Glasgow car dealers in the 60's -70's
Discussion
750turbo said:
HendryG said:
I was also told Parks Renault in Irvine is building 3 new showrooms for new Nissan, Suzuki and Fiat alongside the existing Renault one and that Verve in Kilmarnock are closing their branches on Campbell St as they are still owned by Bickets and relocating back to their old premises in Crookedholm with Mazda and Seat with the old Mazda site becoming SsangYong as they've now lost the Fiat, Hyundai, Suzuki, Chrysler, Jeep franchises
Not sure what Parks are up to there, but there is a LOT of building going on, I passed it last week. (Strangely I have a history of the place, helping to resurrect it after the old AFG days)Interesting stuff ref Verve in Campbell St Kilmarnock. It just seems to be a mish mash of brands over both sides of the road. It would not surprise me 1 bit if the Manufacturers are not happy with it.
I ended up buying a car from Parks East Kilbride which they brought in from Irvine and the salesman said the same.
The Irvine salesman previously worked at Verve and was saying how the Campbell street premises are all still owned by Bickets who Verve bought the business from, and that the lease was up soon, only former Bickets premises Verve own is the Mazda showroom which is to become SsangYong, theyve refurbished the site at Crookedholm they acquired from Gael that they ran Suzuki/Hyundai from before taking over Bickets and moving it all up there, so Mazda and Seat are supposedly going to Crookedholm, Volvo after sales has been binned, Chrysler Jeep is now after sales only and probably soon no longer at all, SsangYong is in the Fiat showroom ATM, the Hyundai showroom still has signage and new Hyundais in it but they don't have the franchise any more, that's ran by Ingram Ayr now, Suzuki is now a used VW showroom and the used car pitch that was Bickets Motorzone originally is now a hand carwash.
I reckon that land will be redeveloped soon or Bickets will make a comeback with a new business/franchises.
Ps what do you mean when you say you helped resurrect Irvine Parks
I wasnt aware it had been AFG or that there had ever been an AFG in Irvine at all. Was only aware it had been Robert Wypers since the 90s
Edited by HendryG on Tuesday 10th April 21:55
HendryG said:
Ps what do you mean when you say you helped resurrect Irvine Parks
I wasnt aware it had been AFG or that there had ever been an AFG in Irvine at all. Was only aware it had been Robert Wypers since the 90s
I worked with Wypers for a long time,(Group AS Manager amongst many other bloody things) the Nissan AFG site had been empty for some time, and was partially vandalised. We took it over and installed the Renault Franchise. I was instrumental partially in ensuring things were kept up to speed, chasing contractors, organising quotes etc. It was a very interesting time.I wasnt aware it had been AFG or that there had ever been an AFG in Irvine at all. Was only aware it had been Robert Wypers since the 90s
Edited by HendryG on Tuesday 10th April 21:55
Left them on 98, months before they the Parks takeover.
750turbo said:
I worked with Wypers for a long time,(Group AS Manager amongst many other bloody things) the Nissan AFG site had been empty for some time, and was partially vandalised. We took it over and installed the Renault Franchise. I was instrumental partially in ensuring things were kept up to speed, chasing contractors, organising quotes etc. It was a very interesting time.
Left them on 98, months before they the Parks takeover.
I still don't really understand why Parks took Wypers over, as they closed most of their places down soon after takeover and the rest within 3 years, in fact I think the only original Wypers place still open/in existence is actually Irvine, and the plot of land at Heathfield which was Wypers Toyota Renault and Seat. Not really sure what benefit it was to them taking Wypers over.Left them on 98, months before they the Parks takeover.
Kilmarnock Seat at Wellington street was demolished, Kilmarnock Peugeot at West Langlands street is now Morrisons, Ayr Peugeot at Old Bridge Road is now either S and S Subaru or Ingram Skoda, not sure which, And the Peugeot Seat and Toyota franchises have all been dropped.
Although going by what I've read in the papers/on the net all the reports paint Mr Wyper as a dodgy character.
