Troy Tire & Auto Centre caused quite a stir when its first opened on Stanningley Road in Armley in October 1970. The petrol was priced at a special promotional rate with one shilling off per gallon and was served by 'personality girls' employed by the Total petrol company. There was a self service shop which supplied an extensive range of car parts and accessories. An adjoining Tyre Discount Centre offered a tyre fitting service. It was the business of Vance Johnson who opened his very first shop on North Street in Sheepscar, on August 22, 1965, the occasion of his 19th birthday. He opened his second shop in 1967 on North Lane in Headingley. A branch of the Troy Tire & Auto Centre opened on Harehills Lane in 1969. READ MORE: The Leeds garages you bought a car from down the decades LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP RETRO NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our free monthly email digest of Leeds nostalgia
7. Troy Tire & Auto Centre
An R.A.C. mini van, foreground, is parked on the forecourt from where R.A.C. memberships were sold. The Auto Centre earned commission from successful sales. | Vance Johnson Photo: Vance Johnson
8. Troy Tire & Auto Centre
The shop is laid out like a supermarket with prices for car accessories and spares clearly labelled above the shelving. Prices are in old money as decimalisation was not introduced until the following year. | Vance Johnson Photo: Vance Johnson
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Car accessories and spares are displayed supermarket style on shelving in aisles. An overhead sign reads 'Buy at Trade and Do-it-Yourself'. | Vance Johnson Photo: Vance Johnson
10. Troy Tire & Auto Centre
A free-standing advertising board displays prices of various makers of car radios and cassette tape players including Philips, Motorola & Radiomobile. The Tyre Discount Centre is the taller building on the right. Photo: Vance Johnson
11. Troy Tire & Auto Centre
A couple are waiting while a new tyre is being fitted to their vehicle. A Morris Minor 1000 Traveller is also jacked up while a new tyre is fitted. There is advertising for motor oil on the walls and bunting overhead. | Vance Johnson Photo: Vance Johnson
12. Troy Tire & Auto Centre
Troy Auto Spares, 'The Motorists Discount Shop' on North Street in Sheepscar in early 1966. The business had been established here the previous year by Vance Johnson. He saw a market for auto spares as in this era many motorists were prepared to service their own vehicles if they were able to obtain the necessary parts. | Vance Johnson Photo: Vance Johnson