Anyone remember Western Counties BMW in Bristol?

[Dinoboy]

My car was ordered and registered new in 1983 from Western Counties BMW ,Zetland rd in Bristol.
Would love to know any history of the garage, how long it was there etc.
I think the main dealer in Bristol now is Dick Lovett, did they buy Western counties?

Would be great to know if there were any local papers etc that Western Counties advertised in as I'd love to get hold of an original ad from them.
Even better to see any photos of the garage as it was.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Edited by Dinoboy on Friday 22 November 20:48

[Allanv]

Never heard of them to be fair but they were bought by Dick Lovett in 1987.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyCA7XLphec

It is just a fleeting mention at around 03:43 ish that they bought them.

Edited by Allanv on Saturday 23 November 09:36

[Dinoboy]

Allanv said:

Never heard of them to be fair but they were bought by Dick Lovett in 1987.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyCA7XLphec

It is just a fleeting mention at around 03:43 ish that they bought them.

Edited by Allanv on Saturday 23 November 09:36

That's great, thanks very much for the link.
Adds a little bit of history.

[Scrump]

I remember them. In the eighties my father drove 5 and 7 series BMW and so we visited western counties. He moved on to S class Mercedes and we became acquainted with Cruickshanks (who were bought by Sytners and also moved out to Cribbs).

[Nick928]

Remember them well.
We had a 1980 320 in the very early eighties an often went to the Western Counties dealer on Portwall Lane in Central Bristol.
This was the main BMW dealer in Bristol and the Zetland Rd one was a much smaller showroom.
Only went to the Zetland Road one once with the old man to look and have a sit in an M1 they had in stock.
I don’t remember the exact location of the Zetland Rd branch but vaguely remember it being in one of the side roads on not actually accessed via Zetland Rd.

[blueg33]

I used to own the old bank building on the corner of Zetland Road, I'm sure Western Counties were off the side road a few yards up from the Glos Rd junction.

[530dTPhil]

Remember it very well. I used to cycle past it on the way to school in Clifton each day. Portwall Lane was the location that they moved to after many years at Zetland Road.

I believe that Arley garage is on the site now although I haven't been along that way for several years.

[Dinoboy]

This is great, thanks so much to everyone for sharing their stories.
Looks like the showroom my car would of been delivered from was a pretty small affair, nothing like the 3 acre glass fronted sites they all seem to occupy now.
I wonder how I could get a photo of the Zetland rd showroom from the late 70's or early 80's?

[Allanv]

Couldn't find a photo but the site or the car park front is owned or leased by my old vets, small world.

Anyway during my searching I found this but have no idea who they are.

https://www.isaydingdong.co.uk/ourshop/prod_654523...

[Dinoboy]

Allanv said:

Couldn't find a photo but the site or the car park front is owned or leased by my old vets, small world.

Anyway during my searching I found this but have no idea who they are.

https://www.isaydingdong.co.uk/ourshop/prod_654523...

Hehe great minds think alike

[Gerradi]

memories! Before they went to Zetland road , they were on Gloucester road North. Opposite Filton Police station . I remember going in there & feeling feint when they told me the cost of a new clutch in my 2002Tii...A freind of mine was as van driver there. 1977 onwards ?

[Dinoboy]

Can anyone remember seeing Western Counties ads or photos in local papers in the early 80's?

[Voxy]

Dinoboy said:

Can anyone remember seeing Western Counties ads or photos in local papers in the early 80's?

I grew up in the Bristol area and remember seeing Western Counties adverts in the Bristol Evening Post - once a week, I forget which day, but possibly Thursdays, there would be an extended motors classifieds section.

Next time I’m back in the UK I’ll check in my parent’s loft as I bet they have long forgotten stuff stored away that is wrapped in newspapers from that era.

[Dinoboy]

Voxy said:

Next time I’m back in the UK I’ll check in my parent’s loft as I bet they have long forgotten stuff stored away that is wrapped in newspapers from that era.

I'm really quite embarrassed how excited I am on reading your post
Please let me know if you find anything relevant.

[Voxy]

Ha! Nothing to be ashamed about! I managed to find the advert from when my car was advertised and sold to the owner prior to me. But you’ll have to control your excitement as I won’t be back in the UK again for several months.

[Plastic Sith]

Chris Harris just mentioned on Twitter this was the garage his old man used to get his cars from every 3 years

https://twitter.com/harrismonkey/status/1306997663...

[Voxy]

Voxy said:

Ha! Nothing to be ashamed about! I managed to find the advert from when my car was advertised and sold to the owner prior to me. But you’ll have to control your excitement as I won’t be back in the UK again for several months.

Haven’t forgotten, but unfortunately the whole C19 environment means I’m unable to travel back to the UK anytime soon. Will definitely check next time I’m back home.

[splodge s4]

I remember WC well, I thought about the show room this morning as I rode along Portwall lane. I used to pop in there every week for a look about as a young 18 year old. I remember chatting with one salesman who gave me a lot of his time showing me around, I thanked for his time & told him i'm a few years away from buying new & he replied 'no problem, pop in anytime, todays dreamers are tomorrows buyers' & I always remembered that.

The main show room was Portwall lane & there were cars everywhere, never anywhere to park if you just wanted to pop in. I always thought as Zetland rd more as a service place & they also had another show room for more of the 'approved used' cars at the top of Falcondale rd/Westbury rd where the Majestic wines place is now.

My first car at 18 (i was in the Army based in Germany) was a LHD 520, then had a 318i so I always used to pop in for parts from time to time however unfortunately I have never become that tomorrows buyer and bought a brand new car

Edited by splodge s4 on Wednesday 23 September 13:17

[Western Musketeer]

Didn't they have a place in Westbury on Trym near Red Maids School, that is now Majestic Wines and some town Houses?

They had a hot air balloon and I remember being at a meet at Badminton House one summer in the 80's when word came through that a car transporter full of cars for the August 1st delivery had overturned on the motorway