
About to try again on another dig on a new puchase, Marmion Ford, for a Dagenham Dustbin.
anyoldcardave said:
This is so true, I tried finding info on Silks of Walthamstow, who sold my HB Viva,though they still exist, FA about the Vauxhall times, and TRUST Vauxhall in Northampton who apparently sold my much Later GSI, again sweet FA.
About to try again on another dig on a new puchase, Marmion Ford, for a Dagenham Dustbin.
I have a some info on Silks of Walthamstow. Martin Silk was the son of the owner ( who’s name I don’t know ) About to try again on another dig on a new puchase, Marmion Ford, for a Dagenham Dustbin.
In circa 1982 ish, Martin had either a new or used “ Essex Lotus Esprit Turbo “ guessing it was bought through the business. He drove it like a nutter and one day whilst going way too fast around the Ridgeway, in Chingford, towards Nth Chingford, he lost control of the Esprit, it’s rear end swung round and the drivers side of the car hit a Hawthorn tree, which was situated on a grass verge. My Mum came past the scene a short time later and said that there was debris and shoes lying in the road.
A late pal called Darren R.I.P was working at Hills of Woodford and he was sent out in their recovery truck to bring the Lotus in. He told me that the drivers seat was half the width that it should have been. I saw Martin regularly in the area afterwards and he had to walk with a stick due to permanent hip / pelvic injuries. I was told that his passenger got out without injury.
In circa 1991, I went past Hills and there was an Imperial green Lotus Carlton parked outside, sure that he was using the car.
Then in 2004, he owned / was using a ZR-1 Corvette ( in dark metalic green ) from memory one Sunday, he was travelling up the Epping New road from the Robin Hood roundabout towards the Wakes Arms roundabout @ speed ( 100 mph I believe ) when someone stepped out of the forest. He swerved to avoid them, the Corvette went into the forest and near disintegrated, killing him. His passenger somehow escaped serious injury.
I don’t think Silks stayed in business for much longer.
My father ran a Ford dealership in Fareham (next to Trinity Church) which stopped trading in 1955 because the petrol pumps were on the pavement and causing traffic hold-ups. It was called Croker & Farrell but in 30 years I have never found one photo of it. Neither the local paper nor Ford could help.
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