Autofarm (1973) Ltd

THE HISTORY OF AUTOFARM

• 1973 - 1977: COMPANY ORIGINS AND lst PREMISES, IVER, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

Early in 1972, Josh Sadler and Steve Carr, then employees at Glacier Bearings in Wembley, formed a partnership, with the initial purpose of identifying a sector of the specialist Motor Trade that offered the best combination of engineering interest and commercial potential. After a few blind alleys, a damaged Porsche 911 was acquired and it was quickly realised there existed an opening for a small specialist business to provide a parts/workshop service, as the enthusiast sector for this marque was then rapidly growing.

Thus, early in 1973 Josh and Steve left Glacier Bearings and registered their partnership as Autofarm. After an abortive attempt to set up on a farm, rented garage workshops in Iver, Buckinghamshire (Bucks.) and started what almost immediately became an exclusively Porsche business. There followed a period of steady growth, with Jack Phillips joining from Glacier as a Technician in 1974 and Josh's wifeSue leaving nursing in 1975 to join initially in the stores. Then in 1976 Mike Evans joined from Mercedes-Benz as a Technician. All of these are now Directors and/or Shareholders in the new company, Autofarm (1973) Ltd.

• 1977 - 1987: AMERSHAM, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

In 1977, having outgrown the Iver site, Autofarm took over the lease at an old garage site in Amersham-on-the-Hill, Bucks, providing some 8,000 sq.ft. of workshops, offices and a small showroom. This allowed the business to further expand and consolidate its position, within both the National and International Porsche enthusiast market, as a leading supplier of parts and specialist engineering services, plus alongside Porsche sales.

The partnership was incorporated in 1978 and expanded to some 20 employees by the mid 1980s. During this period several product lines were developed for the Porsche after-market, both for cost effective parts replacement and for performance improvements. The main turnover was in glass-fibre panels and exhaust systems.

From 1975 to 1987, Josh and Steve regularly and successfully ran Porsches in club competition (excellent for business promotion, but a little hard on the business net profitability!) and in 1983 were among the instigators of what has become a very successful production Porsche race series.

• 1987 - 1991: TRING, HERTFORDSHIRE

In late 1986 Autofarm Ltd moved to a large 14,000 sq. ft modern garage on a 1.7 acre site on the main A41 near Tring. Running the Porsche operation, whilst also running a main dealer franchise for Suzuki and SAAB, seemed to be an exciting direction into which to expand. Unfortunately things didn't work out as planned and in 1991 when the recession bit, Autofarm downsized rather dramatically.

• 1991 - 1993: PENN, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

At this point, Josh decided to go solo and was soon joined by Jack at the modest workshop and office facility at Josh's home in Penn. By summer 1991, Mike Evans had gone across too and they were back to servicing the needs of their customers.

• 1993 - Present: WESTON ON THE GREEN, OXFORDSHIRE

Having outgrown the delightful Penn buildings quietly tucked away at the bottom of a leafy lane, the Autofarm team moved to a real farm, but this time surrounded by 400 acres and with a long sweeping drive. Housed in Oddington Grange's historic farm buildings, the environment is perfect - quiet, stylish and full of character, but remaining very firmly as they began - informal, but professional. 

Once again a thriving business, Autofarm (1973) Ltd has found the spirit and adventure with which it hopes to continue to prosper.