Life at Cambridge motor co, Division st 1970's

[David Bee 10]

Bullerboy,memory lane,young and full of it but I think we are still young just wearing old skin.Remember Jim Kay,can't be done for ever one of the disadvantages of old skin! Bob Alexander ran a Delarge,big car probably 1930's.I remember he came in to the showroom for a run in a1972 Z28 with a hot set up.It sounded wonderful induction and exhaust. We went for a very fast run but before he made his mind up David Lidgard bought it and ran it for some time.I some times regretted selling it to him as he was taking Fran out and after dropping her off he would run up Whirlowdale rd past my bedroom window with his hair on fire and day light under his wheels!

 

---------- Post added 07-03-2014 at 22:00 ----------

 

Gmarshman zephyr six,more memories.Big David Turner in his zephyr Zodiac convirtable with continental pack (spare wheel mounted between the boot and rear bumper above an extended valance).a crowd of us all driving down the front at Blackpool at about thirty miles an hour and David decided to put the roof down.this is a big roof. It got to about seventy degrees and it warped its self all over the spare wheel. David managed to find words that no Holliday maker should have to enjoure!

 

---------- Post added 07-03-2014 at 22:13 ----------

 

Blackbeard if you find the painting would you let me know,thanks.

[bullerboY 10]

The car traded by Cambridge and in the lovely photo by Hillsbro. is still around. It was one of many specials built up over the years converted from a 1935 Lagonda saloon., and given the replica Rapide Le mans style body., but of course not an original but a replica Rapide.

Still the car looks great and am sure will be an exhilerating driving experience with centre throttle.

 

Gary Marshman

 

---------- Post added 07-03-2014 at 18:23 ----------

 

Seeing the comment made by Bullerboy on Jim Kay, I remember him in his E.Type Roadster mid 60's when he would be readying himself for luncheon with a gorgeous blonde with him probable half his age . I used to think , what has he got that I havent!!!!. He had an E.Type and I had a Zephyr 6 !!!!

Bob Alexander , the name very familiar , but from where ?

A big Lagonda eh ?

Tony Christie would be seen around the Sheffield areas early 70's , I believe his Jaguar was an S Type.

 

Gary Marshman

 

---------- Post added 07-03-2014 at 18:27 ----------

 

Hello Dave Bee,

 

You have certainly aroused some nostalgic excitement with memories of Cambridge Motors and the interesting cars you traded as well as the interesting characters who were and still are fascinated by the Thread.

 

Gary Marshman

Garry Bob Alexander ran the Greyhound coaches down the cliffe i think his son has an helicopter business now,Bob was larger than life.David Bee,I once went in the pub on Psalter Lane and jim Kay was in with his wife whom he introduced and we sat together, I didnt buy a drink all night for my silence.I liked Jim a lot he was very flamboyant.He came in one day with a stuck up bird in the car and took me to one side out of range and showed me some very naughty pictures of her he had taken on holiday.We just laughed for ages cos she was sat there with her nose in the air.

 

---------- Post added 08-03-2014 at 08:59 ----------

 

Can you remember a guy called Barton who was an MP or something ,didnt he have the burger joint at the corner of Regent st and glossop rd.I think we all remember Rob Brady.

[gmarshman 10]

Hello Bullerboy,

 

We seem to have crossed paths on many occasions in those heady days., but who are you, what was your car business ?

 

Sure I am slightly older than you , Tony and I frequented the Cavendish , the first real night club in Sheffield,however your association with David Lidgard , who I knew in passing but not in that company, frequented The Penny Farthing. Others who were there at that time were Stuart Curson, Hughey Russell, big Howard, and Lance Edwards.

We had tended to have moved away from the night club scene late 60's and early 70's, into pub scene in Derbyshire.

 

Gary Marshman

[Jazzman 10]

Regarding Bob Alexander,

Sadly he died a few years ago. He had quite a collection of cars at one time or another. I did a few rallies with him. The Manchester Blackpool Vintage in a Delage,the Manchester again in a Richardson, one in a One in a M.G Tiger One in a Vauxhall 30/98 We towed the Delage in from a scrap dump in Barnsley. It cost £25. I could have had a Cord for £28, but who wanted a big American car in those days. This was in about 1962.

Bob also played double bass with the Steel City Stompers and then with The Howerd Davis Band. Haa Memories

 

Very interesting that was Jim I remember that.Rowland castletons son works in the motor trade selling prestige cars i see him quite often.

 

---------- Post added 07-03-2014 at 12:14 ----------

 

I am sure I have seen that painting somewhere,maybe in Hibberts on Surry St.

 

---------- Post added 07-03-2014 at 12:23 ----------

 

Quite a few of the big hitters came to us in the seventies on West st especially when the Westfield cafe was open.I remember Jim Kay he owned a cutlery business and had long grey hair and drove an open topped E type he always had a female with him,then there was Bob Alexander who ran around in a big Lagonda i think it was that make and a Jaguar SS100 he had Greyhound coaches.Tony Christie was always around there as well with his Ton 10 Reg No.I am getting on in years now so I need the brain jogging a bit.

[bullerboY 10]

Jazzman,I last saw Bob at the car and bike meet at the Old Hall many years ago and he wasnt looking well then and yes i knew that he had died so has jim kay.I knew that he had a collection of cars,he was at the Westfield cafe every morning in the 70s.

