Glasgow car dealers in the 60's -70's

[ian2144]

Commercial vehicles forgot about them !!

My old man had a conection with Swailes Forrest back in the early 70's. Some ex Gas board Bedford HA vans springs to mind.

[Por911T]

Hey dont knock the vans - where theres muck theres brass !!

[Aidayboy]

Can't believe there hasn't been alot mentioned about the institution that was Wylies on Pollockshaws Rd, as on of the few RS dealers at the time that actually had cars worth showing, I remember going with a friends dad to pick up his White sapphire 2wd cosworth, going from there to the parkhead forge to see a film and coming out to no car, classic memories just don't know why my fathers mark 4 1.1 popular escort never suffered the same fate!

Ax

[ian2144]

Aidayboy said:

Can't believe there hasn't been alot mentioned about the institution that was Wylies on Pollockshaws Rd, as on of the few RS dealers at the time that actually had cars worth showing, I remember going with a friends dad to pick up his White sapphire 2wd cosworth, going from there to the parkhead forge to see a film and coming out to no car, classic memories just don't know why my fathers mark 4 1.1 popular escort never suffered the same fate!

Ax

Yes, did go to Wylies regularly and drool over Mexico's and RS2000's in the mid 70's

[dunkspeed]

Aye, me again!

Chatting today and remembered this thread.

Verve motors now run both Ian Skelly VW sites in Glasgow and Wishy (bought from Appleyard/Jardine motors who originally bought them From Ian Skelly) The remainder of the Ian Skelly group (Liverpool etc.) was swallowed up by Arnold Shark.
They also own the former Bickets sites in Kilmarnock (minus Jeep/Dodge/suzuki/Volvo dealerships) and Motorway cars in Bathgate and Coatbridge (but closed down the Lanark dealership).

Verve started out as the Gael motor company and relaunched as Verve in the late 90s.

Archers originally had branches in Glasgow (next to Hampden), Edinburgh and Airdrie.
Not 100% sure about how the company started but their general manager of their Glasgow branch bought a stake in the company. This gave them the finance to get a Hyundai dealership. To distance it from the rest of the group it was rebranded as Hytec Hyundai. Eventually the guy bought himself out leaving Archers in Edinburgh and Airdrie.

Thru an amicable split between the remaining directors, Jim Donnelly kept the Edinburgh showrooms and Robert McGregor kept the Airdrie one, renaming it Arch.

Parks have done a fair bit of buying out too. Westcars/County Saab is now Parks and the former Mackay & Jardine Vauxhall garage in Motherwell is Parks Renault. Ian Mackay (one of its former owners) is one of the directors of Parks now.

Finally, Robert Forrester (Son of Andrew Forrester, Fife Nissan dealer) is one of the directors of Vertu motors (Who own Macklin motors, Bristol street motors etc.)

[andyd68]

I remember my dad getting a VW Jetta from Merrylee Motors back in the late 80s. I think Arnold Shark took them over but it was still a VW franchise.

[IainW]

dunkspeed said:

Aye, me again!

Chatting today and remembered this thread.

Verve motors now run both Ian Skelly VW sites in Glasgow and Wishy (bought from Appleyard/Jardine motors who originally bought them From Ian Skelly) The remainder of the Ian Skelly group (Liverpool etc.) was swallowed up by Arnold Shark.

From what I can make out, the Wishaw/Newmains Ian Skelly site was originally a Ford, then BL dealership run by BTCC champ John Cleland's father. He then sold out to Appleyard on the proviso that he didn't set up locally, hence their move to Peebles.

Heard today that Uncle Arnold has bought Halleys of Milngavie. That'll be another name consigned to the history books no doubt.

Edited by IainW on Friday 23 December 23:56

[Toaster Pilot]

It's pretty grim around here now really isn't it - Arnie and Parks control the vast majority of the franchises (and there's not much between them in terms of how ste they are)

[Stuart70]

I remember a rover dealer on Royston rd area in the 70's. My grandfather and uncle both picked up their sd1 v8 rovers from there. Dad picked up our maxi from their as well;ah well, not everyone can have a v8. Re the v8, the owner (or son) had a Ferrari 512bb which was in when we were picking up a new car. I caused much amusement by asking why he did not run the type of car he was selling. Caused much amusement from youngster as I recall.

Also good memories of picking up Audi 80/90s fro skelly's in the early/mid 80's.

Happy memories and very different from getting my new company vw delivered directly to the office. Miss the sense of occasion of picking up from the dealer. ...

