The City Motor Company (Oxford) was established in 1919 by F.J. Adams and his brother-in-law N.F. Jones. The business's first premises were in Gloucester Street, opposite the Red Lion, and comprised a showroom for two cars and a repair shop with space for ten vehicles. An adjoining property was leased shortly afterwards. The business expanded several times in the 1920s and 30s, acquiring multiple premises on the main roads leading into Oxford city for their petrol stations, and becoming area dealers for Vauxhall, Riley, Bedford and Triumph. Later in the company's history they also acquired the Rover, Jaguar and Morris marques at various dates.
The business established premises in Botley Road in 1923, Woodstock Road in 1924, London Road, Headington in 1927, Banbury Road in 1928 (although this was sold in 1931), and Iffley Road in 1930. The company also started to establish themselves in other towns; they acquired premises in Vastern Road, Reading in 1933, and Layton's Garage in Bicester in 1937. Furthermore, the company began to explore other options in addition to car sales, repairs, and petrol sales. In 1934, a new company called Citax formed, providing local chauffer-driven private hire cars in Oxford. Citax expanded rapidly, and was established in Southampton and Portsmouth. By 1936, Citax was seen to be taking up too much of the company's time, so was spilt off into a separate business.
At the outbreak of war in 1939, the Vastern Road site in Reading was requisitioned for occupation by Smithfield Meat Market in the event of London bombings. Vastern Road later became a workshop manufacturing Spitfire wings. In Oxford, both the Botley Road and Headington premises were also requisitioned; the latter as a storage depot for Tiger Moth planes. The Botley Road garage was initially used for aircarft production, but was later appointed an Army Auxiliary workshop, specialising in Bedford trucks.
In the 1950s the business continued to expand. Premises in Henley were acquired in 1952, but were not large enough, so were sold off soon after. In 1956, sites at Wolvercote roundabout, Oxford, and Banbury were acquired, followed by petrol stations at Wokingham Road, Reading, and Cherwell Service Station, Marston. A car hire business was established in 1958. In 1968 the business changed its name to 'Chiltern Motor Holdings'.
A more detailed company history can be found at B34/1/N2/9 - 'A short history of Chiltern Motor Holdings Ltd'.
These records were depsoited as accessions 3815 and 3876 in May and August 1994 respectively. Catalogued by Hannah Jones in July 2015.