BELL & COLVILL

[Jon39]

Usually their forecourt and showroom are displaying many new Lotus cars, including a number of Eletre models.

When passing the premises recently, I don't think any new Lotus stock is displayed. On the frontages which face both roads, I could only see three (older) Lotus cars. A few months ago, those frontages were full of cars.

I just wondered why there might have been such a noticeable change?

[baconsarney]

That’s a blast from the past Jon, IIRC they had a showroom in Purley when I worked for Caterham…

[baconsarney]

And another in Sussex but I can’t remember where

[Jon39]

I only know the West Horsley premises, but have just looked up their history (below).
Think they now also have premises in Guildford, for aftersales work, which includes McLaren.

'Martin Colvill began selling Lotus cars in South West London in 1966. In March 1970 he was joined by Bobby Bell to form Bell & Colvill. They sold and serviced cars from West Horsley and Caterham for over forty years, before selling the business to an enthusiast and local businessman in 2012. Bobby and Martin remained as enthusiastic non-executive directors until their deaths in 2017 and 2022.'

[rallye101]

Went to school next door, wedge esprits were my morning walk, saab then lotus too....they're still doing mclaren service in Guildford

[BertBert]

baconsarney said:

That s a blast from the past Jon, IIRC they had a showroom in Purley when I worked for Caterham

Completely off topic, but what did you do at caterham?

[HTP99]

Must admit I have been wondering about what's going on there; empty forecourt and nothing new in the showroom.

[baconsarney]

BertBert said:

baconsarney said:

That s a blast from the past Jon, IIRC they had a showroom in Purley when I worked for Caterham

Completely off topic, but what did you do at caterham?

It was Caterham Car Sales up on the hill, circa 1969/70.... I'd bought a rather poorly 7 and was in the process of rebuilding it so was a regular in the parts department. The sales guy didn't have a driving license and they offered me a job as general dogsbody but also taking prospective buyers out for test drives This was just before Caterham got the rights to build the 7 in-house.... happy days.....

[Frimley111R]

Spoke to one of the guys there a few weeks ago. He said they were centralising operations temporarily in Guildford but there's no question of it not being B&C/them selling it.

[BertBert]

baconsarney said:

It was Caterham Car Sales up on the hill, circa 1969/70.... I'd bought a rather poorly 7 and was in the process of rebuilding it so was a regular in the parts department. The sales guy didn't have a driving license and they offered me a job as general dogsbody but also taking prospective buyers out for test drives This was just before Caterham got the rights to build the 7 in-house.... happy days.....

Fabulous! I bought my first one from up the hill but in the 90s!

[BertieBasset]

Bell & Colvill premises in Horsley has been up to rent since before Christmas and I understand it is a Gym company that has outbid the other offers. I presume the site in the Slyfield Industrial Estate will now be the main premises.

[Frimley111R]

BertieBasset said:

Bell & Colvill premises in Horsley has been up to rent since before Christmas and I understand it is a Gym company that has outbid the other offers. I presume the site in the Slyfield Industrial Estate will now be the main premises.

It does makes sense from a business viewpoint but it isn't a big site and its right next to the household waste dump.

[nathanpitman]

Hardly the location you want to be selling premium cars. Not the most pleasant of odours on warm days.

[HTP99]

nathanpitman said:

Hardly the location you want to be selling premium cars. Not the most pleasant of odours on warm days.

Mercedes, BMW and Audi don't seem to have an issue!

[johnraiders]

Oh is that what the smell is at Slyfield, I thought it was drainage work. Used to be really bad by Audi.

[NDA]

johnraiders said:

Oh is that what the smell is at Slyfield, I thought it was drainage work. Used to be really bad by Audi.

I think the abattoir is up there too.

Yes, B&C seem to be moving more to Guildford - I was a customer for a while.

[John Henry]

They don’t sell new Lotus cars anymore following a falling out with the factory re the direct sales model. That speaks volumes about the current direction of the brand. B and C look to have spent a fortune on revamping West Horsley to look lotus corporate, only for Lotus to change the selling model. Which appears to have failed.

[Frimley111R]

John Henry said:

They don’t sell new Lotus cars anymore following a falling out with the factory re the direct sales model. That speaks volumes about the current direction of the brand. B and C look to have spent a fortune on revamping West Horsley to look lotus corporate, only for Lotus to change the selling model. Which appears to have failed.

I think this model was adopted and unadopted by a number of manufacturers.

I spoke to one of the guys there a while ago and he said that buying Eletre's for £XXX,000 (or whatever the amount) and then trying to competitively finance them and make money was nigh on impossible. The numbers just didn't work for them, which makes me wonder how they work for other dealers, many of which have similar challenges with high value/high depreciating vehicles.

[BertBert]

all a bit woeful really. Lotus, Morgan, Subaru and McLaren. You can buy one of 4 used Lotuses or 1 used McLaren. Looks like you can also buy new Morgans (or perhaps get on a long waiting list). And the rest is service, doesn't feel like a growing thriving business. Hope they survive ok.