Barry Mays , whom we are building a car for , lives in East Preston , Sussex ...a few miles from Littlehampton.
Chatting to him recently , I recalled a little 'discovery' I made down there 25 years ago....it turns out he lives just up the road from the place..
I won't bore you with too many details but in my capacity of a Classic Motorcycle fixer upper in a previous life , I was sent to collect a pre-war something from a part time dealers house in East Preston....I found the bungalow eventually and the guy told me of a short cut to get back home....well needless to say , I cocked up the shortcut and got lost in some back roads....that was when I found this place....
Now can you imagine how a 21 year old with a passion for all things 1930's-1950's felt when falling over this place !!
When I found the place it had a couple of MK1 Fords , a Zephyr and a Consul from memory , sat on the front - one at the pumps ....it was like someone had just gone home one night , locking up , never to return...
Anyhow , I went back a few months later to take another look and the cars were gone - inside I think - and an old boy was mooching about...he didn't really want to chat but it seems he shut shop after being robbed of fuel too many times by locals who just drove off....I am sure there may have been other factors as well , but quite sad....
I have spoken to several people about the place over the years and tales of hidden treasures inside were rife ....well. someone got inside a few years back and too these pics !!!!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/littlewiggy/sets/72157604207806615/
INCREDIBLE ISN'T IT !!
A year or so ago I heard the place was being cleared for development ....not good !
Anyhow Barry tells me that the front facade is listed and the development has kept the garage , pumps , forecourt etc as was , but obviously restored and built/building apartments behind it in a deco style !! They even light the pumps up at night !!
Fantastic news !!
Looks like I need to go back and take another look ....
