Back in the late '50s through early '70s, British car dealerships could be
found in most US cities of any size, especially in California. Even before
I got my first British car in 1965, I loved visiting the showrooms to
admire the MGs, Triumphs and other British cars. Of course, I would always
pilfer as many sales brochures as I could hoping to not upset the
salespeople too much.
I remember the BMC/Jaguar dealer in Napa on Soscol Avenue, which was to
become Napa Valley Datsun when they dropped the British car line around
1967. There was a BMC dealer that tried again in Napa shortly after but
didn't last long. I remember taking my MGA there for repairs in 1968, but
I don't remember the name of the place. I do remember that it was very
expensive to pay someone to repair my car, and after that, did most of my
repairs myself. The name of it might have been Washborn Imports.
In Santa Rosa, there was Ralph Vesper Motors on Santa Rosa Avenue which
sold Triumphs and British Fords. I remember that dealership, because, as I
bought parts for my old Anglia and Zodiac (c. 1966, '67), I was distracted
by the siren's call of the sleek TR4s and Spitfires on display in the
showroom. I still have a few pieces of the Triumph literature I took on
visits to Vesper. Car dealers usually left their identification by irubber
stamping their names and addresses onto the front or back of the sales
literature. Vesper's name and address sill adorn my old Triumph brochures.
The most interesting dealership to visit was always British Motors on Van
Ness Avenue in San Francisco. They had Jaguar, Rolls Royce and the whole
BMC line, and the cars they had on display were always of a high
calibre. This was such a classy place that I always felt underdressed
because I wasn't wearing a suit and tie. As an extreme British car nut, I
was thrilled just to purchase parts there. I do have several license plate
frames from there, which I think are a cool period accessory.
Other dealerships that come to mind are Union Jack (BMC) in Hayward and
British Motors in San Jose.
Anyone else have any recollections of the British car dealer world in the
area?
Don Scott
Calistoga
1962 MGA Mk II
1991 Miata BRG
1973 MGB GT
1962 TR4 (seeking)
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