Vauxhall Motors Ltd

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

The other important wartime facility was the Hendon Plant, owned (freehold) by General Motors Ltd.

On the 28 June 1932, General Motors Limited leased part of the Hendon plant to VAUXHALL MOTORS LIMITED, for the period of 21 years from 1 May 1932.
They then leased another portion on 21 November 1932 to GENERAL MOTORS ACCEPTANCE CORPORATION for the period of 7 years from 1 May 1932.

From May 1932, therefore, the Hendon Plant however, continued as a major boxing plant for C.K.D. Vauxhalls and Bedfords, initially for Australia, and then a myriad of other countries. However, the plant became Vauxhall Motors Limited’s Sales and Service Depot as well, so the former Chevrolet Plant became, so far as commercial vehicles were concerned, a solely Vauxhall Plant, though General Motors Limited retained the freehold, had their offices in the building still, and also sold spare parts for Chevrolets.

The Hendon Plant continued to be a CKD Boxing Plant until spring 1940 when it went over to vehicle assembly, eg the ex-French order Whites that were diverted. Also repair and other war work. We also know that they assembled Canadian vehicles: 1943:224 and 1944: 97, Total: 321.

It was closed around 1946 and handed back to GM Ltd. The rest of the building continued to be a Frigidaire Ltd plant though. They dod a lot of war work including blood cooling equipment and aircraft fuel tanks.