A bit of BL nostalgia

[Mash]

Been looking back through the miscellaneous crap in my Photobucket albums and thought you lot might like these. I think I posted them on MacDroitwicth some time ago back when I used to use that forum actually. They're from a commemorative booklet that Kennings produced in 1978 or 79.

 

Sorry they're not brilliant quality, but they are small pics. If anyone wants to see an enlargement of a particular pic I'll try and do a better one.

 

I'll let you make up your own jokes and captions!

 

[VWPowered]

wow they are awesome thanks for sharing wonder how many survive

[maxpower]

wow they are awesome thanks for sharing wonder how many survive

none!! if you mean petrol pump attendants

[Alexg]

Wow, some great pics there. Thanks for sharing

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

 

Listen, Mate, we're on strike so FUCK OFF!!

 

 

 

 

 

Superb photos. You can't beat a bit of BL nostalgia - I can recall visiting Vincents of Yeovil many times in the seventies with my Dad, and going along for the Metro launch in 1980.

[Pillock]

wow they are awesome thanks for sharing wonder how many survive

From the top, till I get bored....The Rover (a V8!) on the lift, HLA 274N: Dec 1974 to April 1984The Maxi at the front of the workshop, PAN 967L: March 1973 to September 1992Triumph at the petrol pump, HBC 647N: Jan 75 to Dec 1990The crab (?) at the pumps, VRB391N: Nov 74 to Jan 91The fleet of Marinas: SKY 891S was Sept '77 to July '83, but RKU464S isn't on the databaseDolly in front of the plane, PWG 571S: Not foundSD1 clearly going the wrong way, SKU 898S: Nov 77 to Aug 89Dolly for sale - VRB733N: September 74 to June 85There's a few not found, maybe because I get ever so confused as to what was sold with what badge on it - at times it seemed to be whichever badge they'd ordered more of. Doovla needs the make to match before they'll tell you though.Quite a short life on most of those, especially the Marina company car. No doubt due to some disgruntled sales rep who dreamed of getting his hands on the keys to a SD1 thrashing it up and down the motorway.

[pompei]

Hey Mash, I'm guessing that a couple of those are the former Anlaby Road site?

[greengartside]

 

Alright babe, you got Facebook? Heard its GR28 4 PETROL PUMP ATTENDANT STALKIN....

[pogweasel]

Wow, that's a great selection. Thanks for sharing!

[ProgRocker]

Cool pics! I spy a couple of Vermillion Minis in the 4th photograph - identical to my first car.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Cool pics! I spy a couple of Vermillion Minis in the 4th photograph - identical to my first car.

Yup, and Mini 1000's as well with the stripey velour trim. I can't help thinking that car buying was so much simpler then. I'd love to go back to that era when cars really were diverse in character.Anyone else remember the promotional campaign National Fuels has in 1978 with free Smurfs? The National logo was ace as well, as was the old BP shield.

[seth]

Those are fab photos. I'm tempted to try and find that view of the Post Office tower and see if its changed much.

[boobydoo]

Really enjoyed looking at those pics.I got to thinking...if someone said that for £1000 you could go back in time for 24 hrs I would be sorely tempted... I think I would choose 1977...it would be worth the money just to be able to visit all the car showrooms to photograph all the latest models from BL, Chrysler, Renault, Citroen etc ... absolute heaven.

[Station]

Can I spot an Allegro Estate in there?

 

These look quite nice actually.

 

[RedSparrow]

Yeah I agree. I always thought the estate version suited the front end styling better.

[seth]

wow they are awesome thanks for sharing wonder how many survive

From the top, till I get bored....

Looks like 10-15 years on most of them which is not bad considering and probably similar to many cars these days as well?A very short life could be due to being written off in a crash.

[mattblack]

That driving school Allegro looks GR8 4 OVERHEATIN....

[seth]

I think i've found the post office tower view on Google. Clipstone St. looking East if anyone's bovvered.

[Split_Pin]

 

GR9 cab-age on the Terrier

 

Wonder why there are no FG's on the commercial line up? They were in production into the 80's.

 

Great pictures. The buildings are just as delightful!

[vicsmith]

How classy do Maxis and Allegros look in Black? Never see them though.

[eggy]

Great stuff! That EA recovery truck made my jaw drop.

[Station]

Not a single foreign car in those photos!

[shite_meister]

Not a single foreign car in those photos!

O RLY? Is that not a Honda?

 

 

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Not a single foreign car in those photos!

O RLY? Is that not a Honda?

 

 

Not to mention the black Renault 30 at the end of the line up.

[Spottedlaurel]

 

Autoshite AGM?

 

Lovely stuff Mash. If they were on Flickr I'd invite them to the Older Showrooms group thing which I set up and which consists mostly of contributions from me and Rootes_Arrow. At the moment I'm concentrating on taking snapshots of old showroom buildings before they disappear, but eventually I want to get more scans like yours on there.

 

I remember a Kenning's in Ipswich, but the entire site has now been cleared and built on with housing/flats. I think the van rental building hung on until quite recently, but even that's now just a car park.

 

I took some photos of their old place on Prince of Wales Road, Norwich:

 

 

 

Older shot of it on the NOAH site here: http://www.noah.norfolk.gov.uk/ShowImag ... 687757.jpg

[Mash]

It looks a lot nicer in the old shot SL! Feel free to bosh them on your Flickr account if you want to by the way.

[Mr Lobster]

Great stuff, thanks for posting them. It's nice to see old showroom and garage photos - seemed much more interesting before all showroom became great big plate glass boxes.

[scruff]

Anyone else remember the promotional campaign National Fuels has in 1978 with free Smurfs? The National logo was ace as well, as was the old BP shield.

Our local shop gives out National carrier bags - complete with Smurf logo! They must have a box full of them.

[Simon M]

Don't suppose you could get me one of those National carrier bags, Mr Scruff? I think I need one! Got a couple of National/Smurf keyrings somewhere come to think of it....

How classy do Maxis and Allegros look in Black? Never see them though.

Yeah, there's a black Allegro in the 'New Driving Force From Ausin' film which looks brilliant - I don't recall ever seeing one in black, but it really suits them.

[meggersdog]

Liking that "TR7 Try one now.They go fast" sign.I seem to recall they didn't go fast off the factory floor in Speke.