Midland Autocar Ltd, Russell Street, Leamington Spa.

A.E Gibbs, co-founder of Midland Autocar, which originally started business on Birmingham Road, Warwick, in 1910 and also had a warehouse in Russell Street, Leamington Spa in 1911.

They were then agents for BSA Ford, Rover, Siddeley-Deasy and Standard Motor Cars.

In 1928, they had leased premises at 34 The Parade in Leamington Spa.

Unfortunately for them, Soans arrived on the scene from Bromley in Kent with an agreement from the Ford Motor Company that they would eventually become the Ford Main dealership for the area.

An agreement was made with Midland Autocar to take over the lease of 34 The Parade, which opens as C.H.Soans and Son on May 1st. In 1928, and becoming Main Ford Dealership in 1933, and remained there until 1933, as the lease was coming to an end, when they moved to the old Skating Ring in Dormer Place.

Midland Autocar already had another Showroom at 46 the Parade in 1913 and still remained there as a Ford agent.

By 1934, Midland Autocar (Warwick) Ltd had moved from its Birmingham Road premises to Coventry Road, Warwick.

On the 28 Sept 1936 Geoffrey Gibbs, of Golf Lane Leamington and Ruth Jones, of Bridge End, Warwick, have now taken over the business from his father and are now the main shareholders of the Midland Autocar (Warwick) Ltd by 11 April 1939, Geoffrey Gibbs and Ruth Jones are in a co-partnership holding £12,500 shares valued at £1 each share also taking over Midland Autocar (Leamington) Ltd at 14-16 & 24 Russell Street, Leamington Spa. In 1945, they were agents for Rover, Standard, Triumph, Armstrong Siddeley, Jaguar, Morris and Morris Commercial.

On 14 October 1949, they purchased the Emscote Garage on Emscote Road and still have premises on Coventry Road, Warwick, and in Russell Street, Leamington.

After 1956, the Jaguar agency was dropped.

At some point Geoffrey Gibbs and Ruth Jones have sold out this was probably in 1961, by 2015 there were still eight shareholders of the company at 14-16 Russell Street, Barbera Gorna, the executors of Charlotte Nutt who were both directors of the company until Charlotte Nutt’s demise, with Linda Ashbridge, Thomas Kelly, Norman Nutt, Thomas Niven, Richard Wilsdon and Ronald Wood as shareholders.

In 1968 Midland Autocar are agents for Triumph and Rover motor cars.

Midland Autocar, Birmingham Rd, Warwick, Feb 1913 -The Warwick and Warwickshire Advertiser advert

Midland Autocar, Birmingham Rd, Warwick, Sat July 14 1914 Ford advert

Midland Autocar early1900s Window on Warwickshire, Donor ref: LEAMG M4338.1995.7 (6919511)

Midland Autocar, Coventry Road, Warwick, Sat March 10 1934 – Warwick Advertiser

Midland Autocar Showroom, Russell Street, Leamington Spa. 1958 Warwickshire County Record Office Ref PH-N 600-947-3, img 1178

Midland Autocar Showroom, Russell Street, Leamington Spa. 1958 Warwickshire County Record Office Ref PH-N 600-947-3, img 4920