KEN:KLEAN

The History of Ken Klean

‘Ken Klean’ obtained its name after its founder, Mr Alan Dodd. Alan was nicknamed ‘Ken’ by his friends due to his surname being ‘Dodd’ (. . . after Ken Dodd!).
‘Ken Klean’ was purchased by Joseph F Guy from Alan Dodd in 1994 and proved to be a shrewd purchase.

This though was not ‘Joe’s entry into the car valeting industry. His initial connection stemmed way back into the sixties where when struggling to bring up a young family. Joe took on a job at a car wash in nearby Retreat Street working 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Joe vowed that one day he would own his very own valeting business.

Due to ‘Ken Klean’ having such a good name and reputation in local car-cleaning circles it was decided by ‘Joe’ to inherit the name ‘Ken Klean’. Joe then began to be affectionately known as ‘Ken’ by many of his loyal customers.

‘Ken Klean’s early days under Joe consisted of a small corrugated workshop in the current outer parking area. Joe quickly realised that there was potential beyond the workshop and decided to knock it down and take on the premises which you are standing in now, which you may not know is a listed building.

At the time it was a gamble as the workshop was only big enough for one vehicle therefore at a push a maximum of just 3 vehicles could be cleaned in any one day.

Joe immediately put his rags and chamois aside and replaced it with his business head and brought several car dealer contracts on board such as the long gone ‘Vauxhall Essential’ on the Dudley Road, the local ‘Mercedes Carols’ dealership which has since changed ownership and also ‘Bushbury Land Rover’ before that too changed hands.

‘Ken Klean’ has ran successfully to this day despite plenty of competition and remains Wolverhampton’s largest and longest serving car valeter. Joe, who died in July 2006 had a sleeping partner in his business who became part of the furniture. ‘Leo’ the German Shepherd was the unpaid equal who demonstrated the same commitment and hard work that has put Ken Klean where it is today.

  Jason F Guy – 2006 Ken Klean Great Brickkiln Street Wolverhampton WV3 0PW contact HERE