129 replies to this topic

[89mini-boy]

and now bmw own mini! full circle in a way cooperman!!

and ironically BMW produced the original BMW Isetta one of those 'foreign Bubble Cars' that BMC wanted the Mini to drive off the roads of Britain!
Not to mention the very first BMW car, the BMW Dixi, was an Austin 7 built under licence........
Out-take of Jeremy Clarkson driving a BMW Isetta:
http://www.topgear.c...-15-bubble-wrap

There's a dixi in Gaydon absolute beauty of a car !!!

Ashley

[Cooperman]

The Dixi was a super little car. I first saw one in the BMW museum in Munich. Really an Austin 7 copy.

It was a bit of a strange thing when BMW acquired Rover. It looks as though they didn't realise what a 'box of snakes' they had got. Rover was a big money pit into which huge amounts of cash were being poured with no hope of survival. In fact it threatened the very future of BMW. Atleast the BINI is profitable for them now.

When BLMC was formed and included Jag, Rover, Triumph added to MG, Austin, Morris, tec, those of us who worked within the automotive industry expected a serious rationalisation across the product ranges to capitalise on the best and eliminate the worst. However, what happened was that the various brand names were more into competing with each other than becoming a major force in competing with the US companies building in the UK, Ford, GM & Chrysler and with the Europen & Jap importers. If they had produced a model range to include one small car ( a Mini development), a mid-range car to compete with Escort and Viva sized cars, an upper mid-range like a development of the Triumph 2000/2500/Rover 2000, a single sports car branded as MG and/or Triumph and a top-end luxury range based on Jaguar they might have succeeded. Instead they chose to build poor quality junk in the main with no rationalisation and the result was inevitable really. Even the Jaguar XJ6 was poor in build quality which gave BMW & Mercedes a real boost as top-end company cars.

[miniyellowmini]

PJ Evans - Brand new Minis for pocket money prices

Edited by miniyellowmini, 25 September 2012 - 08:06 PM.

[mingy]

Dutton Forshaw in Kendal Cumbria, supplied my father with his new Austin Maxi 1850HL, it was ( i think,classed as BRG with tan interior) The car i learned to drive in, it was hell on wheels even for an inexperienced seventeen year old!! but the seats reclined to make a fairly good double bed ( you know the score chaps).The registration number was PUL 677R .

[surfblue63]

Talking of Dutton Forshaw, I purchased my Mini Ritz from them in 1985 at their Tonbidge, Kent branch. The garage was demolished in the 1990's when the road into the industrial estate was upgraded for the new fire station.

[villa3]

Winton motors in Southgate Street Winchester and Gordon Holland in city road Winchester.In the early 70s Hampshire was flooded with Minis.

[CMXCVIII]

By the egalitarian '80s, of course, Henlys had lowered their standards from Jaguar and pukka Rovers only and were selling Minis at Henlys Corner

[Tanya]

TC Harrison in Hull is where my car originally came from :)

I know this is a bit of a thread revival, but we're currently in Hull, visiting the first owner of Arthur, my MG Maestro 1600, that came from Parish's in Hull, which about a year later became TC Harrison. What year's your Mini? My Maestro still has its original number plates which don't have an area code, just say Hull xxxxx (whatever the number is) which I think is lovely.

We've found where TC Harrison's would have been, but has now been flattened. We've done a bit of research on Parish's and TC Harrison and will be going back tomorrow to get some pics of Arthur where Parish's/TC Harrison's would have been - yes, I am that sad!

[62S]

There was a number of Cornelius Parish outlets in Hull who were Austin dealers. The main one was Anlaby Road but there was also Hessle Road and South Ella Way.

[Tanya]

There was a number of Cornelius Parish outlets in Hull who were Austin dealers. The main one was Anlaby Road but there was also Hessle Road and South Ella Way.

Arthur came from the Anlaby Road one. Off down there this morning, hopefully before all the football fans descend for the Hull versus Liverpool match.

[Youngowner93]

 

TC Harrison in Hull is where my car originally came from :)

I know this is a bit of a thread revival, but we're currently in Hull, visiting the first owner of Arthur, my MG Maestro 1600, that came from Parish's in Hull, which about a year later became TC Harrison. What year's your Mini? My Maestro still has its original number plates which don't have an area code, just say Hull xxxxx (whatever the number is) which I think is lovely.

We've found where TC Harrison's would have been, but has now been flattened. We've done a bit of research on Parish's and TC Harrison and will be going back tomorrow to get some pics of Arthur where Parish's/TC Harrison's would have been - yes, I am that sad!

 

 

My Mini is a '91 plate. I still have the original dealer tax disc holder 

[madaboutcherry]

my '68 mk 11 came from cheam motors in surrey.

[surfblue]

W H Alexanders in Belfast - long time ago, late 70's - early 80's I believe it closed?

Charles Hurst, various branches around Belfast - still trading and selling a massive variety of marques.

Local to us was John McClean in Lisburn - did my work experience there in 1989!

Joshua White in Armagh.

[Tanya]

TC Harrison in Hull is where my car originally came from :)

I know this is a bit of a thread revival, but we're currently in Hull, visiting the first owner of Arthur, my MG Maestro 1600, that came from Parish's in Hull, which about a year later became TC Harrison. What year's your Mini? My Maestro still has its original number plates which don't have an area code, just say Hull xxxxx (whatever the number is) which I think is lovely.
We've found where TC Harrison's would have been, but has now been flattened. We've done a bit of research on Parish's and TC Harrison and will be going back tomorrow to get some pics of Arthur where Parish's/TC Harrison's would have been - yes, I am that sad!

 
My Mini is a '91 plate. I still have the original dealer tax disc holder 

I know this sounds extra sad, but I'd love to see a pic of your tax disc holder

We went to Parish's/TC Harrison on the Anlaby Road this morning, and here's Arthur parked outside what looked like it would have been the front entrance. Sadly nothing there, but at least we could identify the site.

[mab01uk]

Found this link......maybe 'East Yorkshire Thoroughbred Car Club' have info or old photos:

 

"Since 1949 the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain had organised the Hull to Scarborough Road Run.
In 1972, due to dwindling participation from pre 1918 vehicles, the VCCGB ceased involvement in this run.
In 1973 the Hull branch of the Y.T.C.C took over the organisation of this traditional run, which, during the 1970’s and 80’s, had become a spectacular event, attracting large crowds of spectators.

The Austin dealership, Cornelius Parish Ltd., in Hull, took up the challenge of staging this event and in so doing  became the financial sponsor of the Hull Branch of the Y.T.C.C, permitting the run to start from their premises on Anlaby Road, Hull.
The Cornelius Parish Ltd. dealership was taken over by the T.C.Harrison Group. They and their eventual successor, Welpton Ltd., continued the sponsorship of this event until 1993.
This was the last year of the Hull to Scarborough run which was discontinued due to the lack of co-operation by Scarborough Borough Council,  who withdrew their support to use the traditional site in Scarborough."

http://www.eytcc.org.uk/AboutUs.html

 

This filling station was once Kennings British Leyland garage when it sold Shell petrol?

Total, Anlaby Road Hull.

http://www.flickr.co...157624326869455

Edited by mab01uk, 01 December 2013 - 02:35 PM.