Wicliffe Motor Co Ltd of Stroud, Gloucester and Tewkesbury - Triumph Car Dealers 20

Number 20 in my series of articles about Triumph car dealers this article is about Wicliffe Motor Co Ltd.

Wicliffe Motor Co Ltd a short history

With it origins in a cycle shop in1907 the company was established 10 September 1917 and became a limited company in 1929. At first the business dealt with  both cycles and cars in equal measure.  From 1936 the building was updated and the separate bike shop was amalgamated in one larger single frontage. The building were updated again in 1954 at which time the stores were increased in size.

Wicliffe sold the locally produced Hampton cars.

Hampton 10HP

Frederick Smith,  with cigarette, the founder of Wicliffe Motor Co Ltd in a 10HP Hampton tackling a hillclimb in 1914.

The garage sold several marques of cars over the years. They sold both Austin and Morris until the time came in the late 1920's when the manufacturers insisted on exclusive agents Wicliffe dropped the Austin franchise and took on the other marques from the Nuffield group MG, Wolseley and Riley.

As at 1956 the company had bought or established other business: Morris House, Bath Road, Cheltenham in 1918; Wicliffe, Worcester Road, Gloucester in 1946; Western Garage, Cairncross in 1930; Gwent Motors, Newport in 1931.  The Cheltenham premises became the group HQ.

In parallel with the car business the firm developed and expanded its Morris Commercial vehicle operations.

Morris Commercial delivery van

From the Commercial Motor archive a 16 May 1958 article:
To ensure speedy delivery of Morris Commercial spares in Gloucester, the new premises of the Wicliffe Motor Co., Ltd., arc supplied by their Cheltenham. stock-control branch, who are in Telex communication with the Cowley works. Wicliffe are operating a special spares van which visits the vehicle factory every day to maintain the 140,000 stock at Cheltenham. They receive more than 3 tons of spares a week from Cowley.

The company are Morris-Commercial distributors for the Cheltenham, Gloucester and Stroud areas. Their extension at Mercia Street, Gloucester, covers 10,000 sq. ft., and the installation includes a double sunken workshop, fitted with a Wakefield waste-oil collection system, with movable draining pans which discharge into an outside tank.• This enables mechanics to combine work on two vehicles at floor level, whilst a third vehicle can be lifted on a 3-ton electrically operated machine.

Departments separate from the floor area comprise a welding shop, tool store. bulk-oil store, battery-charging room and an injection-testing bay. There is also a mess-room for the mechanics.

Service equipment includes a 50-ton hydraulic press, a mobile jib crane and mobile lubricator, a high-pressure washing machine and a paraffin cleaning tank.

1983 window sticker

The business employed at least 90 staff in 1994. Wicliffe Motor Co Ltd the company was dissolved 9
October 2012.

Wicliffe, AustinRover rear window sticker

Tax disc holder

Wicliffe - Rover tax disc holder

Leyland cars ara

Wicliffe, Mercia Road, Gloucester - Leyland Cars advert

Back of a bus

Period style advert on the back of a preserved Bristol Omnibus.  Photo taken at a bus rally in Stroud 22 July 2012 by AndrewHA's.

Wicliffe Rally Sponsor

Wicliffe Rally regulations front cover from February 1980.

Wicliffe sponsored Mini rallycar1976

Russell Street Stroud

Wicliffe Motors on Russell Street Stroud photo undated but probably in the 1950's.

Wicliffe, Russell Street, Stroud -  petrol pumps

And more recently the site was Peacocks shop.

Dealer address info

My dealer directories cover the period from 1955 until 1974.  I have not been able to find when Wicliffe Motor Co Ltd got the Triumph franchise can you help?

Plea for information

If you have any more information or recollections about these garages, photos of window stickers, dealer badges or sill plates etc please let me know.  I can be contacted via the comments to this post or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stephen.weblin

Further information and sources

Link to the other articles in this series.

Link to my Facebook page: Triumph Car Dealers.

Link to my Triumph Car Dealers Flickr group .

I have a collection of Standard Triumph car dealer directories: http://vitessesteve.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/triumph-car-dealer-directories.html

Picture credits: 1983 window sticker Trigger on Flickr; Morris Commercial delivery van Commercial Motor; Hampton 10HP car a Classic Trails website; The images from the early history came Stroud Local History Society; Wicliffe, AustinRover rear window sticker by Andy Campbell on flickr; Wicliffe - Rover tax disc holder; Wicliffe Rally regulations front cover from February 1980 posted to facebook by Russ Cooper; Wicliffe, Russell Street, Stroud -  petrol pumps photo posted by Phil Elliot to facebook; Wicliffe sponsored Mini rallycar1976 posted to facebook by Russ Cooper.

