Old, Long Forgotten Car Dealers

WDB123 · 31-12-2011 4:42am

Ryans Roscrea Ford dealer over 80 years still going still family owned

Type 17 · 31-12-2011 11:41pm

I remember that, in 1977, my dad bought a new white Fiat 127 Special (390 VZA) from Tractamotors, who were based on the Naas Road, near Newlands Cross. From seeing dealer stickers on other Fiats, they also had a branch on Prussia Street in Dublin.

MercMad · 02-01-2012 10:54pm

Tractamotors on Prussia street were there well into the 90's.

swarlb · 03-01-2012 1:09am

Type 17 wrote: »

I remember that, in 1977, my dad bought a new white Fiat 127 Special (390 VZA) from Tractamotors, who were based on the Naas Road, near Newlands Cross. From seeing dealer stickers on other Fiats, they also had a branch on Prussia Street in Dublin.

Tractamotors were never at that location. The 'Motor Centre' was, which had a tentative link to Tracta. The original Tractamotors was in Cavan, the one in Prussia Street was a branch, originally a BMC dealer, they took on Fiat in the 60's, as at that time Fiat had a few models under £500, making Fiat an attractive proposition. They also sold Lancia.
Tractamotors remains under the original ownership as a Tyre supplier. The company in Blanch, only trades under the name (story in itself).
The company ceased in the early 90's, although there was a link to Motorvalue (Datsun/Nissan) also located at the same premises in Prussia St.
A few of the original staff came from Booth Poole in Islandbridge.

Type 17 · 03-01-2012 8:29am

swarlb wrote: »

Tractamotors were never at that location. The 'Motor Centre' was, which had a tentative link to Tracta.

Well, they had enough of a link that my dad picked his Fiat up there, and it had a Tractamotors sticker on the rear window. I seem to remember a Tractamotors sign there at some stage, but I definitely remember the ‘Motor Centre’ sign afterwards, now that you mention it.

Not too bad a memory, considering that I was only 8 at the time.

alias no.9 · 03-01-2012 10:39pm

500man wrote: »

Some old dealers there , love to get some old fiat and vw dealers stickers the cartrack was car and tractor they were massey dealers as well Finlays had the dealership later in thurles

Newmarket Motor Works, now known as Newmarket Motors were Fiat dealers before picking up the VW franchise in the mid '80s. A major trawl of old photos at my folks could turn up something with a Fiat sticker, wouldn't be any VW ones there but you're far more likely to find a VW with a Newmarket Motor Works still in the window.

Kiri · 06-01-2012 9:50pm

gfwd wrote: »

Hmm, not so sure about that. They assembled Vauxhalls and Chevrolets (I think) back in the day from ckd kits.

They were indeed, though I don't remember there being any link with any Leyland products there. They produced all Rootes products before and after the Chrysler takeover and finished up as Talbot in the 80s.

Hi, I worked there for many years in the 70's , There was some assembly in the SWD (special works dept) where they lenghtened chassis and similar modifications .The Belarus (???) tractor had minor assy as did the Fiat Allis earth equipment on this site but definately no car assy. The main garage was devided into two sides HGV on l.h.s.(incl rolling road test bay) and small commercial and car on r.h.s . At the time the Gardai used mainly the VX1800 / 2300 and the P+T, Premier Dairies, plus Army used mainly Bedford equip. These were the bread and butter for McCairns motors who were swallowed up under the GM brand in around 1978ish. Ahh Happy Day's and Tommy McCairns cheffeur driven Gold RR.

Tonyaus · 07-01-2012 2:02am

McCairns Motors were Vauxhall distributers for many years i think

Kevin_Herron · 07-01-2012 10:30pm

Tonyaus wrote: »

McCairns Motors were Vauxhall distributers for many years i think

And Chevrolet!!

Kiri · 09-01-2012 12:36am

Hi Kevin H.
This "and Cheverolet" bit has meself puzzeled! ! ! McCairns had a proud and interesting history which was on view (in picture form) all around the Customer Waiting area at the front of the building reception area. I don't think I heard the Chevvy culture in Santry. So what vintage are we talking about and was it assembly on site or re-fit for Irish market. I can't imagine ANY quantity of (LHD) V8 360" block's cruising around D4 ?

Tonyaus · 10-01-2012 12:50am

Must admit I have no recollection of Chevvy either. They had an extensive dealer network for Vauxhall throughout Ire. The Wexford dealer back then was Boggans on the quay.

Tonyaus

Kevin_Herron · 10-01-2012 1:04am

Kiri wrote: »

Hi Kevin H.
This "and Cheverolet" bit has meself puzzeled! ! ! McCairns had a proud and interesting history which was on view (in picture form) all around the Customer Waiting area at the front of the building reception area. I don't think I heard the Chevvy culture in Santry. So what vintage are we talking about and was it assembly on site or re-fit for Irish market. I can't imagine ANY quantity of (LHD) V8 360" block's cruising around D4 ?

