Bromsgrove family-run business celebrates 50th anniversary
David Harries first started working alongside his dad, Alan, at their engineering company in Moseley before moving closer to home in the mid-1970s to Station Street in Bromsgrove.
It was then that Mr Harries, who is turning 70 this year, decided to branch out into rodding and customising cars - turning a much-loved hobby into a career.
Speaking to the Advertiser 50 years ago, Mr Harries said: "I was doing a lot of customising on my own and other people's cars in my spare time.
"But a hobby has turned into a living now that we have incorporated rodding and customising into the business."
Father and son Will and David Harries (Image: Will Harries)
Mountcliff Repetitions eventually became David Harries Automotives before son Will took over the business in 2022 and it relocated to Redditch.
David is semi-retired but still enjoys working in the shop on his classics.
His son Will Harries said: "Dad is quite well known around Bromsgrove. He wanted to be a teacher, but they said no, so he left school with nothing.
"He started working on his own cars and then eventually, he would start working on cars for his friends. It just grew from there - he has such a passion for cars. He's lived a life, and his attitude has always been that if he can do it then anyone can.
"He might be semi-retired, but he still potters about in the shop. He has also kept his classic customer base - he has about 10 of them."
The business, now known as Hanger 18 Productions, moved to Redditch (B97 5ST), close to the Tardebigge pub off Alcester Road, where it has continued to build a loyal customer base over the years.
Will said he enjoys still having his dad around in the workshop and they bring different generations of car knowledge to the business.
The garage offers a range of services from servicing to diagnostics.
David Harries (Image: Will Harries)
Will said: "Cars have really changed over the years, so whilst I know more about the more modern cars, dad really knows his classics. We really complement one another.
"I started in the industry when I was 18. I always wanted to do it, but worked in the main dealers. I left and came back to work with dad. We don't advertise, so when I first took over in 2022, it was a bit quiet, but now we're drowning in work.
"We've really had to build up our customers based on trust and it's great to see how the business has been passed down the generations.
"We offer servicing and diagnostics, and we're also waiting on an MOT bay.
"It hasn't always been easy. When Rover closed, it was a massive hit to the business, but my dad has kept it going for 50 years. It's incredible - he won't take an ounce of credit but he deserves it."
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