Ken’s Kars
history.
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‘Kens Kars’ is a well-established company based in and around the Bristol area. Founded in 1983 by Ken Harmer the company was a natural progression from Ken’s passion for vintage cars, restoring and driving them as a hobby. In the 1950’s and 60’s Ken along with his father, Albert, ran Chipping Sodbury’s only 24hr taxi company, Harmers Taxi’s, using 1930’s Austin’s similar to those we use now. After giving up the taxi business and earning his living as a welder for about 20 years, Ken returned to the chauffeuring business, this time setting up Ken’s Kars. Originally the business started with just two 1930’s Austin 18’s, both royal blue and black, but as time passed, and Ken restored more cars, the fleet grew, finally ending up with 7 Austin 18’s. Kens son, Roy, was also involved in the wedding cars. In 1988 it was Roy that introduced the first American car into the fleet, this was the 1928 Studebaker, and later the 1932 Oldsmobile joined this. Before disaster struck, Kens
Kars was running 9 vintage cars. On August 9th 2005 there was a
fire at Ken’s premises and 4 of the cars, were totally destroyed in the
blaze. Today Ken’s wife, Joyce, and myself Wayne Smith, I’m Kens eldest
grandson, run the company. I have helped my Grandad from an early age
learning the skills for restoring and maintaining these wonderful cars. We
now run five cars, they are the 3 Austin’s, 2 Studebaker’s and the
Oldsmobile, but the plan is to build the fleet back into the impressive group
of cars it once was. |
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