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Old, Long Forgotten Car Dealers

1234579

Comments

  • #302
    Big Nasty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,080 ✭✭✭✭Big Nasty


    I don't know about Winfield being in Rathmines but they were in Sandymount as Ford dealers for many years until they closed. They also owned Crawfords in Dun Laoghaire.

    EDIT: a quick google shows they were in Rathmines at one stage.


  • #303
    Capri
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,499 ✭✭✭Capri


    MCMLXXV wrote: »
    I don't know about Winfield being in Rathmines but they were in Sandymount as Ford dealers for many years until they closed. They also owned Crawfords in Dun Laoghaire.

    EDIT: a quick google shows they were in Rathmines at one stage.

    Winfield were in Upr Rathmines rd ( Maxwell Rd ).
    The Downey Bros. had a very good name in the area and were well respected.

    Went to school with Jack Downey's son, there was brothers Eamon and Andy there as well. I think Aidan was starting to collect old cars as well as doing a bit of rallying, so you never knew what'd be in the showroom.
    I worked for Michael Grant when the Malahide road site was redeveloped into more or less what appears now
    Lived beside Grants on the Malahide Rd , sold the land to him so he expanded after that before he sold the lot. Micheal Grant Opel , Richard Cassidy was the salesman along with ....


  • #304
    swarlb
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,244 ✭✭✭swarlb


    Capri wrote: »
    Downeys of Dollymount (multi dealer ) and Sweeney and Forte (FIAT) on the Howth Rd along with PR Reilly (DKW /LLOYD assemblers) and Cahills (DATSUN) up in Raheny.

    Downeys was bought by Micheal Grant (Opel - Malahide rd / Pierse Roche Opel back in the late 60's ) , he applied for permission to extend and was told the area was zoned residential - so he built apartments (and retired to Spain I think :cool: )


    Sweeney and Forte are still there, as is PR Reilly. Hardly forgotton.....


  • #305
    Mac 3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 524 ✭✭✭Mac 3


    Few old photos from the early 90s. Some of you may have seen these on Octane a few months ago. Anyways, theyre all cars for sale in garages in Dublin when I was a young fella..

    scan0024-1.jpg

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    scan0006-4.jpg


  • #306
    Mac 3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 524 ✭✭✭Mac 3


    XJ-S in Stuarts of Ranelagh

    scan0050.jpg

    scan0049.jpg

    Braemor Motors Churchtown (Porsche)

    scan0046.jpg

    scan0045.jpg

    Des Cullens rathmines

    scan0018.jpg

    scan0017.jpg

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    Ferrari 308GTS in Donnellys long mile road.

    scan0004-6.jpg

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    Crosbies, Ladd Lane.

    scan0005-3.jpg

    scan0003-6.jpg


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  • #307
    Mac 3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 524 ✭✭✭Mac 3


    Murphy and Gunn Harolds cross.

    sca005.jpg

    sca003.jpg

    scan0012.jpg

    Maxwell Mtrs, Blackrock.

    scan0005.jpg


  • #308
    Wicklowandy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 801 ✭✭✭Wicklowandy


    Some lovely pics


  • #309
    Big Nasty
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,080 ✭✭✭✭Big Nasty


    Brilliant pics Mac!

    I don't remember the Porsche garage in Churchtown at all - when did it close?

    Any more?


  • #310
    Mac 3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 524 ✭✭✭Mac 3


    MCMLXXV wrote: »
    Brilliant pics Mac!

    I don't remember the Porsche garage in Churchtown at all - when did it close?

    Any more?

    I cant remember when they closed, but I think they moved to Tallaght and became either Braemor autoplatz or Belgard Autoplatz.

    I have more pics from the early 90's I might put them in the "I spotted a classic" thread..


  • #311
    goochy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,543 ✭✭✭goochy


    Excellent pics ! If u have any more pls put them up ! Anyone know why des Donnelly / Donnelly grennon in the long mile road ? Went bust ? Know he's still in business but he went down market after that ! Loved stuarts when they moved to tallaght garage went really down hill the current Stuart's bunch obviously aren't car buffs !


