MORE THAN JUST A GARAGE

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30810, 23 July 1965, Page 14

MORE THAN JUST A GARAGE

TODAY a Christchurch garage opens under new management. But it will be no ordinary garage, for in addition to the normal services of supplying petrol and oil, lubricating cars, carrying out repairs, and selling tyres and parts, it will offer a special tuning and modification service for the person who wants more performance and better running from his car.

Major shareholder in the Mullins and Wilson garage, is Jim Mullins, well-known to all followers of motor sport for his many racing successes in cars he has tuned himself It is the benefit of this tuning knowledge Jim Mullins will be offering his customers. The service will be known as “Mullinstune," and the customer will be able to have his car modified merely to give greatly improved performance, flexibility, smoothness and economy, or

to full racing specifications. Mullins’ forte is cylinder heads, and it is from skilled and careful handwork on the shape and finish of combustion chambers and inlet and exhaust ports that he obtains the improvements. The work includes a valve grind and decarbonisation. There will also be a special equipment and accessory section for both racing and rally enthusiasts. i The garage is on the coriner of Colombo and Salisbury

streets. The petrol pumps dispense both 83 and 96 octane fuel. At one end of the building will be the workshop, with room for several cars. Here Jim Mullins will carry out his cylinder head modifications.

Mullins

and his partner in the firm, certified mechanic A. Wilson, will deal with repairs and maintenance. All types of cars will be serviced. The garage will be particularly well equipped to service the front-wheel-drive B.M.C. models, with which, incidentally, both Mullins and Wilson have had a great deal of experience. A full range of new and expensive equipment has been installed to service these models. Much of this is specialised equipment. As well as cylinder head and other modifications, Mr Mullins will specialise in ordinary tune-ups —making sure that each car gives its full designed horsepower. The modified cylinder heads for family cars can give 25 per cent or more extra power, as well as better riming and economy, and the firm will have some exchange heads ready for fitting to popular cars. In this way a customer will be able to have

the work done in a very short time indeed. Enthusiasts will be able to have their engines fully race or rally prepared. The ordinary touring tune is particularly suitable for those wishing to tow caravans or boats, but is of great benefit to all cars. Also at the east end of the building will be a race and rally centre, stocking all types of sporting accessories. These will include special sports seats, woodrimmed steering wheels, seat belts (including full harness belts for racing) driving gloves, and so on. Next door, beside the workshop, is the lubrication bay and tyre bay. All types of tyres will be available, and wheels can be balanced, and alignment checked. Further along are the offices, and further displays of race and rally gear and all types of accessories and parts for the weekend “Do-it-yourselfer.”

Mullins

There will be a Saturday morning spare parts service for the home handymen, and advice on all aspects of car care will be freely available All the equipment in the workshop is brand new, and no money has been spared on it, the partners say. The aim is to give the best possible service. If a person should want a part or accessory that is not available, it will be obtained as soon as possible If some items are not obtain able, they can sometimes be made up in the workshops, or to special order. Tuning a family car, of a popular four-eylinder variety, to improved touring standards by the “Mullinstune” formula is expected to cost about £25, inclusive of new gaskets, valve grind, decarbonisation, and final tune-up. Cars will be collected and delivered if necessary.