Charles Ware's - Bristol

[kirstymoulsley]

Hi there,

A long shot - but just thought I would try! My 1968 MM was taken down to Bristol in 2021 - on the basis that Charles Ware were going to take a look at it and advise on the cost of doing it up. Obviously within that time they had some troubles and have now gone into Liquidation.

We recevied an email on 28th December 2023 asking us to decide by 29th September what we would like to do with the car and if they hadn't heard from us by 22nd December then the car would be disposed of.

We did reply in December - quering the dates, but have not heard anything further. I've tried calling a few numbers which I have found for them online, but all are dead

I'd just like to speak to someone to understnd where my car is, hance writing this post - I wonder if anyone can give me some thoughts on what might have happened to it or some contact details...(my gut feeling is that is has been scrapped, but it is still showing as SORN on the DVLA website - and surely they would have needed my V5 to scrap it?)

Any one with any information they can pass on would be much appreciated. The only other thing I can think of is to take a vist to Bristol and see what is there or not!

with thanks
Kirsty

[Mr Spigot]

I would contact the liquidators. There was an earlier post about this:
viewtopic.php?t=74361

[kirstymoulsley]

Thank you Mr Spigot - I did see that post when researching! I will emai them now - thank you for the advice!

[Blaketon]

Good luck with this. If you have the log book, I can't see how they can just dispose of the car . It isn't an asset of the liquidated company, so it would be theft. Seems rather high handed and slipshod to me but then lots of firms seem to act in similar fashion these days. A letter, sent by recorded delivery, should be the way to advise of such matters.

In some ways, you've had a lucky escape. I am presently rectifying some shoddy mechanical work, carried out by Wares, to whom I'd not entrust the sharpening of a pencil. When you get the car back, I'd suggest you try ESM's workshop.

[kirstymoulsley]

Thanks Blaketon - yes I felt that they would need the log book, but it's anyone's guess. I'll look ESM up - if I am able to get to the bottom of where the car is!

[Blaketon]

It might be worth contacting DVLA, so that if anyone tries to pass it on or scrap it, they know it's fraudulent (The log book would be needed for that anyway). If you can't make contact with the representatives of Wares, you could report it as stolen.

Is the car insured? If it is, then you should tell the insurance company what has happened. They won't want to pay out for a stolen car if the car can be found. If it has gone missing, then you could claim for it being stolen.

[kirstymoulsley]

thanks for that! I've sent a note to the DVLA and also contacted the liquidators so hopefully i might get some more answers later in the week.

Unfortunatley the car is not insured so can't go down that path.

[StoneyMinor]

Hello Kirsty I’m in the exact same situation although I never received any kind of contact asking me what I wanted done with the car, I’ve been the one trying to contact them to find out what’s happening with it and only now when doing a search online for more information I’ve found you are in my position too. Have you had any luck with this at all? I hope you have

[unclealec]

Sorry, nothing to add and no help, but I feel for you in this situation and hope for a successful outcome.

[StoneyMinor]

Thank you very much. I’m hoping to make contact with Kirsty here to see how she has got on with her car although I’m inexperienced on this forum and don’t really know how to properly send a message, I’m hoping she will reply here.

[kirstymoulsley]

Hi Stony

Sadly I’ve hit all the brick walls, the liquidator said it wasn’t their part of the business and gave me the email address id sent to already, the DVLA couldn’t help either.

So to be honest I’m at a loss. My concern is that someone could steal the number plates and then I have to prove they are not in my car, or that I get a bill for keeping the car on their land - which I don’t want to pay.

It’s all very upsetting!

[StoneyMinor]

Private message me please I don’t know how to do it.

[simmitc]

Look to the right of a post. Click the speech bubble with three dots in it to the right of "Contact". Click the call-out text box symbol. A PM page opens. Type the message and click the submit button.

[StoneyMinor]

Thanks for all your help.

Kirsty if you could reply to me in private mails I would like to discuss this further with you please.

Hopefully we can do something about this.

[firedrake1942]

I dont know if these are of any use to you.

Ken and Shannon Decoy were the individuals who put the restoration and then parts operations into administration. Restoration did start up briefly under Simply Saab 'ownership' and the latter kept the sales arm going, at least for a while.

Whether you would get a reply is a different matter.

I managed to recover my car.

kendevoy@5d.je

Shannon.Devoy@morrisminor.org.uk

[StoneyMinor]

Hello Firedrake,

How long ago did you manage to recover your car?

Were you ever in direct contact with Ken or Shannon at these email addresses?

I’ve heard of a few horror stories recently regarding people having to go through court battles to get things back from them.

Thanks for your help

[firedrake1942]

It was housed in the Bath garage / showroom awaiting work when the company went into liquidation and I went down to get it but was reassured by Ken Devoy and the work was eventually carried out in the old Ware premises by a 'renewed' restorations company.

There were still quite a few cars in the workshop and in the yard at the back, including one which had apparently been there many years.

I collected the car on the 11th of May 2022 from the Simply Saab premises and paid on their systems for the work. Both e-mails worked at one point.

Shannon's e-mail was still live in early February 2023 when we spoke about a piece of equipment I loaned Wares and was seeking to recover. I have not had any contact with Ken Devoy since 2022.

[kirstymoulsley]

thank you for these messages I've sent you a PM Stoney and thank you for those email addresses I will give them a try.