With a few similar threads recently about dealerships closed down in the US I was surprised when driving recently through my old town where I grew up (late 70`s) to see what was the main Rover dealership in the day closed down and looking a bit sad.

 

But a double look prompted me to go back and take a few pics, an amazing frozen in time situation, how does this happen? and for those not old enough to know the last pic is of a Marina, looked as brand new condition through the glass but dusty, a bit of an icon of the day.

 

Jeff TT

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 25, 201114 yr by JeffTT

Jeff, No Link or pics ?

can see pics jeff :) there is also a place by me, more of an adjoining warehouse to a general service garage

 

thing is there is all sorts in there old Volvo's, merc's, opel's and a daimler, when i asked how come all the old cars, i just got owner collects them, shame as all i saw was them all collecting dust with no covers and looking a bit sad :(

What happens to these places that they just get left for decades, the cars just allowed to rot inside? Really weird. Kind of cool tho

Jeff, No Link or pics ?

 

Do not what happened there Tony, would not load for me either, the links were there in edit mode, just saved again and they popped up...strange.

 

Jeff

 

can see pics jeff :) there is also a place by me, more of an adjoining warehouse to a general service garage

 

thing is there is all sorts in there old Volvo's, merc's, opel's and a daimler, when i asked how come all the old cars, i just got owner collects them, shame as all i saw was them all collecting dust with no covers and looking a bit sad :(

 

 

When you hear of barn finds of rare and exotic cars I always wonder how but can understand they are hidden from general view but mostly these closed down dealerships are real prominent....just got to find a Ford dealer with a mint 3.0 Ghia Capri ..... oh dear reminiscing now.

 

Jeff TT

..just got to find a Ford dealer with a mint 3.0 Ghia Capri ..... oh dear reminiscing now.

 

Jeff TT

 

Oh yes!! keep me posted there lol, i'll take the 280b though :)

Oh yes!! keep me posted there lol, i'll take the 280b though :)

 

 

Had a whole series of Capri`s including my favourite a Mk ll 3.0 Ghia Auto in silver with a black Vinyl roof, I ended my Capri spree with a first generation 2.8i Blue over silver with a four speed box and did not get on well at all with it constantly hitting the very low slung exhaust on the road, goodness knows how you would get on today with speed bump mania, I changed it for a Datsun 280 zx straight six with such luxuries as central locking and electric windows Ahem ...:rolleyes:

 

Jeff TT

Had a whole series of Capri`s including my favourite a Mk ll 3.0 Ghia Auto in silver with a black Vinyl roof, I ended my Capri spree with a first generation 2.8i Blue over silver with a four speed box and did not get on well at all with it constantly hitting the very low slung exhaust on the road, goodness knows how you would get on today with speed bump mania, I changed it for a Datsun 280 zx straight six with such luxuries as central locking and electric windows Ahem ...:rolleyes:

 

Jeff TT

 

lol Jeff all ringing home :) i was in the capri club and have been to there HQ a couple of times in the mid's :) nice people (and motors) for that matter,

 

however it was only ever the 1.6 mk3 for me but i did get the 2.0 engine for it and some other bits that gave it a bit more poke, this was all before someone local that it had been passed to wrapped it around a lamp post :no::no:

 

had an A'reg 280zx though that thankfully still shows on the dvla database :) hell of a car that and use to love seeing peoples faces as the front end lifted on acceleration or pulling away!

Not my actual Capri`s below but a decent representation, with the exception of the first one my was white with a Vinyl roof it was an M.reg (1974 ) so it was only 3 years old and was I the man in my town....well I thought I was!

even came with alloyed wheels :shock: as my Mom would say

 

Jeff TT

 

1.6GT MK l face uplift

 

 

3.0 litre Mk 2

 

2.8i

 

 

Also had a cherry red 2.0 ghia Mk 3 and a brown with tan roof 1.6 Mk 3

 

My Dads first Capri Mk 1 face uplift 1.6 l (auto) albeit his had the obligatory black vinyl roof

 

 

 

My dads second Capri a 1.6 L Mk 3

 

Edited September 25, 201114 yr by JeffTT

Great pics jeff love the mk1 gt and you can certainly see from that pic what american car the capri got allot of influence from

 

i do like the mk3 though as use to see them out and about in my early years (fire engine pushing years) lol

 

here was mine it was not so bad just needed to be finished off and the bonnet resprayed :/

 

 

 

Nice!!! you got the brown tint windows too they were the dogs then eh? funny how we moved onto zeds that have rubber spoilers on the back too

 

Jeff

Thanks mate it was fairly good for its year to apart from the lacquer peel on the bonnet, although you cant really see it in those pics, mind you i've been thinking of something retro of late to replace the mk4 fiesta just undecided as to waht yet :/

With a few similar threads recently about dealerships closed down in the US I was surprised when driving recently through my old town where I grew up (late 70`s) to see what was the main Rover dealership in the day closed down and looking a bit sad.

 

But a double look prompted me to go back and take a few pics, an amazing frozen in time situation, how does this happen? and for those not old enough to know the last pic is of a Marina, looked as brand new condition through the glass but dusty, a bit of an icon of the day.

 

Jeff TT

 

 

I've just spoken to the owner of this garage - he reliably informs me that the garage is still open for business, but admits sales have been a little slow lately. He's currently giving the place a makeover and is hoping to shift a few cars and get some new stock in.

 

I didn't have the heart to tell him about Longbridge.

oh love those old fords..i had a 2.0 GXL cortina mk3 ..wanted a capri but they were like hens teeth to get hold of second hand....the tina was a great car and with the twin twin 40s and piper cam it would scare the 3.0gt capris .....really wish i could find a good mk3 gxl now just for old time sake

me mate got a 2.8i capri exactly the same colour as the one in pic for sale been his love for years and always been in a garage will try get some pics to put up.

 

dan.:biggrin:

Hi Jeff

 

Wow, same history, almost ! I had 2 x 3litre Capri Ghia's and then the 2.8i. I then had a 2.9 XR4 x 4.... Then two Granada Cossies and they were QUICK !

 

Then I got the Zed whooopeeeee !