Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,542
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Mar 18, 2007 13:40:19 GMT
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Good news: The Sun-Tor passed its MOT on Friday  Bad news: My favourite MOT garage ever is to be no more  . The old boy who ran it died a few weeks ago (he was well into his 80's), his son-in-law has taken it over and is putting it up for development. The site is probably worth a fair bit as its close to Hertford town centre but its been a garge since it was converted from stables in the '20's or '30's. The MOT tester has been working there since the early '60's - in fact he's never worked anywhere else. Its a proper old fashined garage where there's a huge depth of knowledge that's going to be lost Such a shame. They're going to be there until at least September so I will keep in touch and see what happens. In the mean time here's some pics...    |
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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bobz
Part of things
Posts: 343
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Mar 18, 2007 13:58:03 GMT
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What a shame, there arn't many garages like that left anymore |
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Don't plan anything, it'll start raining!
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Rob
Posted a lot
You know, for kids!
Posts: 2,515
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Mar 18, 2007 14:49:48 GMT
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thats a real shame but good news about the pass ! i'll be gutted when the place I use goes (and probably will with all the new legislation - they're finding it hard to keep up apparently) Go hunting down back streets for good uns !  |
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street
Posted a lot
6.2 ft/lbs of talk
Posts: 4,662
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Mar 18, 2007 15:06:22 GMT
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Wow that looks like a really traditional place, very very thin on the ground now i'd wager.
Imagine some of the cars thats gone through those doors........
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Mar 18, 2007 18:04:00 GMT
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woah, thats amazing.
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Mar 18, 2007 19:33:57 GMT
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Sad thing that...... demise of knowlege and experience.... ie Wisdom.
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Mar 18, 2007 19:46:12 GMT
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thats how a garage should look, with proper mechanics working there and not people who just replace parts until the problem goes away. real shame to lose places like that.
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Mar 18, 2007 21:30:06 GMT
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I have one thing to say: There are tools on view and vices on benches. Hell there are benches there. Shame to lose this wonderful bit of mechanic history |
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Mar 19, 2007 11:50:39 GMT
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The MOT place I used to use was a bit like this, though not quite as trad, the guy running it cut his teeth at BL garages in the `70s, and the recovery truck was a Mk1 Transit spec lift. Unfortunate circs prevailed and he couldnt resist the offer from the developers. Its really sad, soon there will be no places like this left, no traditional businesses at all, in fact, just ridiculous amounts of starter homes and retail parks.
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,542
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Mar 19, 2007 12:01:27 GMT
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Just dug up this photo I've posted before when I took the Oxford there a few years ago. I noticed last week that the petrol pump has already gone - I hope it didn't just get binned   |
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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Mar 19, 2007 12:39:03 GMT
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my dad used to live up the road from there, he insists he had his mini bored out there back in the day (late 70s!)
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Love the MOT waiting room!
I used to use an old guy kike this a few years abck, he was famous in the area, total old school. Even had an anvil in the corner of the workshop. When he retired the place went up for redevelopment. I know a guy triued to buy it out but there was all manner of problems with consent and getting a mortgage or whatever. Shame,
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Maybe I (or Russell) can get some pics of our local tame spannerman's premesis - it really is something else!
Tony's workshop is a ramshackle collection of sheds seemingly held together with luck more than anything. Access is via a small double door on the front, but it opens into an aladdins cave - stuffed full of old tools and tat the like of which you have never seen.
The man himself is a delightfully scruffy, oily chap who can regale you for hours with 'interesting' tales. He's been there forever... the site itself (which actually emcompasses a large plot acress the road and three neighbouring houses as well) must be worth a fortune, but he doesn't seem interested by this fact. He just does what he does, whenever required. In fact I caught him on a 'bad day' a few months back - I rocked up about 2mins after he got back from his father's funeral. Instead of telling me to sod off, he just took off his tie, rolled up his sleeves and got stuck into a grimy job. Respect.
Total legend for sk1llz0rs too - there appears to be nothing he can't fix one way or another (even citroens, which is a world authority on ;D )
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Mar 20, 2007 10:09:27 GMT
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What a cool looking place , pity it is gonna become some more faceless 'luxury' overpriced flats. bums. |
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 it doesn't matter if it's a Morris Marina or a Toyota Celica - it's what you do with it that counts  |
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Mar 20, 2007 10:46:42 GMT
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congrats on the ticket Seth! i hate hearing of places like this disappearing |
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. The old boy who ran it died a few weeks ago (he was well into his 80's), his son-in-law has taken it over and is putting it up for development. 
