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Steve Dutton sounds vaguely familiar. I think he came to Essex Street with his mate Albert Stretton and they were both put on the front counter at Essex Street when I was there. Albert Stretton was definitely at Essex Street 73/74.

I've just realised I should have put PJ's in Essex Street NOT Lower Essex Street!!

He was the Parts Director and based at Essex Street. His outbursts were legendary but I've worked for far worse. His managers were the excellent John Bromley (Jaguar parts) and also excellent Melvyn Shufflebottom (Triumph parts). The front counter was overseen by Mike Collins, the best partsman...

This is the Bond 875 and I also remember the how the front wheel left the road under acceleration. They could be a real handful but I was young and indestructible in the 1970s!!

My father was a chauffeur and one of the brand new Humber Hawks he was issued with had rust breaking out on the front wings after just three weeks!!

I was in the stores at Smithfield and remember the high number of engines that were sold every week, especially the T2 van engines. I think some VW air cooled engines just had a metal gauze for the oil filter. There was a high demand for clutches as well.

You've reminded me of Hillman Imp head gaskets blowing regularly.

On the subject of rotting body shells at the factory I saw the same thing at Rootes in Coventry where Hillman Hunter bodyshells were outside covered in snow.

Compared to modern cars most 'classics' were poor but that was the way it was then. Breakdowns and rust were regarded as normal. I was in the motor trade for years and the worst cars for me were the Alfa Sud, Reliant three wheelers, Fiats, Volkswagen Beetles. The best, I'm sorry to say,even in...

Could it have been the late Stan Dilkes who ran the spares department for years?

Was the owner of Stirchley Motorcycles Bobby Perkins?

So it was flooding carbs? Mystery solved after all these years! Were you there in 1971? The workshops were across the road in the railway arches if I remember correctly?

I was in the spares department with the late Stan Dilke at Coles in 1971 and I remember being told Reliants caught fire because some of the petrol pipe connections were just push on instead of screw thread connections.

Thanks very much for the info. Regards. Vic

Bob, you seem well up on those days. Do you remember if Bristol Street Motors Ford spares were in Charles Henry Street, plus was Prestage the main Vauxhall spares place, also in that street please?

What do you mean by WOODEN type balcony. Was it part of the first floor?

Thanks for the info, me not remembering that was bothering me. Much appreciated.

I now remember some of us used to go to that pub at the top of Digbeth, the pub with the Galleon on the outside wall. What was the pub called? Any memories of it please?

When I was there 1972/3 that entrance (imag2259) in Meriden Street was not in use. I think that was open before Smithfield became a VW agent. There's more excellent info on this forum about Smithfield in the early days.

Thanks Bob.