Glasgow car dealers in the 60's -70's
Discussion
Worst car I ever bought was a Peugeot 309 1.6 petrol from AFG Nissan in East Kilbride (where Arnold motorstore is now)
Before AFG they were called by another name but was the same people. I remember the car was in for the umpteenth time to get repaired and they gave me a 1400cc Cavalier to use. I returned it when I realised the wiper stalk wasn't there!
They then gave me the dealership Nissan Sunny demonstrator - this provided a couple of nights of entertainment in the old Safeway car park in Airdrie doing handbrake turns and wheelspins. Not mature I know, but I was mightily p'eed off with the dud that they had sold me!!
Before AFG they were called by another name but was the same people. I remember the car was in for the umpteenth time to get repaired and they gave me a 1400cc Cavalier to use. I returned it when I realised the wiper stalk wasn't there!
They then gave me the dealership Nissan Sunny demonstrator - this provided a couple of nights of entertainment in the old Safeway car park in Airdrie doing handbrake turns and wheelspins. Not mature I know, but I was mightily p'eed off with the dud that they had sold me!!
Apparently Arnold Clark takes over Verve today!
Haven't read all postings but haven't seen mention of Gibbons the Rover dealer on Kirklee Road. My father had a Rover 3.5litre (like Margaret Thatchers) and I used to take it in for servicing when I was at Glasgow Uni. Don't know if I would have let my 19 year old son do that but I must have been a better driver having driven it since my 17th birthday.
Also didn't see any mention of A & D Frasers in Pollokshields that became Appelyards.
David
Haven't read all postings but haven't seen mention of Gibbons the Rover dealer on Kirklee Road. My father had a Rover 3.5litre (like Margaret Thatchers) and I used to take it in for servicing when I was at Glasgow Uni. Don't know if I would have let my 19 year old son do that but I must have been a better driver having driven it since my 17th birthday.
Also didn't see any mention of A & D Frasers in Pollokshields that became Appelyards.
David
47p2 said:
Gibbons is still around, but not as you remember it. Son Jamie has a workshop at Killermont Bridge, Bearsden where he specialises in Jaguar
I'm sure Gibbons rebuilt my Avenger Tiger gearbox back in the mid 70's. They were Transmission specialists long before they started doing Jags.Craigie said:
Worst car I ever bought was a Peugeot 309 1.6 petrol from AFG Nissan in East Kilbride (where Arnold motorstore is now)
Before AFG they were called by another name but was the same people. I remember the car was in for the umpteenth time to get repaired and they gave me a 1400cc Cavalier to use. I returned it when I realised the wiper stalk wasn't there!
They then gave me the dealership Nissan Sunny demonstrator - this provided a couple of nights of entertainment in the old Safeway car park in Airdrie doing handbrake turns and wheelspins. Not mature I know, but I was mightily p'eed off with the dud that they had sold me!!
I thought AFG Nissan in EK was where the huge Park's multi franchise place is now at Nerston, not at the Queensway Motor Park?Before AFG they were called by another name but was the same people. I remember the car was in for the umpteenth time to get repaired and they gave me a 1400cc Cavalier to use. I returned it when I realised the wiper stalk wasn't there!
They then gave me the dealership Nissan Sunny demonstrator - this provided a couple of nights of entertainment in the old Safeway car park in Airdrie doing handbrake turns and wheelspins. Not mature I know, but I was mightily p'eed off with the dud that they had sold me!!
Also Arnie has taken over Verves VW dealers in Dalmarnock and Newmains, dunno when that happened but I phoned Dalmarnock on Friday as one of my works cars was in there getting fixed and the lady who answered the call said "good morning Verve Glasgow how can I help" then today I clock an article about the takeover on Arnies own website.
