Len Street Chelsea

[JimE]

Julian. Would love to see the old photos. Jim

[Mazzini]

I second that!

[Charliebr25]

A few photos of my fathers place where he worked as a lotus agent in the 60’s having worked with Len and Olly at Len Street previously.

[Charliebr25]

Couple more pics

[jabingb]

Great stuff, thanks from across the pond!

[vstibbard]

Len Street supplied me with everything I needed to run and subsequently restore my first Elan S4SE DHC, they were nice guys who were very generous with technical advice and a helping hand. Seemed to recollect a rather nice little pub down round the nearest corner!

That car last I heard was residing in Melbourne Rohan, its a red S4SE with Stromberg head with D type cams, Ed Winter (anyone remember him, he lived in the town not far from the original Kelvedon Motors site) rebuilt and flowed it for me, I rebuilt bottom end, with 10:3 comp and had it run in on Ken Snailham from QED's Dyno. I'd met Ken at Le Man's where he'd taken his hillclimb Elan to the Mulsanne Cafe, pre race day it was a popular location for interesting cars and hot headed owners to gather, put some money on the table to challenge each other to a 1/4 Mile drag. As aLotus Elan owner I took great pleasure in seeing Ken blow most into the weeds, my side bets paid for the head work and dyno time!!!

Good times

Vaughan

[Elan45]

That yellow Elan made me reminisce about the poster of Jimmi Hendrix leaning against a yellow Elan. But JH would have come onto the scene after Tara's birthday.

Roger

[Charliebr25]

What an amazing era it must have been . Can you imagine it nowadays ,some rich young socialite knocking around with a load of car mechanics . According to my mother Tara would occasionally lend Dad his white Ferrari to drive home to north London whilst Tara would drive home to Chelsea in an old van from the yard. !! The book about Tara by Paul Howard is definitely worth a read for anyone interested in London in the 60’s.

[andyfrancis]

I am pretty sure the photos above are taken in Porchester Square Mews which is where Len Street service department was before the move to Drayton Gardens, Chelsea. I worked for Len Street's auditor and frequently visited the mews. I have fond memories of your father, Ron, but I have no specific memories of him at Drayton Gardens so did he leave Len Street's to set up his own business in one of the premises vacated by Len Street's. That would have been a good business decision as any Len Street customers who showed up unaware of the move to Chelsea would have been potential customers for your dad, and may have even known him from the Street days.

[lenstreet65]

I also worked with Ron at Len Streets and looking at the photo's ne with the young guy leaning against the car is me.(see photo) Ron was a great friend of mine and I had a lot of fun working with him for about 6 years
(1965 to 1971) I had so much fun back then and wish I could do it all over again.

Attached pics of Len Street Ltd Lotus Elite with was the mechanic and one of me cleaning parts

[Mazzini]

Posted on behalf of lenstreet65

[pharriso]

Really enjoying these posts

[Rita]

Hi Jeff,
.
My name is Rita and I used to work for Len Street Motors in the early 70's, I remember the KIWI guys working there and I remember going to a party I'm not sure where but the guy who worked there was also a Pilot, I'm not sure if this may have been Miles.
I remember the older chap with a flat cap working on the Petrol Pumps.

Hope to hear from you,

Rita Connell (Wales}

[alan.barker]

I remember driving upto Len Street from Waterlooville on the A3. Trying to park my +2 Elan while i bought the goodies. Then stopping at the "George" Burrough high street for a pint. Easy parking in the forecourt. Then return home with a big smile. Good days indeed.
Alan

[DacTech]

HI Jeff Bridger,
I think you employed me just before you went back to NZ.
I worked in the spares department with Brian ? and a young pom who came to work in winter in a T Shirt, his brother in law also worked there as a mechanic.
The Sales guy took me for a test drive in an Esprit one day, I think his name was Derek.
I bought an Elan S3 DHC from a guy in Didcot and got a tour of the 'Saudi' Williams F1 workshop while I was there.
I remember the mechanic Nigel, he could be a bit surly, he had an Elan (S4), I think, and maybe with a 5speed gearbox. I swapped my Cam Cover with him for an early version Cam cover.
Driving home one afternoon I got to the next intersection and my car caught alight. I raced back to get an extinguisher from the fore caught but by the time I got back a truck had stopped and the driver had used his extinguisher. The manager from the service centre wouldn't let me leave my car in their under parking area so I took it to another Lotus workshop and managed to get it running again buying parts from them (I can't remember their name but they restored Jags as well.
I shipped my Elan back to Australia and I drive it most Wednesdays on Classic Registration. Of course it has had a couple of rebuilds since 1979. It is still an exhilarating car and impresses every one I take for a ride.
I had a a few (many) good nights out with the other Kiwi guys.
I remember Glen & Crud, great times!