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  • #312
    Silvera
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,033 ✭✭✭Silvera


    Great pics Mac 3 !!
    Keep em coming please!:)


  • #313
    Mac 3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 524 ✭✭✭Mac 3


    Few more lads, I might have some more at home, these are the ones I have scanned.

    scan0006-2.jpg

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    8502.jpg

    scan0036.jpg

    scan0023-1.jpg

    scan0028-1.jpg

    scan0029-1.jpg

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  • #314
    exador
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 661 ✭✭✭exador


    goochy wrote: »
    Excellent pics ! If u have any more pls put them up ! Anyone know why des Donnelly / Donnelly grennon in the long mile road ? Went bust ? Know he's still in business but he went down market after that ! Loved stuarts when they moved to tallaght garage went really down hill the current Stuart's bunch obviously aren't car buffs !

    Des Donnelly was SAAB dealer on Longmile moved to Kilmainham for a while. His Son Charlie is still dealing in car sales from Naas/Kildare area. Believe it or not there are still quite a few of the Stuarts bunch that were in the old Northbrook Road, Ranelagh premises when that photo of the red XJS was taken


  • #315
    Mac 3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 524 ✭✭✭Mac 3


    Lads, More pics over on the "I saw a classic today" thread. Enjoy..


  • #316
    carchaeologist
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,318 ✭✭✭✭carchaeologist


    Those pics are excellent! Truly time travelling!:)


  • #317
    68deville
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 494 ✭✭68deville


    Love the pics!!That Mondial ZS 3030 was living in Innistoge in Kilkenny last time i clapped eyes on it bout two years ago


  • #318
    hi5
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,107 ✭✭✭hi5


    68deville wrote: »
    Love the pics!!That Mondial ZS 3030 was living in Innistoge in Kilkenny last time i clapped eyes on it bout two years ago

    Thats the same one alright, it was for sale back in 2008.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055307991


  • #319
    Mac 3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 524 ✭✭✭Mac 3


    hi5 wrote: »
    Thats the same one alright, it was for sale back in 2008.

    http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055307991

    Going by that link it took me 4 years to post the pic up. :D


  • #320
    bijapos
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,003 ✭✭✭bijapos


    Mac 3 wrote: »

    Maxwell Mtrs, Blackrock.

    scan0005.jpg

    That's a red RR Camargue on the left, not the prettiest of Coupe's but seriously rare and expensive.

    Great pics Mac 3, just proof that some people here always had money, it's not just a Celtic Tiger thing.


  • #321
    goochy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,543 ✭✭✭goochy


    Yes I know des donnellys still selling cars but when he moved from long mile road he went fairly downmarket for a few years ! And has never had such classy card since ! Don't know what happened to the grennon in Donnelly grennon ?? Stuart's became a bland dealer with tallaght move and don't even have a great stk nowadays !


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  • #322
    Mac 3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 524 ✭✭✭Mac 3


    bijapos wrote: »
    That's a red RR Camargue on the left, not the prettiest of Coupe's but seriously rare and expensive.

    Great pics Mac 3, just proof that some people here always had money, it's not just a Celtic Tiger thing.

    Correct, thats a Camargue. I didnt get a pic of it at the time as I wasnt really impressed by it. Its only when I read about them years later that I realised how rare they were.


  • #323
    Saab Ed
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,374 ✭✭✭Saab Ed


    Mac 3 wrote: »
    Maxwell Mtrs, Blackrock.

    scan0005.jpg


    What that on the far left of the forecourt! Bristol or maybe even a Fiat 130 Coupe !!!! Ah actually the more I look at it the more I think its a Corniche. Might be wrong.

    Sorry ....just saw everybody else asked that already. I should read the entire post next time :-)


  • #324
    MercMad
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,266 ✭✭✭MercMad


    Capri wrote: »
    Winfield were in Upr Rathmines rd ( Maxwell Rd ).



    Went to school with Jack Downey's son, there was brothers Eamon and Andy there as well. I think Aidan was starting to collect old cars as well as doing a bit of rallying, so you never knew what'd be in the showroom.

    Lived beside Grants on the Malahide Rd , sold the land to him so he expanded after that before he sold the lot. Micheal Grant Opel , Richard Cassidy was the salesman along with ....

    ........small world. No doubt I know you, or would recognise you as I was there for 12 years during all that period. Just wondering, from your username, was it a 2.8i ??

    You'd probably remember Paddy in the stores ?

    Loving the pictures Mac3, brings back memories as I recall a lot of those cars. Reg numbers stick in my mind.


  • #325
    who the fug
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,041 ✭✭✭who the fug


    Anyone remember the name of the Mini dealer on St Stephen Green circa 1962, the old fella had great story about walking in there one afternoon and getting his first car a mini on HP.


