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Princes Street, east side; No. 5; Upper Hutt Tyres, formerly Benge's Garage
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PhotographerDon McLeod
DescriptionActual street number unknown, allocated to keep pictures in street order.
This had Been Benge's Garage, started by Len Benge in 1934; a 50th-aniversary article was printed in the 'Leader' on February 21, 1984.
Len was born in Awatuna, Taranaki, and came to Upper Hutt aged four. He was educated at Te Marua School and became an apprentice mechanic with Ford agent Arthur Harper in 1919. In 1924 he spent 18 months at a Taumarunui Ford agency, and then took up a job at General Motors, checking cars as they came off the assembly line.
In 1929 he took charge of Lockhead's garage in Petone, before setting up his own business in 1934, initially in Ranfurly Street; then in Princes (the article gives no date). He had an agency for Hudson, Morris and Terraplane cars, and had a Ford Model A tow truck. He advertised the cars, panel beating, and Duco spraying on the front of the building
One contract was maintenance vehicles for Campbell's sawmill, in the Paraparaumu bush.
he article was accompanied by pictures taken in 1939 and 1984; but the originals are not in the collection.Date Taken25th December 2012
DescriptionActual street number unknown, allocated to keep pictures in street order.This had Been Benge's Garage, started by Len Benge in 1934; a 50th-aniversary article was printed in the 'Leader' on February 21, 1984.
Len was born in Awatuna, Taranaki, and came to Upper Hutt aged four. He was educated at Te Marua School and became an apprentice mechanic with Ford agent Arthur Harper in 1919. In 1924 he spent 18 months at a Taumarunui Ford agency, and then took up a job at General Motors, checking cars as they came off the assembly line.
In 1929 he took charge of Lockhead's garage in Petone, before setting up his own business in 1934, initially in Ranfurly Street; then in Princes (the article gives no date). He had an agency for Hudson, Morris and Terraplane cars, and had a Ford Model A tow truck. He advertised the cars, panel beating, and Duco spraying on the front of the building
One contract was maintenance vehicles for Campbell's sawmill, in the Paraparaumu bush.
he article was accompanied by pictures taken in 1939 and 1984; but the originals are not in the collection.
Date Taken25th December 2012Part of
CollectionStreetscapes, Christmas 2012
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Princes Street, east side; No. 5; Upper Hutt Tyres, formerly Benge's Garage. Upper Hutt City Library, accessed 05/04/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/25021