HendryG said:
I still don't really understand why Parks took Wypers over, as they closed most of their places down soon after takeover and the rest within 3 years, in fact I think the only original Wypers place still open/in existence is actually Irvine, and the plot of land at Heathfield which was Wypers Toyota Renault and Seat. Not really sure what benefit it was to them taking Wypers over.
Kilmarnock Seat at Wellington street was demolished, Kilmarnock Peugeot at West Langlands street is now Morrisons, Ayr Peugeot at Old Bridge Road is now either S and S Subaru or Ingram Skoda, not sure which, And the Peugeot Seat and Toyota franchises have all been dropped.
Although going by what I've read in the papers/on the net all the reports paint Mr Wyper as a dodgy character.
I was heavily involved but will not comment on here, PM me if you want though?Kilmarnock Seat at Wellington street was demolished, Kilmarnock Peugeot at West Langlands street is now Morrisons, Ayr Peugeot at Old Bridge Road is now either S and S Subaru or Ingram Skoda, not sure which, And the Peugeot Seat and Toyota franchises have all been dropped.
Although going by what I've read in the papers/on the net all the reports paint Mr Wyper as a dodgy character.
As for Mr W being dodgy, this has been repeated umpteem times by the local press (looking for cheap news)and unhappy customers. (Being a local business we were easy targets, and you cannot keep everyone totally happy)
You ONLY ever here the bad things. I can 100% state it is all dross, in the 9 years I worked for him, I absolutely loved it, learned a shedload more about the MT than I thought I ever would, and generally had a brilliant time. It was sadly brought to an end through influences possibly outside his control though.
750turbo said:
I was heavily involved but will not comment on here, PM me if you want though?
As for Mr W being dodgy, this has been repeated umpteem times by the local press (looking for cheap news)and unhappy customers. (Being a local business we were easy targets, and you cannot keep everyone totally happy)
You ONLY ever here the bad things. I can 100% state it is all dross, in the 9 years I worked for him, I absolutely loved it, learned a shedload more about the MT than I thought I ever would, and generally had a brilliant time. It was sadly brought to an end through influences possibly outside his control though.
Will PM you in a sec.As for Mr W being dodgy, this has been repeated umpteem times by the local press (looking for cheap news)and unhappy customers. (Being a local business we were easy targets, and you cannot keep everyone totally happy)
You ONLY ever here the bad things. I can 100% state it is all dross, in the 9 years I worked for him, I absolutely loved it, learned a shedload more about the MT than I thought I ever would, and generally had a brilliant time. It was sadly brought to an end through influences possibly outside his control though.
I worked for Arnold Clark for 4 years so I know that you only ever hear the bad things, but with Robert Wyper it always seemed more personal, more of a personal criticism than just criticism of the business/company, and all the other local car dealers didn't get this level of bad press, although I'm damn sure it was just papers talking rubbish trying to get you to believe what they wanted you to believe. It was the article I read about them getting fined £3500 for selling a clocked Espace that got me thinking
HendryG said:
Will PM you in a sec.
I worked for Arnold Clark for 4 years so I know that you only ever hear the bad things, but with Robert Wyper it always seemed more personal, more of a personal criticism than just criticism of the business/company, and all the other local car dealers didn't get this level of bad press, although I'm damn sure it was just papers talking rubbish trying to get you to believe what they wanted you to believe. It was the article I read about them getting fined £3500 for selling a clocked Espace that got me thinking
I know all about the Espace, utter fI worked for Arnold Clark for 4 years so I know that you only ever hear the bad things, but with Robert Wyper it always seemed more personal, more of a personal criticism than just criticism of the business/company, and all the other local car dealers didn't get this level of bad press, although I'm damn sure it was just papers talking rubbish trying to get you to believe what they wanted you to believe. It was the article I read about them getting fined £3500 for selling a clocked Espace that got me thinking
k up, and caused us serious grief!HendryG said:
Will PM you in a sec.