 

---------- Post added 08-03-2014 at 11:19 ----------

 

garry ime 72 now and in those days i worked on West st at Globe and Simpsons Branch of Brakesafe.I used to go in the cavendish as well as the pennyFarthing,when it was Baileys i got chucked out for giving the manager a knuckle sandwich but the lads let me back in later saying they had wanted to do that for ages.All the exoticars used to go in Midas for exhausts and we all knew each other Malcolm Hooley was the manager there at that time.

 

---------- Post added 08-03-2014 at 11:22 ----------

 

Garry for 26yrs I had a garage business in walkley and did get around a bit,been in the motor business from 15.

[David Bee 10]

Hi Garry I remember Malcolm,he helped us out on many occasions as did Terry Stone and Ken Mappin.Terry was a brilliant mechanic, intuitive,and instinctive.Terry enjoyed danger,motor racing and other risky pass times.tragically he fell from a ladder ,not at any great height ,and was killed.Sad loss.I often remember the people of that era,it's still fresh in my memory as are the driving experiences I was lucky enough to enjoy. :-)

Edited March 24, 2014 by David Bee

[bullerboY 10]

Hi Garry I remember Malcolm,he helped us out on many occasions as did Terry Stone and Ken Mappin.Terry was a brilliant mechanic, intuitive,and instinctive.Terry enjoyed danger,motor racking and other risky pass times.tragically he fell from a ladder ,not at any great height ,and was killed.Sad loss.I often remember the people of that era,it's still fresh in my memory as are the driving experiences I was lucky enough to enjoy. :-)

David I knew Terry Stone well he worked with David Wragg at Wood Lane Garage David raced formula ford and was very good.Malcolm played Bass Guitar for many groups,didnt Ken get killed in a boat fire?

[David Bee 10]

Bullerboy hi,Ken had a string of boats but had always wanted a Moody and that caught fire at sea but Ken had a lucky escape although died of cancer some years later.He came in to my office at Abbeydale rd one Monday Morning black and blue ,I thought he had been in a fight.He had been out to sea for a Sunday afternoon jaunt and an unexpected storm blew up. Although he had two five hundred gallon tanks he had very little fuel on board intending to refuel on his return ,so the boat was riding high.He and his wife had to stay out because the harbour entrance was impassable. The buffeting he got resulted in his bruising.I asked him what he was going to do .He had lost all confidence in the boat and he was going to sell it. It was only about eighteen months old and was a beauty with flying bridge teak layed deck and a small speed boat on Davits at the stern.

 

---------- Post added 08-03-2014 at 23:28 ----------

 

[/color]Apologies for spelling ,but as a dislexic I don'nt read much which is probably the best way to learn:)

Edited April 7, 2014 by David Bee

[bullerboY 10]

Hi, David,I knew there was some connection with boats and fire but like you the memory bank fails occasionally.I always wondered how he made so much money from that place on Cemetery Rd,two friends of mine have it now selling top end used motors.Do you remember Walter Dungworth who had Europa cars selling Mercs and Les Clayton sometime car salesman and' financial advisor '?60s and 70s were good times in the trade.

[David Bee 10]

A little ditty for amusement.On my way to work now near to division st,little traffic on the road but the pavements were busy with people .In front of, I saw my brother and he must have seen me in his rear view mirror. I was driving a white Lamborghini espada all low and fabulous.I opened my window to greet brother who had left his car blocking the road,and was walking to ward me shouting to my amazement, various loud remarks designed to attract the passer by's attention.In no time a small crowd had gathered sensing the undoing of some fat cat in a posh car,he even got crowd support.After a further basting he grinned at me turned and walked off. Apparently this was payment for pulling against him from behind some days earlier and slowly pushing him forward at a T junction! (Both cars had hefty bumpers so no damage)

[CoolHandSax 10]

Sometime in the late 70's there was a Chevrolet Blazer in the window - a huge beast of a pick-up truck. I always remember it 'cos it was the 'win-all' card in the 'Top Trumps' card game that all the kids were playing.

[David Bee 10]

Coolhandsax Hi, I didn't know about the top trumps deal. in a rash moment ordered a consignment of these with full options,huge alloy wheels and tyres befitting a tractor. The demo was fitted with a 5.7 litre engine with hot set up, geared to about 100mph, which it would do in a little under a 1/4 of a mile, not bad for a vehicle of that size. We had a mixed on, off road demo run.Prospective customers would sit on the right hand side grinning as this thing roared up to the ton. The off road part of the run had what on approach, almost appeared to be a vertical gradient.People would go stiff as a board shoulder braced against the head rest,body ram rod straight,feet fixeded on the bulk head,"O God were not going up there are we ".

 

---------- Post added 10-03-2014 at 19:26 ----------

 

Bullerboy hi, i do not know where where Walter or Lez are now , but I do remember them .Also Frank Keach Walters sales manager.I arranged to buy a car off Frank when I was till on the workshop floor at Abbeydale rd body shop.I fetched a bank draft in my lunch break and could hardly contain my self for the rest of the afternoon.I arrived at Europa and my car was still in the show room.I had been welding on an FX4 taxi ,in for body repairs and although I had been wearing overalls my jeans had the customery burns from hot metal splatter.My face was clean in the middle but still blackened around the edges. I sat down in my new car beaming from ear to ear when a sales man ran up and demanded that I get out as I was filthy, his whole manner was very offensive but he tought me a truely valuable lesson, "never judge a book by its cover,ever".This earnt us a lot of money at division st where most of our customers could not be taken at face value.Pop stars ,truckers ,engineers ,tower crane drivers,pipe line hands,in work cloths,all could and did buy very expensive cars,so if that sales man at Europa happens to see this post ,to you many thanks!

Edited March 10, 2014 by David Bee