50th ANNIVERSARY (1972 - 2022)

Blackheath & Rowley Garage / Towcraft Ltd       from 1972.

1972 (MCMLXXII)
Derrick Guest Establishes Blackheath & Rowley Garage.
Aerial view pre 1997 re-development. 
14th JULY 1997 
 
Blackheath & Rowley Garage/Towcraft 
25th Anniversary.

27th MARCH 1997  

Re-development of existing site/premises begins. 
Ground works in the 'compound' and demolition of the bodyshop make way for new workshops. 
The existing workshop buildings are then demolished for a new stores/display area.

1997  

Opening of new workshops which have been designed and tailor made for towbar installations, MOT testing and vehicle service/repair along with new stores and display areas.

January 2010

Founder Derrick Guest Retires.


2010

John Priest becomes General Manager.

Trevor Guest becomes Managing Director.
May 2018 

Received the accolade of becoming the 1st Witter/Westfalia Approved Service Centre in the Midlands area for towbar installations. 

April 2021 

New office development opened

14th JULY 2022 

50th Anniversary

1972


Emmerson Fittipaldi is crowned Formula One World Champion driving the stunning, pioneering,  John Player Special Lotus 72.
Henri Pescarolo and Co driver, former F1 champion Graham Hill, win the 24hrs of          Le Mans driving a Matra MS670.
Arturo Merzario and Sandro Munari win the Targa Florio in a beautiful Ferrari 312/PB.
Mike 'The Bike' Hailwood wins the European Formula 2 Championship driving a Surtees Ford. Hailwood had previously won 9 Motor Cycle World Championships and 14 Isle of Man TT Races.
Bill McGovern wins the British Saloon Car Championship driving a Sunbeam Imp.
Jochen Mass wins the European Touring Car Championship driving a Ford Capri RS2600
The FIA International Championship for Manufacturers, the forebearer of the World Rally Championship, was won by Lancia with its Fulvia 1.6 Coupé HF.
Richard Petty is the NASCAR Cup Champion driving both a Plymouth Road Runner and a Dodge Charger,
Mark Donohue wins the Indy 500, held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, driving a McLaren M16B Offenhauser run by the Penske Team. 
Sales of the VW Beetle exceed those of the Model T Ford.
The Ford Cortina mkIII is the best selling car in the UK.
Triumph launches the Dolomite range of cars. The range topping 'Sprint' with its alloy wheels, vinyl roof and 16 valve engine was a truly desirable motor car. 
Ferrari launches the 365 GT4. A two door body, 2+2 seating, leather, air conditioning and a 4.4 litre V12 engine - wonderful!  
Fiat launches a two seater, mid engined sports car called the X1/9  
'Built to take on the best in Europe'
Ford launches its luxury, executive car, the Granada/Consul. 
Honda launched the popular Civic. 
It immediately won Japans 'Car of the Year' competition. 
The launch of the iconic Renault 5.
One of the 1st super mini's it combined front wheel drive and a hatchback body. It became the best selling car in France.
Lancia launched its Beta which was praised for its performance, handling and roadholding. A stylish Italian car the Beta unfortunately had a reputation for rust and although Lancia later introduced a 6 year corrosion warranty (a 1st in the UK) its reputation was seriously damaged.
The Government adds VAT to the purchase price of caravans.
Richard Nixon becomes the first American President to visit the Peoples Republic of China. 
NASA launched the Pioneer 10 space probe on a mission to the outer planets. The probe was designed for a 21 month mission to fly past Jupiter but lasted more than 30 years sending its final signal to Earth in January 2003 from a distance of 7.6 billion miles. 
Germany beat Russia 3-0 to be crowned UEFA European football champions.
The McDonnell Douglas F15 Eagle makes its 1st flight.
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