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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.
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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 six 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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