Eyles and Eyles of Oxford are the feature business of this article number 50 in my series about Triumph car dealers.
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| Eyles & Coxeter Ltd of Oxford advert November 1969 |
A long established business established by Mr H J Eyles as Eyles and Eyles Ltd. The company started out selling and repairing bicycles in 1893. First appointed to sell Standard cars in 1914. Mr H J Eyles died aged 91 at his home Chagford, Lucerne Road, Oxford on 22 September 1959. Mr H V (Jimmy) Eyles succeeded his father in running the firm.
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| Coxeter advert from November 1909 |
In 1961 J Coxeter and Company and Eyles and Coxeter companies were taken in to a group that became Chiltern Motor Holdings.
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| Eyles and Eyles Ltd advert for the Triumph 1300 - 1968 |
Eyles and Coxeter, Bicester was originally established as Laytons and was redeveloped when acquired by Chiltern Motor Holdings to become a main dealer for the complete British Leyland range.
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| Eyles & Coexter Ltd advert from 1974 |
15 June 1989 saw both J Coxeter and Company Limited and Eyles and Coxeter Limited listed in the London Gazette to announce their voluntasry liquidation as companies. Eyles and Coxeter Limited having been incorporated 14 August 1937.
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| Eyles & Coxeter Ltd thread plate 1972 |
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| Eyles & Coxeter Ltd - dealer address stamp on brochure |
I think the Eyles and Coxeter Ltd business in Oxford was later trading as City Motors (Oxford) Ltd.
Eyles and Coxeter sponsored at least one horse race at Newbury as I have seen "The Eyles and Coxeter Hunters Steeplechase" mentioned in an article from 1980.
Show and Interest Week
It was reported in the Standard Triumph Review of September 1967:
When Eyles and Eyles Ltd., Triumph Distributors in Oxford, put on a Show and Service week recently, they set out to attract those people who find the normal such event rather tedious. And they succeeded by organising a joint effort which had interest for everyone even the youngsters.
In what could be termed a 'Show and Interest' week, they provided closed circuit television enabling people to watch the actual car service checkovers while enjoying refreshments. Their display included a 1913 Standard; a bicycle belonging to Sir Winston Churchill's father; a model racing track which ran continuously and was provided by a local model shop; and there were displays by the Leather Institute, Girling, Dunlop, Lucas, Michelin and Mobil.
The local Road Safety Officer provided a film show daily; Wynns Products provided a car for a free raffle; and Britax donated a prize for the person guessing the correct number of seat belt packages piled into the back of a Triumph Herald (incidentally the car being one purchased by Oxford United Supporters' Club for their draw).
On the final day Mr. C. Walker, a local radio 'ham' (call sign G3AZT) demonstrated his hobby by calling up people all over the world; and a balloon race was held for those people purchasing three gallons of petrol or more. All in all a successful week, in the opinion of the organisers and the public.
Not just Triumphs
Eyles and Eyles of Oxford sold Rover and Land Rover products as well. I have them listed in a 1961 Rover dealer directory. Eyles and Coxeter Ltd sold the entire British Leyland range.
Triumph car dealers in Oxford
October 1955:
Distributor
Eyles & Eyles Ltd, 156 London Road, Headington. 'Phone 6699/6800.
Dealer
R Anniss & Sons Ltd, 7-9 Woodstock Road. 'Phone 55733.
R H Brown (Oxford) Ltd, Pusey Garage, Pusey Street, Off St. Giles. 'Phone 55003.
J Oxeter & Co Ltd, 40/41 Park End Street. 'Phone 2275.
Magdalen Service Garage Ltd, Magdalen Road. 'Phone 47307.
North Oxford Garage Ltd, 280 Banbury Road. 'Phone 59223.
E H Organ & Sons Ltd, 242/254 Banbury Road. 'Phone 59613/4.
August 1961:
Distributor
Eyles & Eyles Ltd, 156 London Road, Headington. 'Phone 6699/6800.
Dealer
R Anniss & Sons Ltd, 7-9 Woodstock Road. 'Phone 55733.
Luxicars (Cowley) Ltd, 217 Cowley Road, 'Phone 43382.
North Oxford Garage Ltd, 280 Banbury Road. 'Phone 59223.
Swan Garage (Oxford) Ltd, Between Towns Road, Cowley 'Phone 77054.
February 1965:
Distributor
Eyles & Eyles Ltd, 156 London Road, Headington. 'Phone 663471.
Dealer
R Anniss & Sons Ltd, 7-9 Woodstock Road. 'Phone 55733.
Kings Arms Garage, 281 Banbury Road, 'Phone 58167
Luxicars (Cowley) Ltd, 217 Cowley Road, 'Phone 43382.
North Oxford Garage Ltd, 280 Banbury Road. 'Phone 59223.
Plea for information
If you have any more information or recollections about Eyles and Eyles or Eyles & Coxeter Ltd of Oxford, 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 face book page: Triumph Car Dealers.
Link to my
Triumph Car Dealers Flickr gallery of images I have found on Flickr.
I have a collection of Standard Triumph car dealer directories:
http://vitessesteve.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/triumph-car-dealer-directories.html
Picture credits: Eyles and Eyles Ltd advert for the Triumph 1300 - 1968 + Eyles & Coexter Ltd advert from 1974 images from Andrew Newman; Coxeter advert from November 1909 garacegude ;Eyles & Coxeter Ltd thread plate 1972 image from classicroverforum.net; Eyles & Coxeter Ltd - dealer address stamp on brochure image from Damien Hegarty;
