Glasgow car dealers in the 60's -70's
Discussion
HendryG said:
Take it that was in the days before Alfa Romeo and Lancia were only sold in Fiat dealerships?
Yes, Long before.I think it was into the mid 80's when Fiat and Lancia started sharing dealerships, then into the 90's when Alfa Romeo joined in. This is when Anold Clark got his claws into the Italian Marques.
Dumbuck Garage (Dumbarton) It was owned by Jackie Stewart's parents. I think it as a Jaguar dealership back in the 60's.
I did stop in once with my father in 73 - 74, don't remmeber what he went in to look at. I spent the whole time drooling over a Mk1 Escort RS1600 with bubble arches in Blue & white works colours, there was no convincing the old man the £2250 on an almost two year old Escort was a good buy.
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.
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.
groak said:
StescoG66 said:
..... Another one was Wylie and Lochhead..... .
I'm sure W&L were furniture makers/dealers with a large city centre store rather than motor traders.Wylie's (no Lochhead) were the motor dealers.
Edited by groak on Friday 11th May 19:04
StescoG66 said:
That one was McHarg Rennie and Lindsay pre Arnold Shark days I think. Anyone remember Bumpers in North Street?
Bumpers on North St had the Alfa Romeo dealership late 70's early 80's if memory is correct ? then changed to an Independant performance car dealer Gti's 924's 944's etc S2red said:
Odd one here Listing to radio earlier in week they were talking about being at a Motoring event and a chap in his 70's called Glen Gall was mentioned That name rings a bell but can't place it VW connection comes to mind
Back in the late 60's there was a guy by the name of Hinez Gaul, he lived in one of the bungalows at Bogside, just next to where Verve VW are now. He was a time seved NSU mechanic and had a small workshop by his house.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.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.
alanm_3 said:
Not sure if I've maybe missed them in the thread, but I recall the company I worked for in the late 70's used to get their company cars (Morris Marinas and Itals) from Fraser and Crawford in Whittingham Drive just off Great Western Road.
They moved out to Kirkintilloch a few years ago and now sell Peugeot.
Their Showroom was at the Crow Rd end of Whittingehame Dr, just by the railway bridge. Did they not change to a Honda dealer by 1980??They moved out to Kirkintilloch a few years ago and now sell Peugeot.
I have a vague memory of looking at a new 1st Gen Honda Civic.
matchmaker said:
S2red said:
Wonder if it was Mchargs or possibly as in those days they would probably be more real Land Rover focused and out of town agricultural based garage?
McHargs - I remember them as McHarg, Rennie & Lindsay opposite the Mitchell Library.
[quote=ian2144]
A story my father used to tell many moons ago, both Arnold Clark and Norrie Clalander started their motor trading in the early 50's on Temple Bridge Anniesland. Arnold was always referred to as " that fly ba night dealer"[quote]
HendryG, as an ex employee, did you ever hear any stuff from the early days ?
A story my father used to tell many moons ago, both Arnold Clark and Norrie Clalander started their motor trading in the early 50's on Temple Bridge Anniesland. Arnold was always referred to as " that fly ba night dealer"[quote]
HendryG, as an ex employee, did you ever hear any stuff from the early days ?
Bogsye said:
Perhaps not quite the correct thread, as it’s a repair garage and not a dealership, but worth a shot.
I believe my grandfather was a partner in this business, so perhaps 50’s. The location is somewhere in Glasgow’s west end.
I’d be interested if anyone can figure what street it is. A long shot, I know, as I assume it’s long since been demolished and built on.
Brian
The only garage I remember on Kirklee Rd was Callanders they were Mercedes Benz and Auto Union/DKW dealership. I was there with my Father when he was buying parts for his Auto Union, 1964 or thereabouts.I believe my grandfather was a partner in this business, so perhaps 50’s. The location is somewhere in Glasgow’s west end.
I’d be interested if anyone can figure what street it is. A long shot, I know, as I assume it’s long since been demolished and built on.
Brian
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