[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Rootes Ltd at Maidstone, the body-building arm, and also service centre, had a long history of association with General Motors Limited, Chevrolet importers. Rootes were a GM marque distributor from around 1922.

It is no surprise to me that at the meeting in May (?) 1941 called by GM Ltd, which featured 'Fat Cats' from Pearsons of Liverpool, Northern Counties Engineering and Rootes, that the latter had a contract to build CMP bodies. By then GM Ltd were assembling BRITISH order Chevrolet CMPs at Bamber Bridge near Preston, although that ceased by the end of the year. Another company with associations with GM Ltd, Lep Transport & Depository Ltd had by then been assembling CANADIAN CMPs at their Chiswick, London W.4 depot on the Thames, on eof just three (Canadian direct) contract assemblers with Prearson's one of the others, and of course the CMD at Slough.