Dreadnought Garage by Bradley Hueftle 2 February 2009I trying to find any history on this establishment. Relating to early/mid 60’s auto racing. Thanks!16 replies Re: Dreadnought Garage by Alan Hobden 3 February 2009I think this was at the western end of Victoria Terrace, Hove (the A259 seafront road) next to what is now called the Alibi pub, and a few yards east of the King Alfred complex. Alan Re: Dreadnought Garage by Andy Grant 3 February 2009Hi Bradley, The firm dates back to around the 1920’s. In the early 1960’s there were a number of branches of this establishment. There was the Dreadnought Garage & Motor Engineering Works (Brighton) Ltd., motor car agents & engineers, Austin Sales & Service at Ship Street and showrooms at 48/50, Middle Street. They also had a driving school & self drive hire at 69/70 Middle Street. There was also Dreadnought Garage & Motor Engineering Works (Hove) Ltd., motor car agents & engineers, Austin Commercial Sales & Service at Kingsway, Hove. By the late 1960’s they were succeeded by Stringer’s. Regards Andy Re: Dreadnought Garage by Andy Grant 3 February 2009As a postscript to my earlier response, I believe the company were involved in ‘souped-up’ Mini Coopers, but this would be the Brighton branch. Hove was primarily a commercial vehicle outlet. Regards Andy Re: Dreadnought Garage by Tim Sargeant 3 February 2009I best remember Dreadnoughts at Kingsway Hove from the very early 1950s when they had two of the Austin J40 pedal cars one at each end of the showroom there for advertising the then current Austin A40, with the lights wired to a transformer so they were always on. We were allowed to stop and ogle these sometimes on our way to our grandmother’s in Worthing. Don’t know anything about their racing activities though. TCS. Re: Dreadnought Garage by Jerry 3 February 2009I wonder if they sponsored Brian Cox, who used to race minis. The Cox Box. He worked in and eventually ran the family newsagents on the corner of Bedford Street and what I think was St Georges Place?, near St John The Baptist. Re: Dreadnought Garage by Valerie Woodward 9 March 2010I remember the Dreadnought Garage in Ship Street/Middle Street. My father worked there from the early 40s/80s. He was a mechanic/petrol pump attendant/Stores. When it moved to Hove near the Brighton Albion he was permanently in the stores. Even in retirement it was still a part of his life, and at 86yrs old he could still tell us what part we needed for our cars. He started his working life in Welfords, as a bike mechanic etc. later a car salesman, never took a driving test in his life, he drove a Rolls Royce previously owned by Wilfred Pickles, and his own Morris 1,000 saloon until his driving days were over. He would be pleased to know that I have now got a Morris Traveller. His name was Fuzzy Fuszard,(or Fred ) Does anyone remember him? Re: Dreadnought Garage by Ben Basten 15 February 2016Hi everyone, I am also trying to source information on the Dreadnought garages. My fathers Austin Healey was sold new from there in 1955. The only record we have of the sale has been sourced from The Keep archives. I wondered if anyone has any photography or further info from the 50s/60s of the garage? The details I have are: Dreadnaught Garage and Motor Engineering Works (Brighton) Limited were motor car agents and engineers, Austin sales and service, 1 Ship Street, Brighton and with showrooms at 48-50 Middle Street.I have a copy of an original Dreadnought Austin Healey advert if anyone is interested. Thanks Ben Re: Dreadnought Garage by Mike Dormer 25 March 2020 9:42 PMValerie,Do you happen have any photos of a Rolls Royce tow truck that the Dreadnought Garage used in the 1940’s? It may have been passed down?Many thanksMike Dormer. Re: Dreadnought Garage by Tim Sargeant 30 March 2020 9:24 AM zoomMike, I had one of those in the 1960s, a 20hp Rolls Royce breakdown truck (UV20) which had previously belonged to Seven Dials Motors at Brighton. In the 1950s Michael Wilcock at the Swandean Garage Worthing had a very smart one which was built on an early RR Silver Ghost chassis. As a breakdown vehicle or tow truck these weren’t worth anything then so most got scrapped when the MoT test came in or were re-bodied as touring cars. Mine had started life as a fabric bodied saloon car in 1929. When War broke out it was given to West Yorkshire for conversion to an ambulance for the War effort.After the War the ambulance body was cut off and made into a truck for towing with a breakdown crane fitted in the back, I sold it to a member of the RR Enthusiasts Club and it has since been re-bodied with touring bodywork twice. I don’t remember the one you mention but it would have been similar to this. Although if you see my earlier posting (above) we did go to Dreadnoughts quite often around that time. Re: Dreadnought Garage by Jillian Foley 7 April 2020 9:58 AMMy late husband used to park his beautiful Citroen DS 21 Pallas in the underground car park at the King Alfred. We lived just around the corner as I still do. The lovely manager at the Dreadnought Garage by the King Alfred used to cash our cheques for us – no