Old, Long Forgotten Car Dealers

JabbaTheHut · 20-04-2011 12:52am

In Tipperary, there was Doherty and O Dwyer, Limerick road, Tipp town. Main Ford Dealers. Went bust in 89, I think. Dealership went to Barlo in Clonmel after that.

Dillions in Irishtown Clonmel. Volkswagen dealer. Went about the same time.

Egan Bros, also in Clonmel. At the Cashel road roundabout. Where Colville and Hunt are now. Were Hillman dealers. Finished up as Talbot dealers in about 84

exador · 20-04-2011 8:43pm

VolvoMan wrote: »

Yes, that's correct. It's mentioned in his book.

I think they held what was called a 'sub franchise' for FIAT that was in conjunction with Sweeney & Forte or something along those lines.

I never read the book...is it worth reading ? He was in partnership with another guy called Al ...... can;t for the lifr of me remember the surname but he opened uo Parkmore Motor group and Bill went to Fairlane. They were a big player in the LPG conversion market which was poular at the time due to fuel crisis..

VolvoMan · 20-04-2011 11:54pm

exador wrote: »

I never read the book...is it worth reading ?

It's a good read if you want an insight into the way the way the Irish motor industry was in the 60's, 70's and 80's and if you can stomach reading about Bill Cullen for hundreds of pages. It is really only of interest from the middle to the end, leading from when he gets his first job in Walden's to buying the Renault distribution in 1986.

can;t for the lifr of me remember the surname but he opened uo Parkmore Motor group and Bill went to Fairlane.

I'm pretty sure that guy was mentioned in the book, although I can't remember his name.

swarlb · 21-04-2011 10:21pm

VolvoMan wrote: »

Yes, that's correct. It's mentioned in his book.

I think they held what was called a 'sub franchise' for FIAT that was in conjunction with Sweeney & Forte or something along those lines.

Not quite true, they were never a 'sub franchise' for Fiat. At that particular time, it was almost impossible to get any cars in Ireland, apart from Ford and Fiat. Distributors were simply not supplying them. Cullen leased cars (Fiats) from Sweeneys and also from Tractamotors, and simply sold them on. The market at the time was dominated by Ford and Fiat.
I worked for Tractamotors in Prussia St from the 70's up till just before they closed in the early 90's. While the name may be the same, its the only similaraty to the Tractamotors in Blanch, who took on Fiat in the early 80's. Tractamotors originated in Cavan, and are still there. The Dublin Garage was originally BMC, and took on Fiat and Lancia in the early 60's, mainly because at the time Fiat had 3 models, 500, 600 and 850 priced under £500.

BowWow · 22-04-2011 10:58am

carchaeologist wrote: »

We had a Kadett
with a Crawfords dealer sticker on it, are they still going?

I think Crawfords were originally in Harch St in Dublin, but moved to Sandymount in the 70's. Some years ago Crawfords was sold to Winfield of Rathmines. They kept the Crawford brand - it was actually the Winfield Grp which went out of business.

BowWow · 22-04-2011 11:01am

gfwd wrote: »

I remember Huet Motors. They did indeed finish up in Townsend Street and were in Lad Lane before that. As far as I know they were in Lower Mount Street before that. An old neighbour of mine used to work there and he used to bring a different car home every night. I can remember plenty of Dolly Sprints, big Volvos and the odd Jag. He'd often bring a gang of us out for a spin in whatever he had home that night, usually at scary speeds. Happy days!

Before Lad Lane Huets were at the canal bridge on Mount St. Clanwilliam House office block there now. Site of the original Clanwilliam House - major site of the easter 1916 Rising.

BowWow · 22-04-2011 11:03am

jos28 wrote: »

Waldens of Parnell Street - Ford dealers

Waldens still exist and runa "Fleet" from out in Blanchardstown.

Waldens also had a branch in Coolock - now a funeral home.

Also had a branch at the 5 Lamps in the 1960's.

