A Stepney for the Civic

Llanelli is home to The Special and it has strong links to the earliest days of motoring, when any journey, no matter how short ran the risk of a puncture or two. It fell to brothers from the town, Thomas and Walter Davies, to come up with a practical solution.

Originally running an ironmongery in Llanelli’s Stepney Street, they then had a cycle shop and, come 1904 when they patented the first spare wheel, they had a garage catering for the town’s few motorists.

Their invention was, in essence, entirely simple: a spokeless rim with a larger tyre could be fitted to the afflicted when with clamps. While not a permanent solution, as a like-for-like spare wheel would be, it proved popular and come 1906 the Stepney Motor Wheel Ltd was in business, along with a factory known, perhaps unsurprisingly as the Stepney Wheel Works. While demand slackened off come the 1920s as car makers fitted spare wheels, the term ‘stepney’ is still used in India when referring to a spare wheel.

And that brings us neatly to the latest addition to The Special’s fleet – a 2006 Honda Civic 1.8. Two lady owners (the second since 2007), 57,000 miles and full main dealer service history. The original dealer plates are still fitted as is the rear window sticker.

Just back from passing its MoT-test and enjoying a service at Ferryside Garage it racked up 1177 miles in four consecutive days. But the guv’nor was troubled by the lack of a spare wheel.

A flat tyre and no spare is the stuff of nightmares but Tanygroes Car Dismantlers offered solace with a space-saver. OK, it’s not as good as a like-for-like alloy but it’ll do the job for now. A run out over the hills in the mighty Isuzu saw the spare collected and once checked over by Llanelli’s Welsh Dragon Tyres into the cavernous boot it went.

Meanwhile a trip to Tangroes is always interesting: The breaker Trooper we sourced the inner arch alternator shield from is still there, and we spotted a long-wheelbase Nissan Terrano and a ‘Benz W124 estate too. A quick trip through Aberporth reminded us of how lovely this part of Wales is – a proper trip out’s planned, but after the schools are back…