Glasgow car dealers in the 60's -70's
Discussion
Gylen said:
Spookily, I can see the old site from my kitchen window...
Was Mazda then Skoda when it was Clarence Drive...
Yup. It was Mazda and Rover before that. It was part of Henry Brothers, as was Hyndland Honda round in Prince ALbert Drive. I used to work there as a valeter in my uni holidays and bought a few cars from them before they moved to the big industrial estate and became Phoenix. I also remember Ritchies, the Fiat and Ferrari dealer on Shields Road (I still remember being allowed to sit in a 308 in the showroom while my mum was signing for a 127). Merrilee Motors was the Ford dealer in Anniesland (useless bunch, a prototype Arnold Clark) and Halleys was the Vauxhall garage in Milngavie who are still there. Drymen Motors Volvo/Subaru has gone though, as has Prossers, the Toyota dealer up Great Western Road at Clydebank. I still remember one of the Prosser brothers drove a Countach round Bearsden and Baljaffry. Loved seeing that. Most famously, was Stewart's garage on the way into Dumbarton where the A814 meets the A82. As in Jackie Stewart's dad. It's now a roundabout : ( .What was the little hole in the wall Alfa dealer on the south side? I remember they could barely fit 2 cars in the showroom and the service area looked like an old school lock up. Was Mazda then Skoda when it was Clarence Drive...
Edited by Ali_T on Monday 13th August 14:11
cardigankid said:
Furthermore, I would have to commit myself to it unseen. They attempted pressure similar to what you used to get from a timeshare operation. They had found me the car I had asked for, what was my problem? I had to sign on the line that very day. The level of unpleasantness was extreme. I managed to push my way past them to the door and left.
Had similar problems with Belmont group. Wanted a Monaro VXR and Aberdeen had one. I spoke to the sales manager there about condition and he did the "I'm shocked you should not think it's perfect. It's in prime place in our showroom and I wouldn't let any car that's not as new in that spot" etc etc. So gave them the benefit of the doubt, gave Edinburgh Belmont a deposit to get it brought down and it was in shocking condition. Lacquer peeling off the bumbers, paint missing from door handles, misaligned bootlid, acid damage on the bonnet, a large ding and two gouges on the nearside wing, constant loud metallic clunk from the rear suspension and pulling to one side, more than just a wheel alignment issue IMO...an absolute dog. When I asked for my deposit back, the Edinburgh sales manager became very illusive and it had suddenly become non refundable. At which point I had to point out that the condition I was told was a complete fib and, so, any contract, written or unwritten, should be thrown in the bin. "What's wrong with it?", he asked. I had to be honest and tell him it was a pile of s
te! "But we've paid Aberdeen to bring it down for you"..."Then you should speak to Aberdeen about what a pile of lies they told me". The cheque eventually came through the post. Would never deal with them again.Edited by Ali_T on Monday 13th August 14:50
I remember something similar happened with Parks.
Back in 2007n I visited the Parks Honda in Hamilton looking for a diesel CRV sport and the one that best fitted the criteria was in their Ayr branch. So after making sure I was serious, they arranged to "buy" it from there.
I then went back to inspect it and although it was under 10k miles as specified, it had been owned by a farmer who had a dog.
The car was in awaful condition, the dog had chewed its way through the three rear seat belts, the boot carpet, the rear back of the seat as well as the parcel shelf.
The dealer didn't point this out - it was me who highlighted it and to be fair they immediately took it off sale and as far as I was led to believe, sent it back down to Ayr!
Back in 2007n I visited the Parks Honda in Hamilton looking for a diesel CRV sport and the one that best fitted the criteria was in their Ayr branch. So after making sure I was serious, they arranged to "buy" it from there.
I then went back to inspect it and although it was under 10k miles as specified, it had been owned by a farmer who had a dog.
The car was in awaful condition, the dog had chewed its way through the three rear seat belts, the boot carpet, the rear back of the seat as well as the parcel shelf.
The dealer didn't point this out - it was me who highlighted it and to be fair they immediately took it off sale and as far as I was led to believe, sent it back down to Ayr!
