Jump to content

Sheffield Car Dealerships


Stuart0742

Recommended Posts

No one seems to remember Waldot on Middlewood Rd, this is now Guilders, it was owned by Walter and Dorothy Dungworth and I think John Dungworth who was at Guilders may have been their son. They used to sell NSU and Reliant sports cars, when they closed it was a caravan dealers for a few years. Law Bros used to sell Moskovich and Lada and their was another Lada dealers on London Rd I think it may have been Hinchcliffes, also in the 60's Brookland Volvo was in the Berkeley precinct on Ecclesall Rd and later moved to roughly where the Peugeot dealers used to be at the bottom of Ecclesall Rd and became Lex Brooklands. Does anyone remember the Toyota dealer just off West St may have been Deighton Motor Co on Rockinham St. There was also a ford dealers at Sheffield Lane Top either Brook Shaws or T C Harrison's, this was eventually levelled after some years of being derelict and DC Cooks opened Direct Cars selling British Leyland/Rover group cars, this was pulled down when Netto built their shop on the site.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Have just remembered the name of the Toyota dealer on Rockinham St it was Portland Autos this was early 1970's also I believe that Law Bros were Wartburg Knight dealers in the early 70's. The original Turret Motor was opposite the Somme Baracks off Glossop Rd I believe there is now a Drs surgery on this site now.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Slightly off topic I know, but Charlie Brown's, opposite the Wednesday ground, has two columns with circular platforms on top. Was there something on the platforms at one time? I've only ever seen them as they are now. The only thing they remind me of is the place over Doncaster way that sold 3-wheelers, and had one either on the roof or on something like this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

.....DC COOK at Sheaf Gardens was the first dealer in Yorkshire to import and sell the then unknown Datsun cars in the early 70's (later renamed Nissan)

Im sure Cooks had a depot at the junction of Herries rd. & pennistone rd. 70s time seem to remember leasing from there. My dad and i bought most of our cars off good old Fred Wilson at Hillsbro, that was untill his son took over !

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Before my time or at least my memory - what were "Rootes models" and why the statement about "no connections" to other Brocklehursts?

I worked at meadowhead during 66-67 while there the company found themselves in financial difficulties and the name changed to Ernest Brocklehurst and son ltd.Roootes models were Hillman, Sunbeam, Humber,Singer and Commer - May have missed some out.They had interests at Chesterfield and london road at one time.Remember the T.V add jingle,You can always thrust the car you bought from Brocklehurst's of Sheffield.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Portland Autos were the first Datsun dealer in the U.K. D.C Cook were at one time the most successful sadly it did'nt last.Another datsun dealer was Meersbrook garage who in the seventies also had a branch at Hoyland on millhouses road .

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My friend's dad was manager at Law Brothers (Leppings lane) in the 60's. I think they had the DAF car dealership for a while, in the early days of them being sold in Britain.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My friend's dad was manager at Law Brothers (Leppings lane) in the 60's. I think they had the DAF car dealership for a while, in the early days of them being sold in Britain.

didnt Law Bros run coaches from just above Claywheels lane ?was it from the Sportsman pub Peniston rd north. My dad was a driver on the coaches (charrabangs i think is the proper term) had many a free trip to Blackpool as a kid Bobbin up and down like this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Brocklehursts at Meadowhead were opened in 1960. Diana Dors performed the opening ceremony. She was accompanied by, her husband at that time, the comedian Dickie Dawson.

I remember the TV advertising jingle; it went: "You can always trust the cars you buy at Brocklehurst's of Sheffield

on any day & every day buy your car the Brocklehurst way

you can always trust the cars you buy at Brocklehurst's of Sheffield"

The middle line was faded & a voiceover proclaimed: "Every car personally guaranteed by Ernest Brocklehurst!"

The whole jingle was performed in a mid-atlantic accent which was typical of early 1960s adverts.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

didnt Law Bros run coaches from just above Claywheels lane ?was it from the Sportsman pub Peniston rd north. My dad was a driver on the coaches (charrabangs i think is the proper term) had many a free trip to Blackpool as a kid Bobbin up and down like this.

I think that the coaches used to run from the big yard in front of the Travellers Inn, just up the road from Claywheels Lane.

In the fifties I think the coaches were owned by Hurst & Sweetings who garaged them opposite the Holme Lane tramsheds.

The yard is now used by Hawley's Tyres and car owners have all on to drive cars through the narrow entrance.

In the days when they used to drive the coaches through, it used to hold up the traffic on Holme Lane for 10 minutes at a time while they shunted back and forth.

HD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi hilldweller, you are correct it was the Travellers Rest that the coaches departed from but im sure Law Bros was written on the side. My dad was a part time driver for them George Howson. Thats the way to do it!

I think that the coaches used to run from the big yard in front of the Travellers Inn, just up the road from Claywheels Lane.

In the fifties I think the coaches were owned by Hurst & Sweetings who garaged them opposite the Holme Lane tramsheds.

The yard is now used by Hawley's Tyres and car owners have all on to drive cars through the narrow entrance.

In the days when they used to drive the coaches through, it used to hold up the traffic on Holme Lane for 10 minutes at a time while they shunted back and forth.

HD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi hilldweller, you are correct it was the Travellers Rest that the coaches departed from but im sure Law Bros was written on the side. My dad was a part time driver for them George Howson. Thats the way to do it!

I've been doing a bit of research and it seems that Hirst & Sweeting only had about three coaches.

I have a distant memory of walking past a load of coaches parked in front of the Travellers on my way with my family to Wadsley Bridge Station for a day at the seaside.

I thought that the coaches belonged to H & S but perhaps some of them were on loan to Law Brothers.

