CB Motors

CB Motors is a motor vehicle repair workshop and MOT Test Centre in Coventry. Dick Husband is the proprietor, Daniel is his son and Sue; receptionist and ace fixer, is the cheery person at the front of house. Together they make the wheels go round.

Richard Husband is Welsh, (it's not his fault - Joking!!!) it perhaps explains his enthusiasm for eccentric vehicles - not for Mr Husband the swish and sleek modern motorcar, (despite his talent for electronic and telecommunications wizardry), RJHusband has a passion for a portion of the past now largely consigned to the archives but which lives and breaths in his timeless workshop - Simca.

This panorama features 5 Simcas from the 50's and 60's. For any Simca aficionado tuned in, the cars in this picture are:

• 1959 Simca Aronde Oceane soft top, which started life in France. Imported into Wales in 1975 and travelled around since. Mechanically very good but needs trimming.

• On the far ramp is a black 1955 Simca Aronde Grande Large 2 door pillarless coupe, in pristine condition; believed to be the only right hand drive officially imported into the UK. It has been raced and rallied but has travelled just 33000 miles from new. It successfully completed the 1997 Monte Carlo Classic Rally.

• The two tone blue car under the ramp is a 1955 Simca Aronde 9, 4 door Berline, it too is right hand drive and started life in London. It then was stored in West Wales for 25 years. Dick bought it in 1985 and stored it for another 6 years. In 1991 it was put back on the road and has since travelled all over the UK and made visits to France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Switzerland. In May this year it went to Prague for a weekend.

• A red 1960 Aronde P60 4 door saloon is on the ramp above the camera.

• The Blue car behind the soft top is a later Chrysler Simca 1100 4 door hatch back, regularly used by Daniel until recently. Now awaiting a rebuild.

Ooops! Nearly forgot the MG Midget in the background.

CB Motors offers a premier, personal service for owners of motor vehicles both new and elderly; Dick and his team use their vast knowledge, experience and know-how to repair any car, anywhere. I asked him what he would like me to say about CB Motors, he said, "Just say that we r gr8 and are a galactically friendly spontaneously mobile enigma waiting to reproduce." As I said, he is Welsh.

Part of the "Simca Passion" requires Monsieur Husband to attend Simca rallies, which do not happen frequently at this end of Europe, so he takes one or other of his cars to France, Belgium, Germany and most recently Czechoslovakia to huddle with like minded Europeans, quaff beer and talk about Simca - even though they do not speak each others language they communicate via the international tongue - Simca.

Dick Husband has another passion, LandRovers, old ones. Perhaps we can tell that story another day.

CB Motors Unit 28, Midland Oak Industrial Estate, Lythalls Lane, Coventry CV6 6HQ. UK.
Tel: +44(0)24 76 6868 99

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Europe / UK-England

Lat: 52° 26' 34.73" N
Long: 2° 30' 57.86" W

Elevation: 684 metres

→ maps.google.com [EXT]

Precision is: High. Pinpoints the exact spot.