Just remembered Prime and Cowles, the Rover dealer where I used to have my cars mot'd, used to be BL dealer. I knew of a few local Dolomite's in Halesworth that were supplied by Prime and Cowles. One was a green Dolomite 1300 and the other was a Dolomite 1500 SE. Both cars remained local for many years. Sadly the dealership closed down in 1998 and was largely demolised a day or so after trading ceased. The site was turned into a select small housing estate. As the foreman of the garage commented "old man Prime would turn in his grave if could see this now".
Millions of archives,which can be accessed and so on... (Does anyone leave nearby who fancies a little bit of detective work?)
I would like to visit,myself at some point in the near future.
Another note was from a member of club triumph,who has 100's of pages full of triumph sales directories (which might not be available for some time as he is currently studying at uni,but making the list into a PDF is something he personally would like to do). So.. plenty of good news.
I wasn't going to dis-regard Autoshite as any news is welcome,regardless of where it comes from. (just wanted to spread the word around the "make and model" side of the car forums. where autoshite is a "free-for-all" based forum,aimed at any classic in particular.
London N.W 7
Hillwood Motors
Mill hill Circus
Tel: 01-959 4323
London N.W. 10. Derek J Kettering (Kettering??? (words look jumbled and can't be made out at the end of kettering) Motors Ltd
375-381 North Circular Road Nersden ?
Tel: 01-156 7483
London N.W. 11
castle Garage
713 Finchley Road,childs Hill
Tel: 01-358 4455
I won't post yet another picture of my modified 12 estate in this thread as that would be unfair on Rob and I've no wish to interrupt his wonderful efforts to research the significant information dealt with here, but using the forum search, the slate green 12TL can be seen in the spots thread and probably elsewhere too.
I do, however, know of three other owners (past and present) of Dolomite-shaped cars who've also owned 12s, maybe it's something in the water?
Some more for you Rob, these may well be doubles for some you have? These are for franchises for January 1972 (launch of the Dolomite).
Berkeley Square was one of the main dealers and had a lot of dealings with Americans wanting to do personal imports. It is the subject of the Book In The Shadow Of My Father. The Author was a head salesman there (well worth a read). It reminded a car dealership throughout the Eighties (Audi) and I believe now is a coffee shop or such like.
If anyone spots anything that isn't correct please do not hesitate to post and correct this.
And many thanks for those photo's Dolowighty! I think there's a few numbers and info we can use from those ads! including Rossleigh ( I believe howard has been looking for the dealership logo for sometime (I know this isn't quite a dealership sticker,but the dealership advert and stickers only differed slightly (included the phone number and location somewhere in the sticker (usually along the bottom,underneath the main text)
Thank I will be updating in due course.
Anymore photo's like the above are very,very welcome!! (including any photo's of any dealership stickers )
Hollingdrake
Service Station,Brook Garage,Prestbury
Tel: Prestbury 89105
Hollingdrake
Princes drive,Colwyn Bay
Tel: 0492 30322
Hollingdrakes Of Warrington Ltd Warrington Road,Penketh,nr warrington.
Tel: Penketh 5611
Rossleigh
32 Shandwick Place,Edinburgh
Tel: 031-225 7243
(Rossleigh were also available at:
Aberdeen
Dundee
Perth
Kirkcaldy
Stirling
Hawick
Newcastle upon tyne
(The above do not include contact numbers or address's (will look this up)
Finally rememered where the family 1500HL came from in early 1981.
It was Patrick Motors,Kingtanding Road or College road(it was on a junction) again in Birmingham,probably B44 area code.
Rossleigh haven't had a presence in Newcastle since 1972, their only remaining dealership now is in Bradford and they carry Reliant, Piaggio, Aixam and/or Microcar and/or Ligier.