HHC Harrogate - sad to see

[Phil Dicky]

Drove through Harrogate for the first time in a long while and saw this place


Really sad to see, I spent many years with my face pushed up against the window...never drove through Harrogate without calling in..very sad.
For those not local its HHC Harrogates old showroom.

[redevil]

Yes, it's not quite the landmark it used to be on my journey from London to Skipton.

They are still trading in Harrogate i believe, but i'm not exactly sure where.

[Phil Dicky]

redevil said:

Yes, it's not quite the landmark it used to be on my journey from London to Skipton.

They are still trading in Harrogate i believe, but i'm not exactly sure where.

Its now Drive Style, good set up or was last time i was there, but not the same as HHC was, had a bit more charm.

[H10TVR]

When HHC was bought by Drivestyle they moved lock stock and barrell to Hornbeam Park which is on the other side of town. Actually it is a much better showroom and they have a good stock of cars.........

http://www.hhctvr.co.uk/about-us.htm

not so sad after all.................................

[Phil Dicky]

H10TVR said:

When HHC was bought by Drivestyle they moved lock stock and barrell to Hornbeam Park which is on the other side of town. Actually it is a much better showroom and they have a good stock of cars.........

http://www.hhctvr.co.uk/about-us.htm

not so sad after all.................................

I agree not so sad, its more to do with HHC starting my passion for TVR's and now its no more. Probally wouildn't be so bothered if I still had a TVR in the garage

[H10TVR]

Yes I bought my first TVR S from HHC back in the eighties so I still have a soft spot before that I had bought an old Renualt Five Turbo 2 in white, what a monster that was............

To be fair latterly the site was looking very run down although the carpet showroom makes it appear more destitute.........

[Captain Beaky]

The workshop hasn't moved, it's still a challenge to the turning circle of most TVRs.

[gemini]

I too pushed my nose agaians the glass there far too often!

I lived opposite in the terraces.

Although I treid several times to buy a car Nicky and Nigel never got round to selling me my first.

I travelled to London and bought at HR Owen


Who knows - we may see the showroom and sevice centre at Drivestyle in one location one day?

[trackcar]

As a nipper i used to cycle through to Harrogate from Ripon and one of the main reasons was to gaze into the old HHC showroom. The family bought two cars from HHC when they first started trading (after buying cars previously from Nigel's dad Sid at Kemp Cars) .. we had a mimosa Triumph Stag and a Mini Clubman (god knows what that had come in p/ex against, not a TVR probably!!)

so .. plenty of nostalgia for me in that picture too, especially as some 20 odd years later I was working there.

[earlyriser]

Captain Beaky said:

The workshop hasn't moved, it's still a challenge to the turning circle of most TVRs.

Not if your p&j arrives on a flat-bed. Beleive me, they are still going strong.

[earlyriser]

earlyriser said:

Captain Beaky said:

The workshop hasn't moved, it's still a challenge to the turning circle of most TVRs.

Not if your p&j arrives on a flat-bed. Believe me, they are still going strong.

[the-gofer]

earlyriser said:

earlyriser said:

Captain Beaky said:

The workshop hasn't moved, it's still a challenge to the turning circle of most TVRs.

Not if your p&j arrives on a flat-bed. Believe me, they are still going strong.

I too feel a bit sad when going past there. Between me and my Dad we have spent several hours in that showroom, but on the plus side we have bought four cars from them!

I actually haven't ventured down to the new place at Hornbeam Park yet. Must get down there use my blagging skills to get a test-drive in the Spyker.

[anonymous-user]

I meant to ask Nigel if I could have the big illuminated TVR sign that hung outside but it had gone bythe time I remembered. Bought both my TVR's from Nigel from that showroom. Sat in there haggling with the miserable sod for ages both times. (Only joking Nigel ). His son Charlie took me for a number of test drives in various TVR's from there too. One day I went in for a chat and Nigel took me downstairs to show me his latest aquisition - a mint black 3.8 Mk 11 Jag with coombes arches and louvres etc.. that he'd bought from Graham Gooch. I nearly cancelled the order for my Tuscan and did a deal.

[C3BER]

Passed the old place while on my way to the Great Yorkshire show and yes it does look so sad. Like so many I also spent my time looking throught the window until one day I walking in with the wife and kids and like a good fisherman I go the missus hooked.

[burriana]

Was engaged to Nigel's sister many MANY years ago ... at the time I was totally clueless about TVRs as I had a Renault 5TS - red with a black vinyl roof no less ... and yella foglamps!

I just knew he owned a car place that sold fast looking cars with flippy up headlights, but he may as well have been selling rocket ships such was my wage at the time

[gemini]

Ah the loves and losses of Burriana!

As for Spyker Gordon - no chance! Theyve gone from there.

DriveStyle when last in are now TVR (when they emerge) and Lotus!
Maybe one more marque enroute too

[H10TVR]

As I understand it Spyker required a fixed commitment to unit sales which Drivestyle (sensibly) were unable to commit to, haven't been in since they took the Lotus dealership on though...........

[swanny71]

Last time I drove past there it was still HHC.
Stopped to have a look and show the girlfriend at the time what all the fuss with TVR's was about. She'd never seen a Tuscan before.
"Fu**in' hell......its georgeous" at the top of her voice was her reaction to seeing it up close. A bloke looking at another car overheard and laughed his ass off. She blushed and apologised endlessly 'cos I'd not heard her swear before.
TVR's have that effect on people dont they?
Happy days.

Edited by swanny71 on Thursday 26th July 17:29

[anonymous-user]

There was a well known artist called Brian Shields who lived in Harrogate. He painted under the name of "Braaq" and died in 1997 at the tender age of 46. It is no exaggeration to say that Shields was a bit of a drinker and therefore was always short of cash, which is ironic as his paintings are now making quite serious money. Anyway, Nigel had a red Corvette in the showroom and Shields wanted it. So Nigel allowed him to pay in instalments while the car stayed in the showroom. Shields would come along in the evenings and sit outside the front of that showroom and tell passers by that the Corvette was his. Eventually he paid for it and became as well known around town for his red Corvette as he was for his paintings. Not relevant to TVR but part of lifes rich tapestry.

[TGJR]

Horesless Carriages in Harrogate was exactly what a TVR showroom should be like. Not too over the top pretentious but I nice homely type showroom in which to browse and ponder with the odd mug of tee thrown in if you looked keen

It was very sad to see it go as it was where I bought my only brand new TVR and took it back to on a number of occasions to get niggles fixed I am pleased that I live just as close to the remaining sister garage at Hexham which is of the same mould.