Newton Baker Ltd of Leicester - Triumph Car Dealers 17a

This is short article about Newton Baker Ltd of Leicester is number 17a in my series of articles about Triumph car dealers.

 Newton Baker Ltd rear window sticker from a August 1967 Triumph 1300.

Newton Baker Ltd rear window sticker from a August 1982 Triumph Acclaim.

Newton Baker Ltd advert

Dealers address info

In 1955 there were 7 other dealers in the city including:
Newton, Baker Ltd., 36 Western Road.

In 1968 there were 6 other dealers in the city including :
Newton, Baker Ltd, 36 Western Road.

In 1974 there were 2 other dealers in the city including :
Walter E Sturgess & Sons Ltd, Walnut Street, LE2 7GS who had taken over Newton Baker in 1971.

For more info about Triumph dealers in Leicester see my post about H A Browett & Co Ltd were listed as the distributor for the area.

For more info about Walter E Sturgess & Sons Ltd see post17b.

Further information and sources

Link to the other articles in this series.

Link to my Triumph Car Dealers Flickr gallery of images I have found on Flickr.

If you have any more information or recollections about this garage, photos of window stickers, dealer badges or sill plates etc please let me know.

You can download a copy of the Triumph Sales and Service Directory 1968-69 which started me off on the search for info about Triumph car dealers.

Galileo on the Triumph Dolomite forum has very kindly scanned and made available a 1974'ish copy of the Triumph Sales And Service directory.   You can get a copy here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6QR7c9loufLQXJsTkJWUTEtelk

I have a collection of Standard Triumph car dealer directories: http://vitessesteve.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/triumph-car-dealer-directories.html

Picture credits: 1967 window sticker John on Flickr; 1982 window sticker SpottedLaurel on Flickr

Lambs Ltd of Woodford Green - Triumph Car dealers 19

Another in my series of articles about Triumph car dealers this article is about Lambs Ltd.

A history of Lamb's Ltd

Established in 1906 Lamb's Ltd have a long history of selling and servicing motor cars.

Lamb's Ltd advert 1924

In 1924 Lamb's Ltd were selling many different brands of cars, commercials and motorbikes including AC, Austin, Ariel, Guy, Gwynne, Matchless, Morgan, Rover, Singer, Standard, Triumph and Wolseley. They survived the hard times during world war 2.

Lambs Ltd advert in the Motor magazine dated 25 September 1946

Lambs Ltd advert in the Motor magazine dated 5 May 1948

Lamb's Ltd advert 1951

This advert from 1951 shows the Lamb's building at Woodford that had been purpose built in 1938.

A photo of Lamb's Ltd, Woodford, London, at night 1951 from John Maltby found in RIBA Collections.

Lambs HQ building 08-1964

Here is a view of Lambs showroom and petrol station The A127 Southend Arterial Road Woodford.

Lambs showroom and petrol station The A127 Southend Arterial Road Woodford

1962 advert for the then new TR4.

Stanpart window display at Lambs from STR03-1966

 A prize winning Stanpart window display at Lambs Ltd Woodford Green for Christmas 1965 and shown in the Standard Triumph Review March 1966..

1968 letterhead from an invoice for a Triumph 2000 saloon supplied to its first owner on 1st June 1968.

Workshop photos

Standard Vanguard in Lambs Ltd workshop image 1

Standard Vanguard in Lambs Ltd workshop image 2

Standard Vanguard in Lambs Ltd workshop image 3

I found these photos on the Standard Motor Club website. Taken in the 1950's they show the father of Ian Randall at work on a Standard Vanguard.

Lambs (Coachbuilders) Ltd

The only thing I know about this company is this advert.

Lambs (Coachbuilders) Ltd 1963 advert

The company was first established 13 November 1952.

Lambs Ltd spares

Thanks Francis Roberts for sharing this photo of a metal label.

FOR SPARE PARTS AND SERVICE FOR THIS VEHICLE PLEASE CONSULT

LAMBS LTD

Lambs Ltd windscreen sticker

Modern tribute

Seen recently in Devon, UK this custom built Triumph Herald features sign written Lambs Ltd advert on the door.At the time of writing owned by a sign writer called Ian a TSSC Devon member.

