Page 2 never seen before - photo tour of visit the
1st Merlin factory
So ....lets have a look around the 1st Merlin factory.
We are very lucky to get access to this place. I first knew of this factory in 2011 and longed to get inside , but i was busy with other things. I only had clues to find the location at this time. Half of an address.
Based up on the little information i knew i found this photo in Google . I sent the photo to Ignacio and he messaged me back saying that this was the place ........but in this photo there are many doors and the answer i got was vague ....i needed to know which door was the factory door.
We are very lucky to get access to this place. I first knew of this factory in 2011 and longed to get inside , but i was busy with other things. I only had clues to find the location at this time. Half of an address.
Based up on the little information i knew i found this photo in Google . I sent the photo to Ignacio and he messaged me back saying that this was the place ........but in this photo there are many doors and the answer i got was vague ....i needed to know which door was the factory door.
Never seen before - photo tour of visit the
1st Merlin factory www.retrotrials.com
Then i was in Tarragona visiting the Montesa mechanic Paco Mateo and as Villanova is nearby Josep and I went along , just hoping the factory would be occupied and they would let us in to look .
Here are the photos i took in 2013 when i discovered the street. We had to ask discover the factory. It had been on the street somewhere but 35 years ago !
We asked everyone , but they were all to young . We needed some of the oldies ....but it was lunch time and i figured that they would be enjoying siesta .
Here are the photos i took in 2013 when i discovered the street. We had to ask discover the factory. It had been on the street somewhere but 35 years ago !
We asked everyone , but they were all to young . We needed some of the oldies ....but it was lunch time and i figured that they would be enjoying siesta .
Never seen before - photo tour of visit the
1st Merlin factory www.retrotrials.com
Was it here ...in this obvious looking factory. It now made boat hulls , but it didnt look to big.
Never seen before - photo tour of visit the
1st Merlin factory www.retrotrials.com
Was it here ?. Were these dumped old parts a clue. Was the motor sport sticker above the gate a clue ?.
Never seen before - photo tour of visit the
1st Merlin factory www.retrotrials.com
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Never seen before - photo tour of visit the
1st Merlin factory www.retrotrials.com
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Did the people living in the house at the end know anything ?. If they did , they were not answering the door.
Never seen before - photo tour of visit the
1st Merlin factory www.retrotrials.com
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Never seen before - photo tour of visit the
1st Merlin factory www.retrotrials.com
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Was this the door to the Merlin factory . It was old , jaded by the sun . It was another possible
Never seen before - photo tour of visit the
1st Merlin factory www.retrotrials.com
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Never seen before - photo tour of visit the
1st Merlin factory www.retrotrials.com
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Faced with all of these possibles i telephoned Ignacio . I told him where we were and what we were doing and he laughed. I am happy to face the ridicule from such a great Retrostar as Ignacio :).
Anyway ......after a minutes or so Ignacio's help pinpointed us exactly to the front door of the 1st Merlin factory . You know ....the one you didnt know about ...or every think about . Luckily for you ....we have your back and we are on the case.
It was quite exciting really. We had found the door and on the door was a paper note with telephone numbers on it . Little did i know that it would take months and another 2000 miles of driving before i could get the door , as initially there was no answer on the phone.
Anyway ......after a minutes or so Ignacio's help pinpointed us exactly to the front door of the 1st Merlin factory . You know ....the one you didnt know about ...or every think about . Luckily for you ....we have your back and we are on the case.
It was quite exciting really. We had found the door and on the door was a paper note with telephone numbers on it . Little did i know that it would take months and another 2000 miles of driving before i could get the door , as initially there was no answer on the phone.
Never seen before - photo tour of visit the
1st Merlin factory www.retrotrials.com
So lets fast forward to 6 months later and look inside