Des Smail Olney

[reddiesel]

I noticed Desmond J Smail Ltd went into liquidation earlier on in the year though as far as I was aware Kensington and the Showroom at Olney were still operational . the Showroom now appears to have been emptied of Cars and all the Aston ephemera that adorned the walls stripped . A little saddened by this as I am sure the people of Olney will be too . A wonderful highlight to a pretty mundane High Street .

[Simpo Two]

I'd never heard of them but the website is still live: https://www.astonsaleskensington.com/

But the people and skills will go somewhere (unless they're retiring) and also the stock - a nice clearance sale for some lucky dealer with a pile of cash no doubt.

[TRfan]

Desmond was a director of both ‘desmond smail’ at Olney, and ‘Aston service kensington’. Only the olney business seems to have gone under, and i guess a s kensengton will have gained the assetts of the olney company.
I have bought an aston from Desmond in the past, and have mixed feelings. He is a likeable and charismatic fellow, it was a lovely car, but its MOT it came with was gained by a bit of deception, i think. Cost me quite a fair sum too get it right in its first year.

[Bobbywboy]

Desmond got me into Astons over 20 years ago by spending a half day showing me round his stock which at that time was held in various locations around Olney.
He was a most knowlegable, hospitable, Aston enthusiast and give his time graciously.
Its a shame if he is no longer in the circuit a good old fashioned person who did many a favour - although of course he did deal in old cars and therefore there are bound to be some stories!!!!
I only think fondly of him

[OLDBENZ]

I have been a customer of Des Smail for over 25 years and am happy to sing his praises and also to call him a friend. We bought our first old Aston through Des in 1999 and that experience has led to what is now an eclectic collection of some 15 cars. I always feel that Des's primary concern is to ensure that his customer is happy and that he has gone above and beyond what I have any reasonable right to expect. Certainly that has been my experience over the years and, given his loyal client base, is likely the experience of others. To give one example, some years ago we broke down South of Troyes in France in our DB6 on the way to Geneva for the start of a rally. The call went out to Des near closing time on a Friday. Des gathered a rescue squad and drove through the night reaching us at 4am on the Saturday and pulled the gearbox out through the car at an Autoroute rest stop to replace the flywheel allowing us to get to scrutineering in Geneva on time. I honestly cannot think of any other garage that would have been prepared to pull that off.

Running a garage these days is no easy business and, in London, largely impossible. I understand spiralling rental costs are the primary reason. Look at the tiny margin that efficient giant H R Owen currently makes on over £1/2 billion of turnover. Nearly all the central London garages have given up or moved out - H R Owen has made Hatfield its regional base (with its Rolls-Royce London operation now servicing in Potters Bar). Aston Martin guru, Nic Mee, moved a few years ago from Goldhawk Road to (lovely) new premises in Hertfordshire so do not be too hard on Des for closing his London operation.

I understand that Des is regrouping and will be re-opening in the New Year with servicing in Olney and sales though an out of town site. I for one wish my good friend every success.

[OLDBENZ]

Photographic proof of Des's rescue mission.

[reddiesel]

Great to hear he is continuing , I'm guessing the servicing at Olney may be from East Street . Met Des a few times and found him knowledgeable and pleasant company though as he specialised in older Models , never bought an Aston from him .