Humper said:
Back on topic, what about dealers in Killie? Maconochies, JW Scotts, Dunlops, Calex Car Sales ......
The one that springs to mind from Killie for me is Dalry Motor Company the Citroen/Renault dealers.As for JW Scott's, theres a guy downstairs from us has an H reg Nova with original plates from there.
After Scotts closed I remember Caledonia on Dean street, plus all the bigger names like Wypers, Parks, Strathford, Bickets, then there's all the ones in Ayr/Irvine and further afield. Harry Fairbairns Fiat/Honda/Toyota, Maconochies other dealership in Irvine, Ingrams Audi, Dalblairs, Rosefield Motors in Ayr, Archibald Jeffrey the other Renault dealer in Ayr at the same time as Wypers where Kerr and Smith is now, ATM Honda in stevenston, AT Mays Vauxhall in Ardrossan, Thomson of Beith, Robert McCalls, Mossgiel Garage Citroen, Magnum Motors in Irvine, Springside Motors.
HendryG said:
The one that springs to mind from Killie for me is Dalry Motor Company the Citroen/Renault dealers.
As for JW Scott's, theres a guy downstairs from us has an H reg Nova with original plates from there.
After Scotts closed I remember Caledonia on Dean street, plus all the bigger names like Wypers, Parks, Strathford, Bickets, then there's all the ones in Ayr/Irvine and further afield. Harry Fairbairns Fiat/Honda/Toyota, Maconochies other dealership in Irvine, Ingrams Audi, Dalblairs, Rosefield Motors in Ayr, Archibald Jeffrey the other Renault dealer in Ayr at the same time as Wypers where Kerr and Smith is now, ATM Honda in stevenston, AT Mays Vauxhall in Ardrossan, Thomson of Beith, Robert McCalls, Mossgiel Garage Citroen, Magnum Motors in Irvine, Springside Motors.
My father was service manager inJ&W Scotts remember them as Triumph then added Rover before going to Vauxhall got picked up from school in gt6,spitfires tr6's stags and my favourite 2500 P.I triumphs.Then there was wellington street cars Opel dealersAs for JW Scott's, theres a guy downstairs from us has an H reg Nova with original plates from there.
After Scotts closed I remember Caledonia on Dean street, plus all the bigger names like Wypers, Parks, Strathford, Bickets, then there's all the ones in Ayr/Irvine and further afield. Harry Fairbairns Fiat/Honda/Toyota, Maconochies other dealership in Irvine, Ingrams Audi, Dalblairs, Rosefield Motors in Ayr, Archibald Jeffrey the other Renault dealer in Ayr at the same time as Wypers where Kerr and Smith is now, ATM Honda in stevenston, AT Mays Vauxhall in Ardrossan, Thomson of Beith, Robert McCalls, Mossgiel Garage Citroen, Magnum Motors in Irvine, Springside Motors.
Slightly off topic, but still interesting in my opinion.
http://www.arnoldclark.com/john-r-weir-acquisition...
http://www.arnoldclark.com/john-r-weir-acquisition...
Sorry to revive an old thread but I found this whilst trying to find what Land Rover dealers where in the Glasgow area in the 80's.
Basically I'm doing a bit of a refurb on my Glasgow registered 1984 110 V8 and was wondering where it may have come from originally, anyway, thanks in advance,
Steve.
Basically I'm doing a bit of a refurb on my Glasgow registered 1984 110 V8 and was wondering where it may have come from originally, anyway, thanks in advance,
Steve.
msteve said:
Sorry to revive an old thread but I found this whilst trying to find what Land Rover dealers where in the Glasgow area in the 80's.
Basically I'm doing a bit of a refurb on my Glasgow registered 1984 110 V8 and was wondering where it may have come from originally, anyway, thanks in advance,
Steve.
I live in Lanarkshire and only remember Taggarts in Motherwell, I'm not sure what else there was nearer the big smoke. Basically I'm doing a bit of a refurb on my Glasgow registered 1984 110 V8 and was wondering where it may have come from originally, anyway, thanks in advance,
Steve.
groak said:
Wasn't Falkirk Car Stadium (Grant family) 70's as well as '80's? Whatever happened to it?