I worked for Arnold Clark for 4 years so I know that you only ever hear the bad things, but with Robert Wyper it always seemed more personal, more of a personal criticism than just criticism of the business/company, and all the other local car dealers didn't get this level of bad press, although I'm damn sure it was just papers talking rubbish trying to get you to believe what they wanted you to believe. It was the article I read about them getting fined £3500 for selling a clocked Espace that got me thinking
Just replied, asking for a wee bit more info, do not want to cause any confusion.I worked for Arnold Clark for 4 years so I know that you only ever hear the bad things, but with Robert Wyper it always seemed more personal, more of a personal criticism than just criticism of the business/company, and all the other local car dealers didn't get this level of bad press, although I'm damn sure it was just papers talking rubbish trying to get you to believe what they wanted you to believe. It was the article I read about them getting fined £3500 for selling a clocked Espace that got me thinking
I made reference to the closure of Arnold Clarks Renault showroom on Peat Road, Nitshill (i.e. the original and last remaining Peat Road Motors site)
well ive past twice and its definitely going, the site is empty, no cars on the forecourt/showroom, everythings been removed from inside except the receptionists desk which the night security guard is using, all that remains is some old Renault posters/stickers on the windows and a couple of signs reading "we have moved, find us less than 2 miles away at: Paisley Renault, East Lane, Paisley & Glasgow Renault South, Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow
it doesnt really come as a surprise as it was quite close to those 2 larger Renault sites, particularly the Pollokshaws one, and could also be something to do with Renault dropping half of its dealer network. Its still quite sad though, the end of an era, one of the last remaining sites on a street corner/residential area and not in an out of town retail park or a main town centre road.
I think over time other smaller branches will follow suit, e.g. Bearsden Renault, Helensburgh VW,Cumbernauld Kia etc. just as Peat road and other smaller, long established sites within their group like Allison street have done recently and sites like Elderslie, Park road, Vinicombe street, Prestwick, and Paisley Glasgow road before that.
will also be interesting to see what becomes of the existing Ford branch at Linwood Phoenix now that the Ford franchise is moving to a bigger site at the old Gala bingo building still within the Phoenix Linwood.
well ive past twice and its definitely going, the site is empty, no cars on the forecourt/showroom, everythings been removed from inside except the receptionists desk which the night security guard is using, all that remains is some old Renault posters/stickers on the windows and a couple of signs reading "we have moved, find us less than 2 miles away at: Paisley Renault, East Lane, Paisley & Glasgow Renault South, Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow
it doesnt really come as a surprise as it was quite close to those 2 larger Renault sites, particularly the Pollokshaws one, and could also be something to do with Renault dropping half of its dealer network. Its still quite sad though, the end of an era, one of the last remaining sites on a street corner/residential area and not in an out of town retail park or a main town centre road.
I think over time other smaller branches will follow suit, e.g. Bearsden Renault, Helensburgh VW,Cumbernauld Kia etc. just as Peat road and other smaller, long established sites within their group like Allison street have done recently and sites like Elderslie, Park road, Vinicombe street, Prestwick, and Paisley Glasgow road before that.
will also be interesting to see what becomes of the existing Ford branch at Linwood Phoenix now that the Ford franchise is moving to a bigger site at the old Gala bingo building still within the Phoenix Linwood.
ian2144 said:
Some of the Renault dealers we used to go to before Arnold got his mitts on them. Rankin Motors (Helensburgh) Burnbrae Garage (Bearsden) Wylie & Lochead at the top of Byres Rd, which I think is now a Waitrose ??
dont think Arnold took over Alex Rankine Renault in Helensburgh, it just closed down. same with the Bearsden place, the AC in Bearsden has been with them since the 60s and only took on Renault in '79 presumably when this place shut. there is a Waitrose on Byres road, not sure if its where the Renault dealers were though.HendryG said:
ian2144 said:
Some of the Renault dealers we used to go to before Arnold got his mitts on them. Rankin Motors (Helensburgh) Burnbrae Garage (Bearsden) Wylie & Lochead at the top of Byres Rd, which I think is now a Waitrose ??
dont think Arnold took over Alex Rankine Renault in Helensburgh, it just closed down. same with the Bearsden place, the AC in Bearsden has been with them since the 60s and only took on Renault in '79 presumably when this place shut. there is a Waitrose on Byres road, not sure if its where the Renault dealers were though.I think Wylie & Lochead moved from Byres Rd to St Vincent St just above the M8.