[ian2144]

Dutch Corner (DAF) at Saracen Cross, can remember going for parts for our 33 Van.

[IainW]

Toaster Pilot said:

It's pretty grim around here now really isn't it - Arnie and Parks control the vast majority of the franchises (and there's not much between them in terms of how ste they are)

Add to that Verve and Evans Halshaw. Not many independents about in certain areas now.

[Angelus]

IainW said:

From what I can make out, the Wishaw/Newmains Ian Skelly site was originally a Ford, then BL dealership run by BTCC champ John Cleland's father. He then sold out to Appleyard on the proviso that he didn't set up locally, hence their move to Peebles.

I don't remember them being anything but VW/Audi called Skellys? Ian Skelly still lives in the Lee Woods between Carluke and Lanark, although his house he bought with the money from the sale to Appleyards is up for sale. I remember he bought the reg' AUD1 in the '80s. Audi wanted it and he refused to sell it, don't know if he still has it? I do know he did run the site before it was sold and he was involved when they sponsored Motherwell football club. But I was just a lad and it was 20 odd years ago.

[Craigie]

Stuart70 said:

I remember a rover dealer on Royston rd area in the 70's. My grandfather and uncle both picked up their sd1 v8 rovers from there. Dad picked up our maxi from their as well;ah well, not everyone can have a v8. Re the v8, the owner (or son) had a Ferrari 512bb which was in when we were picking up a new car. I caused much amusement by asking why he did not run the type of car he was selling. Caused much amusement from youngster as I recall.

Also good memories of picking up Audi 80/90s fro skelly's in the early/mid 80's.

Happy memories and very different from getting my new company vw delivered directly to the office. Miss the sense of occasion of picking up from the dealer. ...

Was that Rover dealer not Macharg Rennie & Lindsay who, wait for it, were swallowed up by Uncle Arnold as well?????

[groak]

Not a CAR dealer, but Mickey Oates has got to be worth a mention. Got my first legal bike from him in '68, and was at his place the other day looking for what'll probably be my last one. Can't be many indy dealers going as long as MO.

Fukk! Completely forgot! Merry Xmas 1 & all!

Edited by groak on Sunday 25th December 01:52

[S2red]

The sad thing about all the big guys is all they are interested in selling is cars from bulk purchase they have not the one you wany (that option you want means 3 months delay!) gap insurance extended warranties etc Best one I had recently was Arnold trying to charge extra for metallic on a 3 mn0th old pre reg! Thank goodness there are still some small family dealerships out there.

[Toaster Pilot]

S2red said:

The sad thing about all the big guys is all they are interested in selling is cars from bulk purchase they have not the one you wany (that option you want means 3 months delay!) gap insurance extended warranties etc Best one I had recently was Arnold trying to charge extra for metallic on a 3 mn0th old pre reg! Thank goodness there are still some small family dealerships out there.

Unfortunately though for some cars they are so cheap that they leave you no viable choice.

For example, in March 2011 - Kia Picanto 1.0 '1' in Clear White, brand new

Pheonix - £6495
Flear and Thomson - £6695
Arnold Clark - £5500

[S2red]

Yes but how old was Arnold's and being very cynical was is still for sale?

His prices are often excellent BUT often have sting in tail though in fairness if looking for right car at right time at end of sales period you can get lucky if they are desparate to shift the last few of a batch.

[Toaster Pilot]

To be fair yes it was built in October 2010 and had been sitting in a compound with about 10 others at that branch. Since Kia stopped building the Picanto at about the start of 2011 that's not that bad though.

(I bought one)

I did notice that in September they still had a couple of them for sale that were now pre-registered on '11' plates (for more than I paid for mine ), so I assume I got it so cheap because they were looking to shift them before a certain time and pre-registered the ones they couldn't to meet the target.

Edited by Toaster Pilot on Sunday 25th December 13:37

Edited by Toaster Pilot on Sunday 25th December 13:38

[S2red]

Nice one

My dads last Corsa was same so cheap the other dealerships words were bite their hand of they must have made a mistake

The Zafira I've just bought they were not interested as they had none available yet 5 days after seeing it on Vauxhall network Q stock page I drove it off the forecourt of my friendly garage in West Calder

[Angelus]

Woods?

They keep some new stock on show in Ross's of Lanark. All car dealerships in Lanark have gone. Ross's only sell used cars. If you want a new one, they send you through to West Calder. You can buy a new tractor there though?

The old Taggarts in Carluke is now a bacon factory.