The feature business in this post is Armstrong Massey who were a Standard Triumph car dealer based in Beverley.
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| Armstrong Gordon in Beverley in the early 1960's |
Gordon Armstrong converted the former Tiger Inn into a garage in 1907 he did so with the idea of building cars and aircraft. It is not known how many cars or aircraft were produced in the workshops at the back. The building was constructed in the 15th century and is timber framed. In 1984 it became part of the St Mary's Court shopping development.
By the 1960's/70's the Massey Motors Division of Robert B Massey was merged with Gordon Armstrong Ltd and distributed Rolls Royce, Jaguar, Rover and Triumph cars throughout East Yorkshire as the Armstrong-Massey Group. The companies were purchased by the Unilever Corporation in 1974. Later still the York branch of the business was bought by Inchcape during 2015.
By 1986 they were based elsewhere in Beverley and selling Renault and Rolls Royce motor cars. The site is now is now an ASDA supermarket having been previously NETTO and prior to that a Jacksons supermarket.
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| Armstrong Massey - Beverley image 01 |
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| Armstrong Massey - Beverley image 02 |
Became a Volvo dealer in the 70s. Motor rally sponsor in the 1970's and 1980's.
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| Armstrong Massey dealer address stamp on Triumph Acclaim brochure | |
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| Armstrong Massey rear window sticker |
The Gordon Armstrong Car
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| The ‘Gordon’ Car, 1914 |
This photograph of Gordon Armstrong of Beverley, mechanical engineer and inventor, shows him at the 1000 Miles R.A.C. Six Days Trial , May 4th-11th, 1914. The image is of himself at the wheel in the car he built. It reached the fastest time on 5 hills out of 11, the 2nd fastest time on 3 hills out of 11, 53.98 miles per gallon of petrol, 11 miles per gallon better than next best and 20 miles per gallon better than average for the trial.
He founded the business Armstrong Patents Co. Ltd in 1935. The company that made
Armstrong lever arm dampers which I wrote about in 2015.
If you like historic images you can buy vintage prints online from East Riding Archives at
picturearchives.org/eastridingphotos
Dealer plate
Thamks to Karl for sharing this photo of a plaque ithat is attached to a Land Rover.
Still trading
A business called Armstrong Massey is still trading as of July 2018 based in Driffield and selling used 4x4 vehicles.
RBM Agricultural Ltd have been providing products and services to the agricultural industry since 1936. As of 2018 they have 5 locations in Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. Market Weighton (East Yorkshire), Malton (North Yorkshire), Clarborough (Nottinghamshire), Brig (North Lincolnshire), and Louth (East Lincolnshire).
Triumph Dealers in Beverley
September 1968, March 1970, March 1972, March 1974, May 1975:
Robert B Massey (Beverley) Limited, Norwood, HU17 9HA
June 1984 Armstrong Massey are listed as an Austin Rover dealer.
March 1988 Armstrong Massey Ltd, Barnston Road, Swinemoor Industrail Estate, HU17 0LA are listeda Rover group dealer.
Multisite dealer
Armstrong Massey had branches in Beverley, Market Weighton, Driffield, Helmsley, Hull, York and Scarborough. At the time the promotional key fob shown above was issued they were selling Austin, Morris, Rover, Triumph, Jaguar, Daimler, Sherpa Vans, Land Rover and Range Rover.
Plea for information
If you have any more information or recollections about Armstrong Massey of Beverley, 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 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: Armstrong Gordon in Beverley in the early 1960's photo found on Beverley FM website; Armstrong Massey rear window sticker photo posted to flickr by Nivek.Old.Gold; Armstrong Massey - Beverley images 01 and 02 posted to flickr by Beverley Exile;
