Only slightly OT | Losing all my British car wrenches Options

[Tdskip]

I've known this has been coming, but I'm seeing an acceleration of the go-to shops on British cars retiring with no one really filling the gap they are leaving. I predict by the end of the year we won't have any British car shops (expect, maybe, for one Jaguar shop) left in Orange County. Shop owners just getting older and land their buildings are on is getting too tempting not to sell.

French car specialists are all gone, Italian specialists also gone expect for one excellent Alfa shop (fortunately a friend and part of why I have Alfas). Same basic dynamic, and doubt this is unique to Orange County CA.

Interestingly, and encouragingly, the Porsche and BMW shops appear to be thriving. Ditto for Toyota FJ40 focused shops.

I hate to say it but this will impact what I buy/collect and fear it may (on a much larger) scale reduce the variety of classics that are preserved and used.

What are you all seeing?

[Unobtanium-inc]

Prices for the cars is a big driver, some British cars still bring decent money but a lot don't. I remember when MGA's or TD/TC's brought the same money as 356's, but they have been left far behind. And there is no real modern equivalent to keep the rest afloat. My local Porsche shop, that services all my German stuff, Porsche and Benz, works on my 356, but there are Porsches made in the 2000's getting worked on too. So they can spread the work, profitable stuff like routine service on newer cars means they can work on old stuff, which isn't as profitable.
My old friend Gerry McCarthy was a 4cam Guru, but he told me quietly once that doing oil changes on Jetta's is what made it so he could work on a Spyder. This was his shop.

So if we had modern Trumph's and MG's around it would probably really help to keep British shops in the black.

[Pursang]

I am a former British car (and motorcycle) owner. I have a warm spot in my heart for those leaky beasts and if my bank account and my garage were larger there would be a TR-3 there...or maybe a Jag. I had my my Whitworth sockets for many years.

I mustered out of the Army in 1969 and saw my first 914 at the International Car Show in San Francisco that year. I really liked it. Fast forward to 1987 and I had enough money to buy a hobby car. It was a toss up. Should I get that TR that I always wanted or a 914? I decided (based on experience with bloody knuckles and oily floors) to go with a car that was >10 years newer and with demonstrably better reliability. Now, 34 years later I still have my Porsche.

I was driving it on the east side of town to visit a friend when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the BMC emblem on the side of a building. I stopped out of a emotional combination of nostalgia and curiosity. What a wonderful place with a staff to match. It was a delight to meet them and get a tour of the digs at British Motor Care.

So we have at least two places here. British cars, Whitworth tools and oil sales are alive in the Northwest.

British Motor Care in Portland and, on the west side, British Auto Works in North Plains.

[campbellcj]

I don't follow the British car shops/mechanics but I figure it's mainly a factor of how many of those cars are still on the road (or racing), and around here there are not many. Seeing an old Jag or Triumph or whatnot on the road really grabs my attention whereas there are earlier Porsches and MBs everywhere these days.

[Superhawk996]

It's all the fault of Witworth.

Stupid, unique thread forms, and silly wrenches. Disappearance is simply survial of the fittest . . . a logical conclusion to obsolete equipment that lends itself to stripped threads, rounded fasterners, and excessive costs to keep the machines that use them running.

P.S. stated as a Norton Commado owner that also owns Whitworth tools and a few Whitworth dies! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

[Tdskip]

Not having new cars on sale to keep brands/makers in mind does seem to have a lot to do with it.

I'm finding this all kind of sad, especially when it never fails that people come over to tell me stories about their family etc when I'm filling up the TR4a or MGB.

[VaccaRabite]

What Pursang said holds a lot of water.

The Porsche shop in town that has survived opened up its bays to let any modern cars in for regular service. The aircooled specific shops in the are have mostly all closed up.

I would imagine for british cars the issue is even worse, with no current models to keep work cycling in as the classics wear out, or the owners die off.

Zach

[EvilOlderBrother]

I am a former British car (and motorcycle) owner. I have a warm spot in my heart for those leaky beasts and if my bank account and my garage were larger there would be a TR-3 there...or maybe a Jag. I had my my Whitworth sockets for many years.

I mustered out of the Army in 1969 and saw my first 914 at the International Car Show in San Francisco that year. I really liked it. Fast forward to 1987 and I had enough money to buy a hobby car. It was a toss up. Should I get that TR that I always wanted or a 914? I decided (based on experience with bloody knuckles and oily floors) to go with a car that was >10 years newer and with demonstrably better reliability. Now, 34 years later I still have my Porsche.

I was driving it on the east side of town to visit a friend when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw the BMC emblem on the side of a building. I stopped out of a emotional combination of nostalgia and curiosity. What a wonderful place with a staff to match. It was a delight to meet them and get a tour of the digs at British Motor Care.

So we have at least two places here. British cars, Whitworth tools and oil sales are alive in the Northwest.

British Motor Care in Portland and, on the west side, British Auto Works in North Plains.

There is one more in the PNW, Johnny's Auto parts in Ballard. John and Brad have a treasure trove of parts in the back for all things British. Provided all the parts and help when I rebuilt my daughter's '69 MGB. Great folks.

[windforfun]

Ever notice how the new Rolls Royces are full of BMW parts?

[Mueller]

The SF Bay Area is losing an Alfa/Fiat shop (Mountain View).

There has been an add on FB marketplace for a shop that is closing and trying to get rid of a bunch of stuff.

[73-914]

RIP "Lucas electrics"

[windforfun]

RIP "Lucas electrics"

And Smiths.

[73-914]

Ever notice how the new Rolls Royces are full of BMW parts?

Because they are BMW's just like "Minis"

[windforfun]

Ever notice how the new Rolls Royces are full of BMW parts?

Because they are BMW's just like "Minis"

Copy that. I had a neighbor five years ago or so who had a Mini. He went through about a half a dozen transmissions. The old Acuras had transmission issues too IIRC.

[Tdskip]

What Pursang said holds a lot of water.

The Porsche shop in town that has survived opened up its bays to let any modern cars in for regular service. The aircooled specific shops in the are have mostly all closed up.

I would imagine for british cars the issue is even worse, with no current models to keep work cycling in as the classics wear out, or the owners die off.

Zach

I think that is the dynamic at play in a nut shell.