Thanks Yoller (don't know where the Elephant name came from) I remember going in that garage late at night, in the early 60s and filling up my tank (500 AJS) (about 3 gallons, cost 12 shillings, 60p in new money) only to find I had not brought any money with me, they trusted me to call in next day with the money, which I did, wouldn't happen these days. ( I was an apprentice engineer at that time earning about £4 a week)Happy Days
I never heard the garage called the White Elephant, but I only knew it as a kid - we lived not far from there.
However, I can see how it might have got some such nickname, because it was a very unusual building. It was almost art deco style, with an impressive smooth white fascia - very futuristic for those days.
I don't know how old it was, but it was possibly built in the mid-1930s to cater for traffic using the newly-opened Mersey Tunnel. But I've seen another old picture somewhere which shows there was an earlier garage on the site.
Meanwhile, three gallons of petrol for 12 shillings? Those were the days!