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A Proper Garage: Bert Niven's Glasgow workshop

Once upon a time there was a good place up in Scotland. Bert Niven's Garage, address 72 Nithsdale Road Glasgow. Officially H.C. Niven & Co. est. 1929 - Motor Engineers. Carrick Watson who shot this photo writes: "This was the place to get your Vintage Bentley or Vauxhall 30-98 sorted out. It was run by Bert Niven (second from right in B&W photo), a real enthusiast who knew more than most about making proper cars go just that bit faster. Up till recently it was still run as a Garage by his Son, the inside was just as I remember it in the 1950's, full of interesting items and also photographs on the walls alongside bits and pieces for cars that were long gone. Alloy Conrods for a 30-98 ? - certainly !! Real pits to get under the cars with sleeper covers, (back to my own apprenticeship days...) Gasket sets for cars that were just memories, It is my understanding that his Son when closing the business down offered the complete contents to Glasgow City Council for their New Motor Museum, but this was not taken up, such a pity.
  And to make you a little curious, tomorrow we'll present you one of the finest sports cars ever to enter these premises."
In the meantime, we are interested if you keep recollections or photos of the location or the remarkable Bert Niven.

Finally a little sidestep, to show you what kind of place Glasgow was in 1929, check this!

Publiziert:
Dienstag Januar 4th, 2011
Tony Hellgren
28 Dezember 2018, 19:40
This is a place that my brother and I visited constantly between the late 50's & early 60's . Questions a plenty. We naturally enthused about the 4.5ltr Bentley played up in the garage. I believe a speed six was parked the other side of the workshop at one point. At that age we dreamt of restoring prewar cars. Our interest hasn't waned. Still as strong as ever. Often passed his house and he exchanged an enthusiastic smile. We were real fans. Disappointed the transport museum haven't made replica of his workshop complete with spare rare components adorning the exhibit. Hopefully they've gone towards restoring currently running vehicles. An era lost in time, but not lost in living memory.
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Unbekannt
05 Januar 2011, 15:09
I was saddened,after reading the verbal tease about the interior of the shop,not to be able to see the inside!

editor: Bob, your grieve will be even worse after you see tomorrow's car that once was inside...
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Unbekannt
05 Januar 2011, 10:24
I had a ride on the Bennie Railplane when the RAF got the engine running and ran it the length of the track and back.It was then dismantled.
I think I was about 12 years old, living in Mlngavie.
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Bas de Voogd
05 Januar 2011, 08:48
It reminds me of Clare's Motorworks in Guildford where they never said no if you needed a prewar part often NOS as late as in the nineteen eighties.
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Unbekannt
05 Januar 2011, 08:06
I managed to see this before it was scrapped in 1956
Have a look at http://www.hiddenglasgow.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1399&start=30

This will tell you the History
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Unbekannt
05 Januar 2011, 04:33
Ah - the wonderful Bennie Monorail! The Scottish Screen Archive has a 20-minute film about it. You can see a short clip here:

http://ssa.nls.uk/film.cfm?fid=1341
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