Days left to save classic parts at breakers
After 104 years, a legendary breakers yard is to close on 8 June, leaving only days to retrieve parts from classics in stock.
Once closed, work will begin on clearing the hundreds of cars on site, and no further spares will be available.
Derby-based Albert Looms has cars including Rovers P6, 600 and 800, MGB and MGF, Jaguar XJ6, Austin Maestro Montego and Volvo 340, which are in various states of being stripped and customers will have to remove any parts themself.
The tyre and battery side of the business, selling new and used vehicles, will remain open while stocks last, until 7 August at the latest.
Albert Looms opened in 1920, originally processing scrap from customers including the railways and Rolls-Royce, but a need to diversify saw a Mini bought for £3 in 1972, and Looms never looked back.
In the 1980s and ’90s up to 8000 cars were processed annually and 800 were normally in the yard to get parts from cars were also sold and Looms became a much-loved institution.
Operations manager Ray Kirk has been involved with the business since 1969 – he was five-years-old at the time and his father, also called Ray, moved his family to live on site.
Ray told CCW: ‘Since we announced the closure, we’ve been overwhelmed by the response, with many people getting in touch to wish us well and reminisce, ‘There’s so much affection for Looms. We would like to thank every one of our customers, and the wonderful people who have worked here.’
Ray explained the reasons for the closure. He had been receiving treatment for cancer. He says: ‘Thankfully I’m now cancer free but it’s made me think differently. The directors of the family-owned firm are now in their 70s, costs have risen and not so many people were now working on their cars’.
A full list of cars in stock for spares is on Looms’ website, albertlooms.com. You can contact them via email at info@albertlooms.com or call 01332 673663.