No the Irish Assembled Chevrolets were RHD and the poverty spec 6 cylinder.
McCairns assembled them at their North Wall plant.
The last Irish assembled Chevrolet was '65.

mathepac · 10-01-2012 1:42am

Lincoln & Nolan Lr. Baggot St (Austin, BMC, BL, Heinkel), Booth Poole, Islandbridge, (Morris) Archers, Pearse Street (Ford), Spooners Roscrea (VW)

Tonyaus · 10-01-2012 2:08am

G A Brittain was the Morris distributer. From memory Booth Poole were Rover and Jaguar. Brittain's lost the Morris distributorship and took on Datsun in the early 70's but eventually closed down.

Tonyaus

Protow · 11-01-2012 11:50pm

Summerhill Commercials were a ERF dealer but they are long gone. It is a real pity cause good garages who would bend over backwards for their loyal customers are nearly a thing of the past now!

goochy · 12-01-2012 3:00pm

summmerhill commercials are now m50 truck and van - merecedes dealers in finglas but still look after erfs

Protow · 13-01-2012 12:35am

You are right but with BIG fancy garage and Mercedes dealership brought along big changes there. I got a head gasket on an ERF with a 14ltr Cummins engine done in the new place and hats off they done a great job. As they say Hummins like a Cummins!

Protow · 13-01-2012 12:43am

You are right but with BIG fancy garage and Mercedes dealership brought along big changes there. I got a head gasket on an ERF with a 14ltr Cummins engine done in the new place and hats off they done a great job. As they say Hummins like a Cummins!

Kiri · 16-01-2012 10:48pm

Kevin_Herron wrote: »

No the Irish Assembled Chevrolets were RHD and the poverty spec 6 cylinder.
McCairns assembled them at their North Wall plant.
The last Irish assembled Chevrolet was '65.

Tnx for the clarification, slightly before my time N Wall closed before my time at Santry. I never heard any mention of Chevvy from the aul sweat's at T breaks though. Again thanks for the info.

BowWow · 10-05-2012 6:30pm

Looks like HB Dennis is gone too. A real shame - decent people, a long time around with a good reputation.

manta mad · 10-05-2012 10:08pm

BowWow wrote: »

Looks like HB Dennis is gone too. A real shame - decent people, a long time around with a good reputation.

Yep unfortuneatly their gone after 55 years in business

chinwag · 10-05-2012 10:58pm

It's really worrying and depressing to see such long established motor companies (like this one, and others) go out of business - having survived previous recessions - it shows how bad things really are now. As a matter of interest, is it long since the company ceased trading?
EDIT: There is a thread on Motors forum on this subject.

exador · 10-05-2012 11:11pm

closed as of yesterday evening i beleive

Capri · 10-05-2012 11:20pm

Pierce Roche on the Malahide Rd where the Topaz beside Tesco Clarehall is. In the 60's he was a dealer for (I think) Opel (Kadett

but he was also an agent for HCB Angus fire trucks and , as a boating enthuiast, used to have (Fletcher?) speedboats in the showroom beside the cars. Can smell the fiberglass now:rolleyes:.
Used to help out when I was about 13 polishing cars and bought my first clunker for IRP7 (Austin A40 Cambridge) off him.:D, also cleaned spark plugs on their sandblaster - memories
Later got a job in PR Reillys when they sold DKW, Lloyd and Borgward as well as accessories:cool:

prosmart · 30-05-2012 12:11am

You have me thinking of the mid 80s/90s in Limerick now. There was A&W Motors on the dock road. Lada dealers. Gleeson bros on Ellen st, Seat at the time but i think rootes before that. Doherty and o Dwyer in tipp, The old OMaras on the ennis road. Paddy Cooney in Corbally, The bedford garage on bedford row, John Moloney moved around a fair bit, Huet motors in Ballysimon, Ian McGill in dooradoyle, The old Lyons of limerick. McAllens in shannon. Truck car on the dock road were isuzu dealers. Franklins in ballysimon were jag and gas conversion specialists Clareview motors used be Saab. Elm was volvo, Leonards, renault. Im sure i will think of more.

Tonyaus · 30-05-2012 12:42am

What about Dan Ryan, Punches Cross. I think they have long gone

Tonyaus

prosmart · 30-05-2012 12:48am

Tonyaus wrote: »

What about Dan Ryan, Punches Cross. I think they have long gone

Tonyaus

Moloneys were there too. Told you they moved about

Tonyaus · 30-05-2012 12:54am

Was Dan Ryan one of the Ryan Air family. I know he had a big car rental operation in the 70's

Tonyaus

Capri · 30-05-2012 6:44am

Worked for a while in Dan Ryan truck rental in Cloghran - Charlie Ryan (an American) was the gaffer. Think all the trucks were green with red Dan Ryan logo, later changed to blue/white colours.

Do-more · 30-05-2012 11:47am

Arthur Fenton used to be the Ford main dealer in Mullingar, the workshop used to be located here and the workshop and compound across the street here it then became Castle Motors when "Goldie" Doyle bought it.

Martin Bros. were the Austin -> British Leyland dealers with premises here which eventually became the Ford dealership premises when the Castle street sites were re-developed.

Nugents were the VW dealers operating from this premises back in the day. They are gone from there a long time but it is still known locally as "Nugent's corner".

Old, Long Forgotten Car Dealers

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