Remember Weir the Datsun People? Branches in Bishopbriggs, kirkintilloch (Now Hayston Garage) and Kilbowie Road, Hardgate (Now a funeral parlour). Story goes that the owner of the business was promptly de-franchised by Mr Botnar when he turned up at a franchise holders meeting in a Rolls Royce . . . . . . . .. My old man had a string of Datsuns from there and have very fond memmories. I remember them having a red 260z in the front window with a big Starsky and Hutch stripe. I thought that was so cool. However on a more sensible note, I remember seeing a black Bluebird U11 ZX Turbo up there andloving it.
Other early recollections as T & S Liddell in Milngavie, Millies Motorcarmarket in Anniesland, Melvin Motors in Finnieston and Lastly Bishopbriggs Motors (Ford garage, now Kwik fit).
Oh and I remember some wag saying to me that AFG stood for Another F***ing Garage . . . . . . .
Other early recollections as T & S Liddell in Milngavie, Millies Motorcarmarket in Anniesland, Melvin Motors in Finnieston and Lastly Bishopbriggs Motors (Ford garage, now Kwik fit).
Oh and I remember some wag saying to me that AFG stood for Another F***ing Garage . . . . . . .
Edited by StescoG66 on Friday 11th May 07:11
This started as a garages in Glasgow thread. Now that it's extended to garages in west of Scotland, can I add Struthers of Lochwinnoch?
My dad bought all his cars from there from around 1967 to the late 80s / early 90s when it closed. He liked to buy British Leyland and he also liked doing his own maintenance, so he was kept busy most weekends
.
Struthers also made the nicest lemonade I've ever tasted. How the same people could sell cars and soft drinks God only knows, but they managed both for several decades. I miss their lemonade more than I miss Spangles
.
My dad bought all his cars from there from around 1967 to the late 80s / early 90s when it closed. He liked to buy British Leyland and he also liked doing his own maintenance, so he was kept busy most weekends
.Struthers also made the nicest lemonade I've ever tasted. How the same people could sell cars and soft drinks God only knows, but they managed both for several decades. I miss their lemonade more than I miss Spangles
.StescoG66 said:
Remember Weir the Datsun People? Branches in Bishopbriggs, kirkintilloch (Now Hayston Garage) and Kilbowie Road, Hardgate (Now a funeral parlour). Story goes that the owner of the business was promptly de-franchised by Mr Botnar when he turned up at a franchise holders meeting in a Rolls Royce . . . . . . . .. My old man had a string of Datsuns from there and have very fond memmories. I remember them having a red 260z in the front window with a big Starsky and Hutch stripe. I thought that was so cool. However on a more sensible note, I remember seeing a black Bluebird U11 ZX Turbo up there andloving it.
Other early recollections as T & S Liddell in Milngavie, Millies Motorcarmarket in Anniesland, Melvin Motors in Finnieston and Lastly Bishopbriggs Motors (Ford garage, now Kwik fit).
Oh and I remember some wag saying to me that AFG stood for Another F***ing Garage . . . . . . .
T & S Liddell in Milngavie were Toyota dealers in the 60's 70's at some point in they changed to Austin/Rover I remember looking at an MG Metro for the first time and was shoked by the bright red seat belts.Other early recollections as T & S Liddell in Milngavie, Millies Motorcarmarket in Anniesland, Melvin Motors in Finnieston and Lastly Bishopbriggs Motors (Ford garage, now Kwik fit).
Oh and I remember some wag saying to me that AFG stood for Another F***ing Garage . . . . . . .
Edited by StescoG66 on Friday 11th May 07:11
Milngavie Motors (Ford) on Netherton Rd was where my old man bought a nearly new Renault 12 in 1976, they allways had a large stock of low mileage stuff. I don't think it was long after this that they changed to Millies Motorcarmarket.
Gassing Station | Scotland | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff