Right then folks, I need some help tracking down an old company that was based in South Kensington in the early 1980s. I've got an old car sales invoice from 1983 showing a company name of Elvaston (imaginatively enough), being based at 29-31 Elvaston Mews, SW7. The name/signature of the trader on the invoice appears to be David C (but the rest of the signature is too obscure to be certain of the name). Answers on a postcard, etc etc! -Ed
No idea but Coys were round the corner so if you can track any old staff there they might have a clue If it was a limited company maybe companies house can get you to the directors
There's a repair shop on Elvaston Mews called Len Shires Motors. Give them a ring, they might know who was around 30 years ago.
In 1988 there was a company called Dan Margulies [ vintage cars] LTD at 12 Queens gate Place Mews SW7 5BQ 01-5847472 established 1957 which is just 2 streets away, might there be a connection?
And Gregor Fiskin is nearby at 14 Queen's Gate Place Mews! From what I remember many of these mews properties have been home to classic car traders over the years - some long term, others lasting just a few months. John
P J Fischer was located at the aforementioned address, the trading name was Steel Transpositions Limited, they were located not only at 29-31 Elvaston Mews, SW7 but also had a premises at 14 Osten Mews, SW7. Tell me more about the car... Paul
Thanks for the thoughts guys. I spoke to Len Shires people ages ago - they couldn't help at all. Re: other traders, indeed South Kensington is and has been home to many. Nobody nearby has been able to help so far. Paul - thanks for your input and tweet. I'm investigating this in relation to a red 400 GT (discussed elsewhere on here - thought to be 23947 but currently identified, incorrectly, as 24801). -Ed
Hi Ed, I'm sure you've looked already but old period Motor Sport or Classic & Thoroughbred might have ads form this dealer. Simon
Looking more closely at this... Late 1970s/early 1980s home to Steel Transpositions Ltd (P J Fischer) In 1982 the aforementioned imaginatively named Elvaston took up residence. By 1985 this premises was occupied by a dealer trading as Trojan. Below are some adverts from MotorSport magazine. Paul Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
It appears as though 'your' 400 was for sale with Elvaston in the April 1983 issue of MotorSport, Rosso Chiaro with black interior, 13,000 miles, priced at £14,950. Paul Image Unavailable, Please Login
Bingo - well spotted, Paul. I should've spent more time combing Motorsport's online archive! So I think we can assume that Peter Fischer was behind this company. Records show he was a Swiss national... does anyone know if he's still around? -Ed
UPDATE: I've heard from Peter Fischer, and he wasn't the only name behind this company. Peter shared the showroom in Elvaston Mews (think of it as a bit of a collective). His side was Bentleys, while in the other half, David Clark did Ferraris and Patrick Carr and Nigel Couch did other marques. David Clark does of course tally perfectly with the name on the invoice from 1983, but I never put two and two together as had him down as working from Finchley Road (but that was in the mid-1970s). I've made contact with David, so we'll see if he remembers the car in question. -Ed
Update - no records kept from this period in any case, and the person who called me (not David) said he didn't think DC had ever worked at this address. That's not what I was told by the proprietor of the address at the time, but don't think we'll ever get to the bottom of this one. -Ed