cashpoints in those days. He was always so helpful and cheerful in helping us with the Citroen which was always breaking down! A beautiful car but unreliable.A great garage, the Dreadnought – now replaced by a hideous block of flats which blocks out my evening sunlight. Unforgiveable! The blue sky is filled with ghastly concrete.I always remember the Manager’s smiling face as he helped us out. The Citroen has gone but the memories stay with me. Re: Dreadnought Garage by Tim Sargeant 8 April 2020 8:43 AMThe mention by Jillian of the underground car park at the King Alfred reminds me that when we were at the Bristol Garage in about 1952/3 my father bought a 1930 Rolls Royce Phantom II which had been stored in there since before the War. The petrol in the tank was stale ( I remember the smell to this day!) and had to be drained and fresh petrol put in but after all that time it started up and with the trade plates on it was driven back to Kemp Town! (I often wonder what happened to the previous owner of this car, thinking that maybe he didn’t return for it after the War?)I got very badly ribbed at school because of this…’ Sargeant’s old man’s got a Rolls Royce’… etc, as many of the parents didn’t have a car at all. But in those days I suspect it was probably bought for 45 or 50 quid, if that, and after re-commissioning and a complete re-spray in black with ivory side panels was probably sold for a mere three hundred pounds or so. Unfortunately I don’t have a photo of that car and can’t now remember the number.Also, as Andy says, Stringers took over the Dreadnought business along with many other local garages. These firms weren’t really in the Motor Trade for the car business. They were asset strippers as most firms like Dreadnoughts owned premises in very good positions. Stringers, and others like them bought these businesses in order to obtain the highly valuable town centre premises which were then sold off or re-developed. The car agencies were moved out into leased premises on industrial estates and run for a while until the holding companies lost interest or went into liquidation. (Or no-one in UK made cars any more?). Jillian mentions the ‘hideous block of flats’ on the old Dreadnought site now which clearly demonstrates this. It is also good to hear someone say something nice about a garage manager! Thank you Jillian.PS: Citroen tried to persuade us to take an agency for their cars when the DS19 came out, predecessor to the Pallas. TOO complicated for their time. A Formula One car was easier to repair than one of those Citroens! (And I have done both) Re: Dreadnought Garage by john henry 13 June 2020 6:37 PMHi Valerie, I remember your father Fred Fuszard. I used to work with him in the stores at Dreadnought Garage in Ship Street in 1963. I was 15 years old back then. I am 72 now. It seems like yesterday. Re: Dreadnought Garage by Bridget Brooks 27 July 2020 11:33 AMI remember Fuzzy, my boyfriend (husband to be) worked as a salesman for the Dreadnought Garage, Austin, Morris, etc., BMC Dealers, in 1963/65 . I met Fuzzy a few times when visiting. He was a very kind and likeable gentleman. Later in the 1960/70’s we had our own garage and I often picked up spare parts from Wadham Stringers Stores Dept and he was there most of the times, smiling! Re: Dreadnought Garage by Jillian Foley 6 August 2020 12:59 PMHow come I can remember the lovely manager at the Dreadnought Garage by the King Alfred who used to come over to see us at the Dreadnought Garage with our broken down Citroen – always smiling and so helpful! I can see his face so helpful and am now at the awful old age of 78 and I really miss my fantastic Citroen DS. He was such a great Manager at the Dreadnought Garage. Now so sadly without a car I so grateful for his help! Now I rely on my lovely son Paul who takes me in his car! Re: Dreadnought Garage by Greg Page 2 April 2021 3:43 PMMy Dads (PhilPage) Army mate,Harry Draper was the Workshop Foreman at the underground Garage by the King Alfred. Smashing bloke, they served as Royal Engineers in WW2. Re: Dreadnought Garage by Simon Flack 10 June 2022 9:20 AMI worked with Fuzzy in the Stores at Ship Street 1970 he was a great character Add your replyHiddenAdd your title Add your wordsWould you like to add some images (optional)? If so, how many images would you like to add? 1 2 3 4 5 6Your image files will be uploaded when you submit this form. They should be .jpg or .png files. The maximum filesize is 5Mb.First imageAccepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, gif.FileTitleSecond imageAccepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, gif.FileTitleThird imageAccepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, gif.FileTitleFourth imageAccepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, gif.FileTitleFifth imageAccepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, gif.FileTitleSixth imageAccepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, gif.FileTitleAbout youFinally, please tell us a few details about you, so we can contact you about your contribution if we need to. 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