As far as I know Verve Are still operating in Coatbridge, Bathgate, Kilmarnock and Crookedholm although they've also recently dropped all but 2 of the franchises (Fiat, hyundai, suzuki, jeep, chrysler, volvo) they held at the former Bickets place in Kilmarnock, moved the remaining 2 (seat and mazda) to Crookedholm and put the 4 empty showrooms up for rent, leaving them just a SsangYong dealership in Killie. They also closed the Lanark Citroen showroom and dropped Peugeot at Coatbridge.
IainW said:
Lanark Citroen's been closed for quite a while now hasn't it? The Arnold Clark giant is getting bigger and bigger. Is that twice he's swallowed up dealerships Ian Skelly set up? The Motorstore in Netherton and then these ones in Boghead and Dalmarnock.
Yeah Lanark Citroens been closed id guess about 3 years now.My memory may be a bit hazy here but im sure Ian Skelly sold out to Appleyard in around 1989 and Charlie Adair bought the Dalmarnock and Wishy VW sites from them in 1998 and renamed them Verve (although owned by Appleyards for around 10years at this point i dont think they ever changed names from Ian Skelly until becoming Verve)
I believe in 2005 Verve then acquired Gael Motor Group - a Suzuki and Hyundai dealership in Crookedholm - owned and run by a guy called Alf Henighen, who was a former Peat Road Motors director. i think in late 2007/early 2008 they took over Motorway Cars who owned Lanark Citroen, as well as Bathgate Peugeot and Kia and Coatbridge Citroen, Peugeot and Kia, then again in 2008 took over Kilmarnock dealer Bickets Motor Group, they immediately closed the Crookedholm dealership and transferred the Suzuki and Hyundai franchises to the Bickets premises, then came the closure of Lanark Citroen, eventually they renamed Bickets to Verve about 2 years after takeover, then they dropped Peugeot at Coatbridge, then dropped Fiat, Suzuki, Volvo, Hyundai, Chrysler and Jeep at Kilmarnock and moved the remaining Seat and Mazda franchises back to Crookedholm, and put a Ssang Yong franchise in the former Mazda showroom in Kilmarnock. So seemingly quite an unorganised and badly run company. I believe they also owned VW dealerships in Dumfries (Bradfords) and Carlisle (Harper and Hebson) which were never renamed Verve and shortly after were sold on again to an English group called Benfield.
I think Ian Skelly opened the Skellys Motorstore at Netherton in 95/96 possibly, first as a Nissan dealership, then at a time when brand new euro import cars were the in thing, he started dealing in them, i seem to remember a lot of Opel badged Astras around with Skellys number plates at the time, then in 2001 i think AC bought it over and this started their Arnolds Motorstore chain.
there was also Skellys Ford who had dealerships in Dumbarton, and cumbernauld road in Glasgow and Windmillhill street in Motherwell which are now Evans Halshaw and prior to that Laidlaw, Trust Motors and then Reg Vardy. Not sure if they were anything to do with Ian Skelly or another different Skelly, but the Skellys logo was almost identical to the Skellys logo on the Netherton Motorstore pre AC takeover.
I wonder what will happen with the Verve bodyshop in Law/Carluke which is just opposite the Wishy VW place and also the Verve VW vans place in Baillieston now that AC has taken over.
I really dont know how its been allowed though, surely it breaks some sort of competition laws as people round here have no option but to use AC for VW unless they want to travel down to Ayr or up to Stirling as I believe these are now the closest non AC VW dealers now.
Theyve done similar with Toyota, they acquired the last 2 remaining non AC Toyota franchises in the area from Shields last year so now if you want a Toyota but dont want to use AC you need to travel to Falkirk or Dumfries.
It also signals ACs move into Lanarkshire territory where they for years had no sites and recently just 2 non franchise motorstores as Lanarkshire was mostly considered Park's Motor Groups domain, however in the last year theyve opened up EK Toyota, took over Townpark Ford in Strathaven and now VW in Wishy, i dont see it being long before they open up more in lanarkshire, i just hope they dont take over Park's or try and buy some of their or Evans Halshaws sites in the area or im stuffed, i point blank refuse to use AC.