BowWow · 22-04-2011 11:07am

jos28 wrote: »

Downeys in Clontarf, block of apartments there now.

Opel dealers around 1970. Premises sold to Michael Grant - the Opel centre on the Malahide Rd.
Was to be a BMW dealers, but became an apartment block with the Celtic Tiger.

The Michael Grant Opelcentre was sold to Crossans, in turn it moved to Airside and is now part of the Winsor Group.

BowWow · 22-04-2011 11:17am

Another few - Clontarf Mtrs. Was a Renault dealer for years. Opened by Paddy Stevens after Smiths of Coolock closed. Smiths had been the Renault dealer for the area and Paddy had worked there. Smiths was located just where you turn off the dual carriageway into Coolock village.

Heeleys Malahide - Ford Dealers - Esso petrol station still there.

VolvoMan · 22-04-2011 4:07pm

BowWow wrote: »

Before Lad Lane Huets were at the canal bridge on Mount St. Clanwilliam House office block there now. Site of the original Clanwilliam House - major site of the easter 1916 Rising.

I have a feeling this big building might be their old Lad Lane premises: http://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&q=Lad%20Lane%2C%20Dublin&um=1&biw=1280&bih=933&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=il

The place they last had in Townsend Street is now an apartment block: http://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&q=Lombard%20Street%20East%2C%20Dublin&um=1&biw=1280&bih=933&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=il

VolvoMan · 27-04-2011 12:28am

BowWow wrote: »

Before Lad Lane Huets were at the canal bridge on Mount St. Clanwilliam House office block there now. Site of the original Clanwilliam House - major site of the easter 1916 Rising.

I just found a picture that I think is of the premises you are talking about, on the far right:

attachment.php?attachmentid=2033

Some very interesting scenery also.

FRANKENFURTER · 27-04-2011 2:07am

od and ods up on the old cahir road had some fun in that car park....theres a co op shop there now
:rolleyes:

RobAMerc · 27-04-2011 4:45pm

there used to be a Saab main dealer in Cahir county Tipp, Donnie "something" or other. My dad tried to buy a 900 turbo off him when they first came out I remember but he wouldn't take our Opel Record (E1 Berlina I think) as a trade in as it was too new ( Dad bought it in a fit and regretted it from day 0 ).
Anyway - this lad was a fairly accomplished rally driver from what I remember.

gfwd · 27-04-2011 5:12pm

Another few - Clontarf Mtrs. Was a Renault dealer for years. Opened by Paddy Stevens after Smiths of Coolock closed. Smiths had been the Renault dealer for the area and Paddy had worked there. Smiths was located just where you turn off the dual carriageway into Coolock village.

Smiths had a garage on Drumcondra Road too, beside the Skylon. It's a tyre fitters now

gfwd · 27-04-2011 5:17pm

I just found a picture that I think is of the premises you are talking about, on the far right:

Great pic. Where did you find that?? By chance I was stopped on the bridge that pic was taken from at lunchtime and there was a canal boat in that exact spot. Everything else has changed quite a bit though.

VolvoMan · 27-04-2011 6:25pm

gfwd wrote: »

Great pic. Where did you find that??

Some Irish historical forum.

Hermy · 27-04-2011 7:58pm

gfwd wrote: »

Great pic. Where did you find that?? By chance I was stopped on the bridge that pic was taken from at lunchtime and there was a canal boat in that exact spot. Everything else has changed quite a bit though.

I.W.A.I.

BowWow · 04-05-2011 10:58pm

VolvoMan wrote: »

Another dealer that's been around since 1938 and is still going relatively strong is Maxwell Motors. Over the the years they've been dealers for British Leyland, Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Bentley/RR, Honda, Mitsubishi and BMW/MINI.
Much of their history is depicted on their website, with some interesting old period pictures of their garage: http://www.maxwellmotors.ie

Very sad, but I understand that Maxwells ceased trading last Friday.

