British mobile valeting heritage

Preserving Autosheen’s place in motoring history.

An independent heritage archive collecting original photographs, vehicle memories, press features, business material and the stories of the people behind Autosheen.

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Auto Express Vac Attack magazine feature — Autosheen featured in Auto Express, October 1996.

The story

A specialist mobile service before detailing became mainstream.

Autosheen became known for mobile car and commercial valeting, distinctive branded vans and work supporting manufacturers, magazine shoots, ride-and-drive programmes and corporate events across the UK.

The archive brings together material from the Wellingborough Head Office years, former franchisees, original photographs, printed memorabilia, newspaper coverage and video memories.

Developing timeline

A working timeline of Autosheen history.

Late 1980s

Early mobile franchise vans and red Autosheen branding.

1991

Head Office activity in Wellingborough and corporate event work including Silverstone.

1993

Citroën C15 vans purchased new from Moto Baldet Citroën in Northampton.

1996

Auto Express publishes the “Vac Attack” feature on professional mobile valeting.

1997

Auto Express reader survey includes Autosheen mobile valeting as a prize.

Vehicle fleet

The vans were part of the identity.

These photographs show Autosheen branding across working vans, customer driveways, Head Office and corporate event locations.

Events

Ford Escort 1.3 petrol van at Silverstone

Taken at Silverstone Racing Circuit as part of the BMW corporate event.

Events

BMW corporate event at Silverstone

Autosheen staff and vans working at Silverstone Racing Circuit for a BMW corporate event.

Fleet

Ford Escort 1.8 diesel van on driveway

Mobile valeting setup with hose running to the Ford Escort 1.8 diesel van outside a customer property.

Fleet

Ford Escort 1.8 diesel van side profile

White Ford Escort 1.8 diesel van with blue Autosheen graphics.

Fleet

Ford Escort 1.8 diesel van on street

Ford Escort 1.8 diesel van photographed in a residential setting.

Head Office

Vauxhall Astra 1.7TD van at Head Office

Vauxhall Astra 1.7TD van photographed outside the Wellingborough Head Office premises.

Fleet

Vauxhall Astra 1.7TD van rear view

Rear view showing Autosheen branding and mobile valeting markings on the Vauxhall Astra 1.7TD van.

Fleet

Vauxhall Astra 1.7TD bonnet logo

Bonnet view of the Vauxhall Astra 1.7TD van wearing the square Autosheen mark.

Fleet

Ford Escort rear branding

Rear doors showing Autosheen identity and period stickers.

Fleet

Autosheen vehicles in a field

Autosheen vehicles photographed together during operations.

Head Office

Head Office vehicles

Autosheen vans photographed outside the Head Office building.

Head Office

Wellingborough Head Office premises

Autosheen signage and vehicles outside the Wellingborough Head Office building.

Fleet

Autosheen van and Yamaha bike

Period photograph showing Autosheen branding alongside a Yamaha motorcycle.

Fleet

Citroën C15 work setup

Citroën C15 van with hose and equipment at a working location.

Press & archive material

Autosheen in print.

Press coverage and selected original material from the archive.

Press

Auto Express “Vac Attack” feature

October 11, 1996 Auto Express feature showing Autosheen’s professional mobile valeting work in a national magazine product test.

Business card

Steve Cokayne business card

Landscape Head Office period business card showing the Sanders Road address and Autosheen branding.

People

The archive is really about the people behind the vans.

Autosheen’s story includes Head Office staff, senior valeters, franchisees, managers, suppliers and customers who remember the vans arriving on site.

People

Steve Cokayne with Autosheen van

Steve Cokayne beside an Autosheen vehicle during the Head Office period.

People

Steve Cokayne and Colin Murtagh

Steve Cokayne with Colin Murtagh, preserving personal links behind the Autosheen story.

People

Tom Miller archive photograph

Former franchisee Tom Miller’s Autosheen photograph, shared with permission for the archive.

People

Tom Miller newspaper coverage

Local newspaper coverage of Tom Miller’s franchise work.

Contribute

Do you remember Autosheen?

If you worked for Autosheen, owned a franchise, used the service, supplied the company or have photographs, paperwork, video or memories, your contribution could help preserve another piece of the story.

This is an independent heritage archive created to preserve Autosheen history, motoring memories and original material before it disappears.