A New Body Works in South Wales
Page 45
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ACOMMERCIAL bodybuild n g enterpriSe has been snsrted at N-eath Abbey, Glamorgan, by the Longford Manufacturing and Coachbuilding Co., Ltd. Although this is an independent company, it should work well with two other concerns in which the directors, Col. R. G. Llewellyn, C.B.E., M.C., Capt. J. J: Newbury, M.B.E , and Capt.
M. R. G. Llewellyn, are interested. These are isleath and Cardiff Luxury Coaches, Ltd., and C. K. Andrews, Ltd., Cardiff. the latter being a Morris-Commercial distributor.
At a recent inaugural luncheon, attended by many well-known personalities in transport, the new company's first prototype was presented.
This is a 29-seater coach for the Neath and Cardiff concern, the first of an order for X It is coachbuilt and is well proportioned, but the most remarkable feature is the short time taken to produce it. Col. Llewellyn told a representative of "The Commercial Motor" that the site had been taken over from the War Office only six weeks previously, and the paint for the prototype arrived five days before the inauguration.
In war-time, the works was an Army petrol-can filling statiOn, erected for the North African campaign. Well laid out and covering a surface area of 23,000 sq. ft., the depot consisted of large huts.
These have proved to. be most adaptable to the purposes of a coach works. Two of them £m m the erecting shop,and a third the paint shop.
The Longford concern has been fortunate inacquiring a good stock of timber and in obtaining new machine tools in record time Repainted, rewired, and equipped with new lighting, the. factory presents .a most businesslike appearance. It should give employment to about 300 hands. When in Rill operation.
At the time of our visit several coach bodies were in an. advanced stage and were being mounted on A.E.C. chassis. Eight-van bodies were also being built on Bedfords. Many body repair jobs were also in progress.