  • #326
    grennano
    Registered Users Posts: 4 ✭grennano


    Tonyaus wrote: »
    Spent many years in the 60's and 7o's in the car industry in Wexford. Back then we had Talbot Garage for BMC Rover, Boggan's for Vauxhall,North End Garage for Hillman and Ferguson tractors later Doyles,O'Dowds Renault and NSU,Roche Motors Datsun and Opel,Donohues Fiat,Foley's garage David Brown Tractors,Statham's Ford,that's just to mention a few.

    Zetor tractors were distributed by O'Sheas of Cork who were the original importers of Opel into Ireland in the early 60's. It was eventually taken over by Reg Armstrong motors.

    I knew a Tom Slater who worked at Pauls Garage Bray who were the Fiat dealers, anybody else know him?

    Presently operating an RV dealership in Qld,Australia.

    Tonyaus


    I'm doing a project at the moment where we are assigned four companies that went out of existence before 1973 (not to be exact). I got assigned O'Sheas of Cork. I have searched the Irish News Archive and the Indo's archive but they turned out to be useless. Tonyaus, thank you for this information, just wondering do you have any extra info on this company or a place where one would could find out and reference this information. Any help/advice you could give me would be a huge help.
    Thanks


  • #327
    Mac 3
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 524 ✭✭✭Mac 3


    Few more old pics, 2 from Des Cullens and the other was Ballsbridge Motors old show room.

    scan0042.jpg

    scan0043.jpg

    scan0045.jpg

    There are a few more pics posted over in the "Today I spotted a classic...."


  • #328
    repsol
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 754 ✭✭✭repsol


    I worked in Huet Motors Townsend St right until it closed in 1992.Not great employers(low pay and no union) in fairness but the staff there were brilliant and it was a great place to work!At one time they owned Huets ,Chapmans in Kildare,Motorworld and Top Car in Cork and some place in Tipperary as well.Could write a book about that place and some of the characters that worked there.I would love anyone who has any photos of the Townsend St site to post them!


  • #329
    gfwd
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 291 ✭✭gfwd


    I worked in Huet Motors Townsend St right until it closed in 1992.Not great employers(low pay and no union) in fairness but the staff there were brilliant and it was a great place to work!At one time they owned Huets ,Chapmans in Kildare,Motorworld and Top Car in Cork and some place in Tipperary as well.Could write a book about that place and some of the characters that worked there.I would love anyone who has any photos of the Townsend St site to post them!


    One of my old neighbours in Santry, Paddy Murphy, worked there for years. They were in Lad Lane before Townsend St I think. He was partly to blame for my love of Triumphs as he would often arrive home in a Dolomite Sprint, the odd Jag and lots of different Volvos. I used to cycle past the Townsend St garage when I worked in Ballsbridge around 1990 and I work just around the corner from the site now. I'm sorry I never took pics of the place before it was flattened.


  • #330
    Do-more
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,748 ✭✭✭Do-more


    That reminds me I had a English teacher in Dublin in the late 70's and one day she came to school in a Group 1 rally Dolly sprint in works colours she was a daughter of Toppings the BL dealers in Enniskillen.

    invest4deepvalue.com



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  • #331
    Antenna
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,330 ✭✭✭Antenna


    zilog_jones wrote: »
    Cork (021) had gone up to 6-digit phone numbers some time around the early '90s - that sticker only has 5. That Nissan logo was introduced around 1984 (during the phase out of the Datsun brand), so I'd say it's from some time between then and whenever they changed to 6-digit numbers. The graphics looks very 80s-ish.

    All 021 numbers were 6 digits by 1990, or a bit before (then to 7-digits in the late 1990s)
    I understand areas of south-west Cork city that had 5-digit numbers 4xxxx were the last to go 6 digits in the city (4xxxx -> 54xxxx), the Motor World Nissan garage had such a number.

    I came across somewhere a 1983-1984 Golden Pages which at the time was for all the country OUTSIDE the Dublin (01) area and 021 numbers were either 5 digit or 6 digit (mostly the latter) in that, click below (Pages 89-97 Car Dealers...)
    Interesting to see areas of the country that had no direct dial, you were put through by the operator (towns as big as Westport, Co. Mayo)
    Also some places had just 4-digit phone numbers, such as the 024 area (Youghal and surrounding areas where later existing numbers xxxx became 9xxxx)


  • #332
    delthedriver
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,958 ✭✭✭delthedriver


    Antenna wrote: »
    All 021 numbers were 6 digits by 1990, or a bit before (then to 7-digits in the late 1990s)
    I understand areas of south-west Cork city that had 5-digit numbers 4xxxx were the last to go 6 digits in the city (4xxxx -> 54xxxx), the Motor World Nissan garage had such a number.