Apparently Hirst & Sweeting were bought out by Sheffield United Tours in 1967 before SUT in turn were bought out themselves a couple of years later.

I traveled on coaches a lot as a kid because my grandad was an official at one working man's club and a near neighbor was an official at another.

Hence at least 2 trips each year. At that age I wasn't interested in who owned the coaches, only the five bob spending money and the daft luggage labels we all had to wear, ( If found return to ****** coach park by 6pm ).

HD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

you are right about Hirst & Sweeting and the depot was on holme lane .The old grey cells are starting to work again it was all along time ago but good memories .thanks for the info,David Tingle thats the way to do it !

I've been doing a bit of research and it seems that Hirst & Sweeting only had about three coaches.

I have a distant memory of walking past a load of coaches parked in front of the Travellers on my way with my family to Wadsley Bridge Station for a day at the seaside.

I thought that the coaches belonged to H & S but perhaps some of them were on loan to Law Brothers.

Apparently Hirst & Sweeting were bought out by Sheffield United Tours in 1967 before SUT in turn were bought out themselves a couple of years later.

I traveled on coaches a lot as a kid because my grandad was an official at one working man's club and a near neighbor was an official at another.

Hence at least 2 trips each year. At that age I wasn't interested in who owned the coaches, only the five bob spending money and the daft luggage labels we all had to wear, ( If found return to ****** coach park by 6pm ).

HD

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Richard mentions Brook Shaw's, I remember Brook Shaws on Gibralter St as a Ford dealer and have vague memories of then at the corner of Norfolk St and Charles St, was the Norfolk St site a Ford dealer as well?

Other place to buy a Ford,

TC Harrisons London Rd, now gone

Autoways Shoreham St, now Sheffield Archives

Could you buy Fords anywhere else?

Brook Shaw's new premises were used by the GPO some time in the 50s.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 19/09/2009 at 15:18, Markbaby said:

Wasn't there a GT Cars, Renault dealer , near the bottom of Granville Road across from the B&C chapel of rest?

Yes, they were previously known as Holmes & Younie

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I can recall an Alfa Romeo dealership on Scotland Street but can't remember the name. Also there was a Renault dealership just off Halifax Road near Wadsley Bridge and again cannot remember their name. Going back much further wasn't there a manufacturer of cars down Club Mill Road. Law Brothers on Leppings lane, or were they only coaches? Mazda dealer on Ecclesall Road?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 19/09/2009 at 11:39, Stuart0742 said:

 

 

Remind me which make did Brocklehursts sell.

 

They moved down to Whittington Moor at Chesterfield after Meadowhead

Does anyone remember the advert on the telly for Brocklehurst's? 'You can always trust the cars you buy from Brocklehurst's of Sheffield, Business Excutive, Family man.........' The cars they sold were mainly Routes/Hillman. On the advert Ernest Brocklehurst was handing the keys of a new car to a happy customer. There was also a little cafe in the showrooms at Meadowhead. I used to go there with Pete Clarke when I helped him with his window cleaning round in the school holidays.

Wazzie Worrall.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Paul Worrall said:

Does anyone remember the advert on the telly for Brocklehurst's? 'You can always trust the cars you buy from Brocklehurst's of Sheffield, Business Excutive, Family man.........' The cars they sold were mainly Routes/Hillman. On the advert Ernest Brocklehurst was handing the keys of a new car to a happy customer. There was also a little cafe in the showrooms at Meadowhead. I used to go there with Pete Clarke when I helped him with his window cleaning round in the school holidays.

Wazzie Worrall.

Some of the postings on this topic are wonderful - as usual they've got the old cogs turning.

In the 60's my Dad used to buy his cars from Chesterield Coop Garage which I think was on Baden Powell Road not far from West Bars. I don't know if he got divvie on car purchases.

There were also small garages which sold a few new cars. There was Fishers at Woodseats (I think it's now a music school), Williams on Abbeydale Road and the Waggon and Horses Garage at Millhouses, which eventually moved to Chesterfield Road near Morrisons. I think in those days you couldn't buy a new car 'of the shelf', it had to be ordered well in advance.

There was also Meresbrook Garage on Upper Albert Road near to Bishop's House. It was owned by a Polish guy whose son John was at High Storrs in my year. Once when we were in there a guy came in with a Morris 1000000 for a service, they were a vivid lilac colour and produced to celebrate the production of one million Morris 1000's. They sold NSU and some other unusal make of car I can't remember. They had half a mini built into the wall. They then moved to the bottom of Albert Road and became a Datsun/Nissan main dealer.

Wazzie Worrall

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In the 50,s and 60,s  Kennings was the largest BMC dealer in the area, and I used to press my nose up to the showroom windows on Shoreham Street/ Sheaf Street , opposite the train station, to drool over the latest Austin, Morris, Riley, Wolseley and MG cars. That's probably why I am still so in to these makes now. The building is still there, but sadly no longer a car showroom.

 

Bob 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi Bob,

In 1978 we bought a brand new bright yellow Mini 850 from Kennings in Chesterfield. I wanted a Citroen Dyane because I'd had a couple of LHD 2CV's, but the waiting list was 3 months so I went for the Mini instead.

I also had a friend in the early 70's - Glynn Bourne who worked at Kennings Peel Street, so we used to get all our spares 'trade' with a Kennings cash with order. Sadly just like Kennings, Glynn is no longer with us. 

Cheers, Wazzie

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Also, further along Sheaf Street was Sheaf Motors who were an early Honda dealership. On Wellington Street was Crabtree & Nichol  who dealt mainly with Rovers in the 70,s and 80,s .

 

Bob 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...