About Us
Established 1934
Carpenters is a family-run business whose aim is to make buying and maintaining a used Volvo both an easy and enjoyable experience.
Brief History
The name Carpenter has been associated with motor transport since before the First World War. The present owner’s great Grandfather, Edward Carpenter, worked for Darracq, then as a driver for Waring and Gillow, the furniture company, when driving was a unique occupation.
Unfortunately, at the outbreak of World War 1 he was commandeered together with his lorry and sent to France, then to Mesopotamia (now Iraq), sadly not to return. His two sons, Edward and Edgar Carpenter were selling motor vehicles as early as 1921 and founded the motor business in Brixton in 1934 and, apart from the war years, Carpenters Autos has been in existence ever since.
Royston Carpenter started as a motor mechanic in the mid 1950’s and managed the company for over five decades. He was also a car enthusiast, having raced Jaguar & AC’s cars between 1959-1964, competing at top level UK motor sport against the likes of Jim Clark in his Lotus Cortina and again with the Classic Saloon Car Club from 1978-1982. Renovating many classic vehicles through his life, at well over 70 years of age, he still dusts off Lucy the Lotus Cortina occasionally and competes with the Classic Touring Car Racing Club, always supported by his wife Jane Carpenter who was very much active in the business.