Was that the one on the main road in Camelon? Also had another large shed up behind the main garage. I think there is still someone there selling cars but not sure what its called.I also remember Archers Lada garage at the end of Camelon. The garage is still there but I think it sells Suzuki's now, don't think its called Archers now. There was also another car dealer at the petrol station near Alexander Dennis too.
In Falkirk itself I remember my dad buying 2 cars (not at the same time) from a Nissan garage at the top of Grahams Road where the retail park is now. Such was my dads budget we were ushered out back to view a Datsun 140J almost in amongst the railway sidings!
In Cumbernauld there was an Alexanders Ford garage at the town centre where Blockbuster now are. McCashins Rover garage in Seafar which is now just a petrol station. Watson's had a Vauxhall garage in South Carbrain near the railway station. It also had a petrol station which outlived the Watson's showroom. Whole site is an AC Kia dealer. A really small site for an AC dealer.
Anyone remember Southbank Motors Kirkintilloch? My dad always looked there but never bought anything. Place ended up with an Evening Times investigation into dodgy finance scams. Think its now a tool hire place.
Alexanders had, or may still have a Ford dealer in Kirkie too.
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.ch108 said:
groak said:
Wasn't Falkirk Car Stadium (Grant family) 70's as well as '80's? Whatever happened to it?
Was that the one on the main road in Camelon? Also had another large shed up behind the main garage. I think there is still someone there selling cars but not sure what its called.I also remember Archers Lada garage at the end of Camelon. The garage is still there but I think it sells Suzuki's now, don't think its called Archers now. There was also another car dealer at the petrol station near Alexander Dennis too.
In Falkirk itself I remember my dad buying 2 cars (not at the same time) from a Nissan garage at the top of Grahams Road where the retail park is now. Such was my dads budget we were ushered out back to view a Datsun 140J almost in amongst the railway sidings!
In Cumbernauld there was an Alexanders Ford garage at the town centre where Blockbuster now are. McCashins Rover garage in Seafar which is now just a petrol station. Watson's had a Vauxhall garage in South Carbrain near the railway station. It also had a petrol station which outlived the Watson's showroom. Whole site is an AC Kia dealer. A really small site for an AC dealer.
Anyone remember Southbank Motors Kirkintilloch? My dad always looked there but never bought anything. Place ended up with an Evening Times investigation into dodgy finance scams. Think its now a tool hire place.
Alexanders had, or may still have a Ford dealer in Kirkie too.
Archers at Camelon in Falkirk is still owned by them but now called Frasers of Falkirk and has recently changed from Suzuki to Chevrolet, Suzuki dealer is now Ian Grieve (Subaru dealers at Glasgow road) and this is the last remaining Archers dealership since they close the Hyundai one in Langside, Glasgow a couple of years ago, the Airdrie branch became TOM van sales/rental and Archers moved to the Whirlies in East Kilbride before Parks bought the land off them and then the Archers Hyundai at Sighthill in Edinburgh got took over by Macklin Motors.
The Nissan dealers I remember in Falkirk were Falkirk Motor Market and much later David Morrison.
As for Gillespies of Lenzie I believe they actually sold out much earlier than when it became Arnold Clark, it was taken over by Tomkins Vauxhall in Edinburgh road, Glasgow who themselves then got taken over by Arnold who only wanted he Vauxhall franchise they had to put into one of his Mount Vernon showrooms which had previously been a Rover dealer when MGR went down the tubes in 2005, they still also have the old Gillespies bodyshop at the Woodilee estate in Lenzie which is really rundown now.
Re the poster who wanted to trace which Glasgow Land Rover dealer his car came from, were Gaulds in Mosspark Boulevard nd later Garscube road as early as '84, I know they were LR dealers later in the 80s. Don't know of Arnold Clarks Rover branches still sold LR as late as that, I know they did until about 1980, not sure about after that
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