Lamb's Ltd liveried Triumph Herald pickup - photo John Holmes

Dealer locations

Lambs have over the years operated from many different locations.
1924 they were selling Standard and Triumph cars from at least three locations:
50 High Street, Wood Green, London N22
Opposite Hoe Street Station, Walthamstow, E17
Opposite Great Portland Station, Euston Road,  London, NW1

1951 at least four locations:
Standard House, Southern Road, Woodford Essex
Slough House. 16 Berkeley Street, London W1
194/6 High Road, Ilford
Also at Chingford.

1955, 58, 65, 68 and 74 they were a distributor selling Standard Triumph from Standard House, Southend Road, Woodford Green, IG8 8HG.

1972
Lambs Limited, Avenue Garage, Southend Arterial Road, Hornchurch, RM11 3UH. 
Lambs (Loughton) Ltd 161 High Road, Loughton from premises which had previously been operated by another Triumph dealer Patmore Bros Limited.

Plea for information

If you have any more information or recollections about these garages, photos of window stickers, dealer badges or sill plates etc please let me know.  I can be contacted via the comments to this post or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stephen.weblin

Further information and sources

Link to the other articles in this series.

Link to my article about Patmore Bros Limited

Link to my Triumph Car Dealers Flickr group .

You can download a copy of the Triumph Sales and Service Directory 1968-69 which started me off on the search for info about Triumph car dealers.

I have a collection of Standard Triumph car dealer directories: http://vitessesteve.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/triumph-car-dealer-directories.html

Picture credits: Lamb's Ltd advert 1924 from gracesguide: https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Lambs who have a good collection of early adverts: Stanpart window display at Lambs from Standard Triumph Review March 1966; Standard Vanguard in Lambs Ltd workshop images Ian Randell; Lambs (Coachbuilders) Ltd 1963 advert from Maurice on flickr; Lambs showroom and petrol station High Road Ilford image was posted to facebook by Ed Coldrick; HeraldPickup images fromfacebook.

Patmore Bros Limited, Loughton Essex - Triumph Car dealers 19a

Another in my series of articles about Triumph car dealers this article is about Patmore Bros Limited in Loughton, Essex, UK.  The business was later Lambs (Loughton) Ltd.

A brief history of Patmore Bros Limited

I found this in the local paper website for Loughton, at the http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/

Mr Patmore, originally from Wickford, started as a cyclist apprentice but in the early 1900s moved into selling and repairing cars which were just beginning to become popular among the middle classes.

With his brother Tom, he set up his Loughton shop in 1910, at Station Road on the old address of Dumble's Cycle Stores.

He sold his first car, a Unic taxi, to a Mr W. Irons, a local cab proprietor, and soon claimed the distinction of supplying Loughton with its first fire engine and ambulance.

Patmore Bros shop in the 1920's

Sadly, Tom died of influenza in 1919, but the business began to thrive, and, in 1931, it moved to bigger premises in Loughton High Road.

During the Second World War, the company worked at converting normal motor vehicles into emergency vehicles Ted Patmore went on to buy two garages in Valley Hill, and another on the Debden Estate, and at his business peak employed around 80 people.

After his wife Daisy died in 1953, Mr Patmore lived with Ms Saunders and her father Jim who helped him manage the business as he grew older.

She said: “Basically my grandpa was a craftsman and started off by making parts for cars before they were produced en mass. I remember him as a warm, generous man.”

Mr Patmore remained actively involved in his companies until his death in 1966. His business was taken on by Lambs in 1969, and is now Marks & Spencers.

Google street view of Marks & Spencers on Loughton High Road

Triumph dealers in Loughton

In 1955, 1959, 1965 and 1968 dealer directories:
Brown's Garage (Loughton) Ltd., Brown's Corner, High Road

Browns of  Loughton, Essex advert from Autocar 18 Oct 1957

Patmore Bros. Ltd., 161 High Road, Loughton.

Then in March 1972, March 1974 and April 1979:
Lambs (Loughton) Ltd 161 High Road, Loughton from the same premises which had previously been operated by another Triumph dealer Patmore Bros Limited.

Lambs (Loughton) Ltd, address stamp on Triumph 2500S brochure

Plea for information

If you have any more information or recollections about this garage, photos of window stickers, dealer badges or sill plates etc please let me know.  I can be contacted via the comments to this post or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stephen.weblin

Further information and sources

Link to my blog post about Lambs Ltd the Triumph car dealer.

Link to the other articles in this series.

Link to my Triumph Car Dealers Flickr gallery of images I have found on Flickr.

You can download a copy of the Triumph Sales and Service Directory 1968-69 which started me off on the search for info about Triumph car dealers.