Their expansion drive this year has been pretty big, in addition to Verve and Townpark, theyve also acquired sites in Preston and Blackpool from the Co-op motor group, Halleys of Milngavie, Phoenix BMW/Mini in Kirkcaldy and built a huge new Ford showroom on the old Gala bingo premises at the Phoenix in Linwood and are building a new VW showroom at the former Ford one in Linwood and presumably going to add something else to the former VW showroom, and are also expanding VW in crow road. The only thing theyve done this year that hasnt been an expansion is to close Peat Road Renault.
The thing is, any time Arnie takes someone over, they always say "we didnt go out looking to expand or trying to buy up more acquisitions, we are offered these opportunities by the other dealers" so if thats true, that would hint that Verve offered them the sites, meaning they must be in financial trouble.
HendryG said:
there was also Skellys Ford who had dealerships in Dumbarton, and cumbernauld road in Glasgow and Windmillhill street in Motherwell which are now Evans Halshaw and prior to that Laidlaw, Trust Motors and then Reg Vardy. Not sure if they were anything to do with Ian Skelly or another different Skelly, but the Skellys logo was almost identical to the Skellys logo on the Netherton Motorstore pre AC takeover.
I heard that Ian Skelly and his brother were in partnership in that venture and fell out. So Ian set up the VAG dealerships.HendryG said:
I really dont know how its been allowed though, surely it breaks some sort of competition laws as people round here have no option but to use AC for VW unless they want to travel down to Ayr or up to Stirling as I believe these are now the closest non AC VW dealers now.
There's still Inch in Bathgate. But apart from them or Advantage in Stirling, you're stuck if you're in the East of the country as well.Edited by IainW on Sunday 5th August 22:48
Edited by IainW on Sunday 5th August 22:48
IainW said:
There's still Inch in Bathgate. But apart from them or Advantage in Stirling, you're stuck if you're in the East of the country.
Yeah I know there's still other VW places in Scotland, my point was just that if you stay In Glasgow or surrounding areas you've got to travel to Ingrams in Ayr or Advantage in Stirling to avoid using AC.songman3 said:
Does anyone remember the specialist car dealer, who had premises in Woodlands Rd in the late Sixties - on the corner intersection of Woodlands Rd and Woodlands Dr opposite the Bowling club if I recall correctly.
Scottish Motor Services, some fantastic cars, still there, and in the same ownership, and they still come up with some fantastic cars.Anyone remember John Haston, Eglinton Street, Ferrari nut, A&D Fraser, Rolls Royce, Springkell Drive, the three Skelly brothers, Peter Cannon (808080), Callanders in Great Western Road when they sold Aston Martins, Glen Henderson when he was the only man in Scotland allowed to sell Porsches, Bill Cleland, father of John of BTCC fame.
These days it's mostly just Arnold Clark and Douglas Park, and frankly both of them are a lot more interested in money than cars. Those were more colourful times.
IainW said:
HendryG said:
there was also Skellys Ford who had dealerships in Dumbarton, and cumbernauld road in Glasgow and Windmillhill street in Motherwell which are now Evans Halshaw and prior to that Laidlaw, Trust Motors and then Reg Vardy. Not sure if they were anything to do with Ian Skelly or another different Skelly, but the Skellys logo was almost identical to the Skellys logo on the Netherton Motorstore pre AC takeover.
I heard that Ian Skelly and his brother were in partnership in that venture and fell out. So Ian set up the VAG dealerships.HendryG said:
I really dont know how its been allowed though, surely it breaks some sort of competition laws as people round here have no option but to use AC for VW unless they want to travel down to Ayr or up to Stirling as I believe these are now the closest non AC VW dealers now.