    I came across somewhere a 1983-1984 Golden Pages which at the time was for all the country OUTSIDE the Dublin (01) area and 021 numbers were either 5 digit or 6 digit (mostly the latter) in that, click below (Pages 89-97 Car Dealers...)
    Interesting to see areas of the country that had no direct dial, you were put through by the operator (towns as big as Westport, Co. Mayo)
    Also some places had just 4-digit phone numbers, such as the 024 area (Youghal and surrounding areas where later existing numbers xxxx became 9xxxx)

    Well done. I have really enjoyed tripping down memory lane. Some of the names of garages which are no longer in existence brought back great memories. Many thanks


  • #333
    Rory37
    Registered Users Posts: 27 ✭Rory37


    Was in Vienna, Austria at the weekend and spotted this Old, Long forgotten Auto Electrical. Some great cars around also. Not so many classics but what you use to see everyday in Ireland 20 years ago!


  • #334
    Antenna
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,330 ✭✭✭Antenna


    delthedriver wrote: »
    Well done. I have really enjoyed tripping down memory lane. Some of the names of garages which are no longer in existence brought back great memories. Many thanks

    good to hear it was of interest.
    below I have a picture of pages 98-99 of that 1983-1984 Irish phonebook (for all outside the 01 area) which I couldn't include in my above post (limit 5 pictures), which has some further motor trade related listings (parts/supplies etc) from back then.


  • #335
    Obikenobi23
    Registered Users Posts: 9 ✭Obikenobi23


    vampire of kilmainham wrote: »
    booth poole
    islandbridge dublin long gone now i rember it when i was a kid
    apaetments there now...

    They were main agents for, Wolsely & MG, cars, Foden, Guy, Dennis & Morris commercial trucks & vans. They also did Nuffield tractors & all the associated farm gear. They were main agents for Claes combine harvesters.
    They did every thing in house as they had their own panel beating, painting, & sign writing shops. They had engine & transmission shops & even re timed the injector pumps themselves.
    They had two vans on the road with mechanics who called to farms & repaired tractors & combines in situ.
    They only thing they farmed out was coach buidling & that was to a company called Callow who were located beside them in Westland Row before they moved to Islanbridge.
    My father worked for them from 1932 till they closed.


  • #336
    L1011
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 69,541 ✭✭✭✭L1011


    The Nissan entry in that Golden Pages brings me back with a few names I remember from my childhood. Ryan & Tyrrell were the only dealer in town here, their site is now reduced to being just a filling stastion. Think they went to Mazda before selling out.

    North Kildare now only has a Ford and a Kia/Mitsubishi dealer, a far cry from what there was when I was a kid.
    mondymike wrote: »
    passed this place a few times. Been cleaned up, there used to be a load of cars lying up outside, before i think i saw a c15 van on a 2 post lift, with an inch of dust on it.

    https://maps.google.ie/maps?q=Drumcondra&hl=en&ll=53.849793,-6.653724&spn=0.003829,0.009645&sll=53.84996,-6.653413&sspn=0.000964,0.002411&oq=Drumcon&t=h&hnear=Drumcondra,+County+Meath&z=17&layer=c&cbll=53.850109,-6.653058&panoid=Mv2W1FiXrZ9LDErwYU3Eiw&cbp=12,194.26,,0,0


    Even looking in from the road can lead to the former owner turning up and harrassing you on the street, be warned. There was definitely a C15 in it when I last bothered looking.


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  • #337
    Hank Schrader
    Registered Users Posts: 128 ✭✭Hank Schrader


    Great thread.


    I started my career with Linders of Smithfield (old pics posted) under Sonny Linders
    Then at Everyready in Baggot Lane dealing with Ladd Lane and Ballsbridge Mts (old pics posted)
    Then Geenhills with ARC behind Stuarts/fairlane(stories and info)
    Then Longmile Rd with Ace near EP Mooneys(old pics posted)
    Living in Lucan near the Texaco/Foxhunter(old pics posted)


    Well done to all the contributors and thanks for the memories


  • #338
    Grimreaper666
    Registered Users Posts: 1,042 ✭✭✭Grimreaper666


    Obikenobi23 wrote: »
    They were main agents for, Wolsely & MG, cars, Foden, Guy, Dennis & Morris commercial trucks & vans. They also did Nuffield tractors & all the associated farm gear. They were main agents for Claes combine harvesters.
    They did every thing in house as they had their own panel beating, painting, & sign writing shops. They had engine & transmission shops & even re timed the injector pumps themselves.
    They had two vans on the road with mechanics who called to farms & repaired tractors & combines in situ.
    They only thing they farmed out was coach buidling & that was to a company called Callow who were located beside them in Westland Row before they moved to Islanbridge.
    My father worked for them from 1932 till they closed.