I have a collection of Standard Triumph car dealer directories: http://vitessesteve.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/triumph-car-dealer-directories.html

Picture credits:The old black and white images are from the collection of MsJennie Saunders, the granddaughter of Ted Patmore; Browns of  Loughton, Essex advert from Autocar 18 Oct 1957 scanned from my collection.

Motor Macs (Exeter) Ltd and Lock Bros of Exeter - Triumph car dealers 18

Number 18 in my series of articles about Triumph car dealers this is article about dealers in Exeter, Devon UK.

Lock Bros advert 1956

Lock Bros

Lock Brothers , Exeter letterhead from 01 February 1971

Edgar William Lock and Herbert Henry Lock brothers where in business together as a  firm of builders and contractors known as J Lock and Sons and as garage proprietors known as Lock Bros.  Those business where dissolved with effect from 31 March 1952.  The firm were listed in Autocar 30 April 1937 as being a Standard car dealer.

Ladysmith Road garage

The garage business carried on.  Also sold Singer cars and later Saabs. A purpose built garage in the 60's subsequently became Exeter Motors and sold Proton cars.

As of 2016 Hampshire Bus Preservation Group have a Triumph 1500 that was first sold by Lock Bros in 1971 in their collection.

Lock Bros advert 1961

Motor Mac's Exeter Limited

Motor Macs advert from 1923

Based at 167-169 Sidwell Street in 1923 Motor Macs were a victim of bombing in the blitz of May 1942.  They continued to trade from the site after the war.  In 1956 they were still in Sidwell Street as Rolls Royce, Bentley and Standard Triumph dealers. The firm opened up specially to help with the first run of the Triumph 48hour round Britain reliability run in 1966.

In 1967 they they had moved to Paris Street as a result of the rebuilding of Sidwell Street.  By 1973, a Motor Macs was based in Okehampton Street.

Motor Macs Exeter Limited in 167/69 Sidwell Street, Exeter in 1955.

The Motor Macs Trophy was presented in 1959 by Motor Macs (Exeter) Ltd, Standard Triumph distributors, to the Exeter Vikings Motor Club as a perpetual trophy for the Rally of the Moors. In the first four years it was presented to four crews all who were driving Triumph Heralds.  The photograph shows Mr Ray Chamberlain with the Cup and replica and his winning Herald.  He won in 1961 and 1962.

In October 1962 it was reported in the Standard Triumph Review that new premises costing £170,000 were opened by Frank Higham of Standard Triumph Sales Limited who arrived by helicopter.

Extract from Standard Triumph Review March 1964

In the Standard Triumph Review March 1964 it was reported. Four new Triumph Herald 1200 saloons were delivered to Exeter Diocesan Council for Moral Welfare by Motor Macs (Exeter) Ltd. The council changed over all its cars to Heralds.

Motor Macs (Exeter) Ltd dealer address sticker on Herald 1200 Brochure

Here is a street scene that show the Motor Macs building in the background.

Other Motor Macs companies

I believe Motor Macs also had firms in Southampton and Bournemouth.

Motor Macs Bournemouth 1928 advert

My article about Motor Macs Bournemouth.

Triumph car dealers in Exeter - when and where

In 1955 Motor Macs (Exeter) Ltd 167/169 Sidwell Street are listed as distributor with dealers
Lock Bros 147 Ladysmith Road
Peamore Garages Ltd, Alphington
Woods Western Garage Ltd 52 Alphington Road

In 1959 Motor Macs (Exeter) Ltd 167/169 Sidwell Street are listed as distributor with dealers
Lock Bros 147 Ladysmith Road
Torquay Motors Ltd Topsham Road

In 1965 and 1969 Motor Macs (Exeter) Ltd Paris Street are listed as distributor with dealers
Lock Bros 147 Ladysmith Road

In 1974 Mumfords (Exeter) Limited, Paris Street are listed as distributor.

Plea for information

If you have any more information or recollections about these garages, photos of window stickers, dealer badges or sill plates etc please let me know.  I can be contacted via the comments to this post or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/stephen.weblin

Further information and sources

Link to the other articles in this series.

Link to facebook page: Triumph Car Dealers.

Link to my Triumph Car Dealers Flickr group which includes many photos of Standard Triumph garages etc from my collection and many other contributors .


I have a collection of Standard Triumph car dealer directories: http://vitessesteve.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/triumph-car-dealer-directories.html

Picture credits: Triumph 1500 Hamphire Bus Preservation Group; Old adverts and Ladysmith garage Exeter Memories website; Lock Bros advert 1961from Gracesguides website; Lock Brothers, Exeter letterhead from 01 February 1971 posted via facebook by Matt Debbage; Motor Macs building in the background image from the Exeter Memories site.