There's still Inch in Bathgate. But apart from them or Advantage in Stirling, you're stuck if you're in the East of the country as well.Edited by IainW on Sunday 5th August 22:48
Edited by IainW on Sunday 5th August 22:48
He sold out to Appleyards in 90 or 91 I think. Then around 95 he went back into business with the Netherton Motor Store, which was initially a Nissan dealership. It clearly didn't take off the way VW did in 1976 (the Golf was introduced that year remember) plus I guess he did not need the money. He pioneered the Motor Store concept which has got a lot bigger since (Motorpoint is much the same idea) , but he sold out to Arnold Clark soon after. Very clever man.
cardigankid said:
Scottish Motor Services, some fantastic cars, still there, and in the same ownership, and they still come up with some fantastic cars.
Anyone remember John Haston, Eglinton Street, Ferrari nut, A&D Fraser, Rolls Royce, Springkell Drive, the three Skelly brothers, Peter Cannon (808080), Callanders in Great Western Road when they sold Aston Martins, Glen Henderson when he was the only man in Scotland allowed to sell Porsches, Bill Cleland, father of John of BTCC fame.
These days it's mostly just Arnold Clark and Douglas Park, and frankly both of them are a lot more interested in money than cars. Those were more colourful times.
Calanders on Gt Western Rd opp Victor Devine's was one of the first car dealers in Glasgow to have Lady sales person around 1979 - 80. Tall blonde and very smart, Tried to sell me a bright orange Fiat 131 Sport that had been rear ended at some point. Anyone remember John Haston, Eglinton Street, Ferrari nut, A&D Fraser, Rolls Royce, Springkell Drive, the three Skelly brothers, Peter Cannon (808080), Callanders in Great Western Road when they sold Aston Martins, Glen Henderson when he was the only man in Scotland allowed to sell Porsches, Bill Cleland, father of John of BTCC fame.
These days it's mostly just Arnold Clark and Douglas Park, and frankly both of them are a lot more interested in money than cars. Those were more colourful times.
HendryG said:
It also signals ACs move into Lanarkshire territory where they for years had no sites and recently just 2 non franchise motorstores as Lanarkshire was mostly considered Park's Motor Groups domain, however in the last year theyve opened up EK Toyota, took over Townpark Ford in Strathaven and now VW in Wishy, i dont see it being long before they open up more in lanarkshire, i just hope they dont take over Park's or try and buy some of their or Evans Halshaws sites in the area or im stuffed, i point blank refuse to use AC.
Any particular reason? I don't hold any candle for them, indeed I think that they are a bunch of hard nosed A-holes, and I wouldn't take a car in for one of their cheap service deals, because the total cost is likely to be horrendous. But most dealerships are like that. I bought a car from one of their outlets earlier this year, and got pretty good service. On the other hand I find that the sales staff down at the big Machargs unit just want to pressure sell which puts me off.HendryG said:
Their expansion drive this year has been pretty big, in addition to Verve and Townpark, theyve also acquired sites in Preston and Blackpool from the Co-op motor group, Halleys of Milngavie, Phoenix BMW/Mini in Kirkcaldy and built a huge new Ford showroom on the old Gala bingo premises at the Phoenix in Linwood and are building a new VW showroom at the former Ford one in Linwood and presumably going to add something else to the former VW showroom, and are also expanding VW in crow road.
It seems to me that Arnold (by which I mean his organisation) is prepared to invest in the business, where Douglas Park, who it is said is more interested in his buses, isn't. Whether it is the right thing to do only time will tell.HendryG said:
The thing is, any time Arnie takes someone over, they always say "we didnt go out looking to expand or trying to buy up more acquisitions, we are offered these opportunities by the other dealers" so if that's true, that would hint that Verve offered them the sites, meaning they must be in financial trouble.
This isn't off thread, because Arnold Clark has been a fixture of the Glasgow motor trade since the early 1950's. I think Verve were beginning to struggle though I'm not sure what the particular reasons were. But one thing is for sure, when a business starts to struggle and the directors are looking for the exit, the first thing they do is telephone the Arnold Clark organisation, because they know, or believe, they have money.Edited by cardigankid on Monday 6th August 13:40
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