    Interesting you mentioned Callows, I restored a hearse built by them a few years ago but could never find anything about where they operated from, thanks for the information.


  • #339
    exador
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 661 ✭✭✭exador


    Merlin in Bluebell originally opened in circa 72 as Robert Callow and then changed to Callow Gilmore and then WINDSOR...Is this the same Callow Family ? Any relation ?


  • #340
    djh2009
    Registered Users Posts: 121 ✭✭djh2009


    THEDONWALDO wrote: »
    Anyone remember the old nsu garage on pappins rd? there is a tyre crowd there now...

    Or traynor motors in finglas....ah the memories!
    I worked in Traynor Motors in the late seventies. Some training ground, 210 people working there at the time, 13 in the parts department. You wouldnt see that any more. How times have changed !


  • #341
    repsol
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 754 ✭✭✭repsol


    djh2009 wrote: »
    I worked in Traynor Motors in the late seventies. Some training ground, 210 people working there at the time, 13 in the parts department. You wouldnt see that any more. How times have changed !

    That is an unbelievable number of staff! How many mechanics?


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  • #342
    Capri
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,499 ✭✭✭Capri


    Saw an old (Merc ? ) today with 'Crosbies of Lad Lane' sticker on the back window. OLD MONEY :rolleyes:


  • #343
    djh2009
    Registered Users Posts: 121 ✭✭djh2009


    repsol wrote: »
    That is an unbelievable number of staff! How many mechanics?

    I wouldnt remember how many there were, but there were a few different workshops. A petrol workshop for the Hillman range etc ( Avenger, Hunter and so on ) , a diesel workshop for the Dodge range with also specialist mechanics for the M.A.N truck range, an R.S.U unit ( Reconditioning Service Unit which reconditioned engines on site ) and a farm machinery workshop also. It was some operation alright.


  • #344
    ben9195
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭ben9195


    exador wrote: »
    Yes..I remember the olfella in parts in Archers when I was a young lad.. He was stooped over and was a narky olfella that gave me the spooks but was an encyclopedia for part numbers...

    I think his name was Joe Burgess


  • #345
    ben9195
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭ben9195


    He was a Joe Burgess. Great storeman


  • #346
    triple-M
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,171 ✭✭✭triple-M


    Driving on the north circular road in dublin for the first time in a year or so and I noticed the old "abba car sales" sign had been painted over http://maps.google.ie/maps?q=abba+car+sales+north+circular+road&hl=en&ll=53.360054,-6.261864&spn=0.020028,0.038581&safe=off&hq=abba+car+sales&hnear=N+Circular+Rd,+Dublin,+County+Dublin&t=m&z=15&layer=c&cbll=53.359967,-6.262302&panoid=mkuj5u9Zr8QO1MpKBYehow&cbp=12,177.4,,0,-3.9 when did that happen?


  • #347
    exador
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 661 ✭✭✭exador


    ben9195 wrote: »
    He was a Joe Burgess. Great storeman


    Name sounds familar OK..That was about 1980/81 ...I think


  • #348
    ben9195
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭ben9195


    No. Smithfield were main Ford dealers along with Archers, Autocars and Walden.


  • #349
    exador
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 661 ✭✭✭exador


    ben9195 wrote: »
    No. Smithfield were main Ford dealers along with Archers, Autocars and Walden.

    Not surre if you what you mean ?

    I knew a lot of the smithfield staff in kylemore ..the car centre and benburb street


  • #350
    ben9195
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 61 ✭✭ben9195


    exador wrote: »
    Name sounds familar OK..That was about 1980/81 ...I think

    I got parts from him from 1955 until about 1966.


  • #351
    exador
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 661 ✭✭✭exador


    ben9195 wrote: »
    I got parts from him from 1950 until about 1966.


    The guy I am talking about worked in ARCHERS in the final days ......late 1979 early 80's...must be a different guy


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