Bronze Age Gold from Wales

Known originally as a 'travelling stores', this vehicle is now more commonly referred to as a 'mobile shop'. It was purpose-built for Mr Winston Howard of Wenvoe, Cardiff, in 1929 for his business of selling groceries and dairy products to villages and remote houses around the Vale of Glamorgan. It was probably the first mobile shop in Wales and was in constant use, six days a week, year in year out, from 1929 until 1969, when Mr Howard retired. During that time the vehicle covered more than 500,000 miles and suffered breakdowns only on rare occasions. (Source: Welsh Industrial & Maritime Museum Guidebook, 1984).

The body, with its compartment and counter, was built by William Lewis of Tudor Road, Cardiff, to Mr Howard’s specifications, and is mounted on a Chevrolet engine and chassis. Paintwork red with black wheel rims and white roof and gold printed lettering. First registered 31 December 1929 (log book 2011.44 says 11 September 1929). Registration number - TX 8259. Chassis/frame number - SABLVL0392281034. Engine number - RT958824. Cylinder capacity - 3240 CC.