COYS HISTORY

Wilfred E Coy was one of the world's truly innovative motoring and aviation entrepreneurs.

Serving his country in the 1914-1918 World War as a young Royal Flying Corps engineer, he helped develop new and crucially valuable prop-synchronised machine guns for Britain's fighting aircraft.

With the war over, Wilfred Coy teamed up with William Morris – later Viscount Nuffield of the British Motor Corporation – the founder of Morris Cars. Working together, these two men were to design and operate one of Britain's first fleet of road petrol tankers.

In 1919 Wilfred Coy branched out on his own. Opening the country's first ever petrol station, he also set up a retail showroom in Kensington's Queen's Gate Mews.

Wilfred's friendships with Viscount Nuffield and Lord Rootes ensured that Coys of Kensington became London agents for many of the great marques of motoring's early years. Morris, Singer, Rover and MG were all popular with Coy's clients. For a while, Coy was also a representative for the famous German Auto Union company.

Always a keen participant in motor sports, Wilfred Coy was a regular visitor to Brooklands between the wars. He also made many other eventful trips to circuits elsewhere in Britain and continental Europe. As a driver, he tested most of the performance cars of the 1920's and 1930's. With his well known love of almost everything motoring, Wilfred spent decades investing much energy and enthusiasm in ensuring that Coys became and remained one of the leading names in British motoring history.

Today, over 90 years on, Coys are proud to be up holding our founder's commitment to motor sport's illustrious traditions and cultures and have developed into one of the most prominent specialists in the sale and acquisition of historic motor cars, be it through our specialist showrooms, where some 30 vehicles are always on display ranging from a Mercedes SType to a Ford GT40, or at one of our auctions.

With Coys developed auction network with important sales in England, Germany, Holland, Italy and Monaco each year, Coys are the best choice for any client considering the sale or purchase of a historic motor car.

In 2006 the evolution of the company continued with the move of the company head quarters from the traditional home at Queen's Gate Mews to our new purpose built facility at Manor Court in Richmond. With state of the art sales and display facilities Coys at Manor Court represents the industry standard.