BowWow · 04-05-2011 10:59pm

Maxwell website down too.

-Chris- · 04-05-2011 11:08pm

Yep, you're correct.

JabbaTheHut · 04-05-2011 11:26pm

RobAMerc wrote: »

there used to be a Saab main dealer in Cahir county Tipp, Donnie "something" or other. My dad tried to buy a 900 turbo off him when they first came out I remember but he wouldn't take our Opel Record (E1 Berlina I think) as a trade in as it was too new ( Dad bought it in a fit and regretted it from day 0 ).
Anyway - this lad was a fairly accomplished rally driver from what I remember.

I don't remember him being a Saab dealer, but I think the guy you were talking about is Donie Keating. He was pretty successful on the rally circuit alright. He owns a Hyuandi dealer there now. Only experience I have is when he refused to do a small warranty job on my car (€10 or so), because I didn't buy it there.

280special · 05-05-2011 2:47pm

Remember Archers Ford, My dad had a company Mk 1 and then Mk 2 Escort estates from them.

Couple more disappeared dealers;

McQuillan's, Ford dealers in Carrickmacross, Co.Monaghan, bought a Mk2 Escort from them. Closed many years ago and now a furniture shop.

Motorman's of Shercock, Opel Dealers in Co.Cavan, now shops and apartments.

DSC01418.JPG

delthedriver · 05-05-2011 10:14pm

Does anyone remember Stuarts of Ranelagh Rover dealers. Bought my first mini there in 1984 . Got 2 Ford Escorts in Waldens in 1987 and 1989 nice people to deal with. Another blast from the past Sweeney and Forte in Kilternan Fiat dealers. Watson and Johnson in Greystones Leyland dealers. Grandons in Glanmire Cork had the Alpha Romeo agency in Mid 90s. Still around I think but Fiat or Kia now.

johnayo · 05-05-2011 10:25pm

Grandons are still in Glanmire. Still Alfa Romeo dealers.They were Fiat dealers back then as well. Alfa, Fiat and Peugeot now.

BowWow · 05-05-2011 10:37pm

delthedriver wrote: »

Does anyone remember Stuarts of Ranelagh Rover dealers. Bought my first mini there in 1984 . Got 2 Ford Escorts in Waldens in 1987 and 1989 nice people to deal with. Another blast from the past Sweeney and Forte in Kilternan Fiat dealers. Watson and Johnson in Greystones Leyland dealers. Grandons in Glanmire Cork had the Alpha Romeo agency in Mid 90s. Still around I think but Fiat or Kia now.

Stuarts are still operating - Greehills Road in Tallaght I think.

Fiat in Kilternan? Was that not Ambrose Glass?

BowWow · 05-05-2011 10:39pm

VolvoMan · 05-05-2011 10:46pm

BowWow wrote: »

Stuarts are still operating - Greehills Road in Tallaght I think.

Fiat in Kilternan? Was that not Ambrose Glass?

Ambrose Glass only went I'd say a year ago. They were Alfa Romeo/FIAT for a long time, then Daewoo, then Alfa Romeo/FIAT again.

BowWow · 05-05-2011 11:02pm

Sweene & Forte did open another garage years ago in Baldoyle, cant remember the name. The premises was then TriStar Mtrs? Then Niall Murphy Mtrs? Then a branch of Mongey Plunkett? Had a few other names too - cant recall them all!

Last time I passed it was a tyre outlet...

Means Of Escape · 06-05-2011 8:58pm

Next time anyoneis passing Clinch co Meath put on a bib when you see the collection of old Irish Opels across he road from an old garage
sadly rotting to pieces

Big Nasty · 06-05-2011 9:13pm

me bolly wrote: »

Next time anyoneis passing Clinch co Meath put on a bib when you see the collection of old Irish Opels across he road from an old garage
sadly rotting to pieces

Google Map link?

Old, Long Forgotten Car Dealers

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