Old, Long Forgotten Car Dealers

Means Of Escape · 06-05-2011 11:52pm

No point in map
patsy O Neill the owner won't part with any of em
check out photos on totalopel.ie
then lift your jaw off the ground

carchaeologist · 07-05-2011 12:36am

I think they have been posted here before, mostly modern tin, but is there a ZA reg'd Commodore in there?

Bearcat · 07-05-2011 7:53pm

Brendan Fassinidge Palmerstown.....??? Merc dealer, rebuilt showrooms with imported marble....cost of it I think saw him go wallop....early 80's?

Gary ITR · 07-05-2011 8:10pm

carchaeologist wrote: »

I think they have been posted here before, mostly modern tin, but is there a ZA reg'd Commodore in there?

And an 'A Type' Manta and some mid 80's stuff. Crying shame, I've passed there a few times

mikey10 · 13-05-2011 1:15am

Kiri wrote: »

Hi, ther was no assembly at McCairns Santry , there was truck/body convertions and modifications in their Heavy plant workshops (on the RHS of the complex) I believe Chryslers(Leyland) were assembled also in Santry on the site of the current Garda station.

just to correct you there was an assembly on site at McCairns motors Santry they assembled mitsubishi canters,served my time there from 1978-closure

VolvoMan · 13-05-2011 2:45am

Does anyone remember MCM Cars of Stillorgan? They were trading up until nearly a decade ago and were where Kingstown Motors are now.

I think they had a branch in Navan too.

exador · 13-05-2011 8:18am

Bearcat wrote: »

Brendan Fassinidge Palmerstown.....??? Merc dealer, rebuilt showrooms with imported marble....cost of it I think saw him go wallop....early 80's?

Fassinidge cars operating from Dunshaughlin for the last few years...I assume this is the same Family ?

chevyv8 · 13-05-2011 7:17pm

VolvoMan wrote: »

Does anyone remember MCM Cars of Stillorgan? They were trading up until nearly a decade ago and were where Kingstown Motors are now.

I think they had a branch in Navan too.

yep i remember mcm in stillorgan , bought all my opels there.....:D

Bearcat · 13-05-2011 7:57pm

exador wrote: »

Fassinidge cars operating from Dunshaughlin for the last few years...I assume this is the same Family ?

Clark Fassinidge (son) I believe was operating out there......don't know if still

Tonyaus · 22-09-2011 7:43am

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

Pdfile · 25-09-2011 6:16am

VolvoMan wrote: »

I haven't really seen this done before so I thought I'd start a thread on old car dealers. I think it would be interesting to go through all those old names who were synonymous with retailing marques.

I'll begin with Huet Motors. In their day they were supposedly a Rolls Royce dealer and latterly they held franchises for Austin Rover, BMW and Volvo. I think they were last located at the corner between Townsend Street and Lombard Street.

Anyone remember them?

my uncle worked for them but emergrated to england to be come a jag dealer.

then a bmw/roller dealer, then retired died and now his son is a bmw dealer.

the spirials of one mans choice to be over worked and under paid !

MercMad · 05-10-2011 12:13pm

BowWow wrote: »

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.

............the Downey brothers wanted to retire so M.Grant bought the garage, the house next door and the shop adjoining that. They traded BMW and Mitsubishi for 2 years but failed to get planning persmission for the expanded garage despite promises from the Council, who claimed it was a residential area despite the presence of a commercial garage for 30+ years, a shop and a restaurant in the same block. It was pre Celtic Tiger days but the only planning allowed was residential, so thats what he built. No doubt he made a few quid and decided that was the way to go.

Previously M.Grant was involved with George Cosgrave, who's premises has remained largely unchanged for about 25 years+ !

I actually went into the Malahide Road Opelcentre yesterday, out of curiosity now a used car dealer, and they still have the same doors, floors, mirrors etc.. a lot of the same stuff that was put in when Grant did it up in 1987. Place felt much smaller though........

Heeley Motors in Malahide, the two brothers Bob & Richie, decided to sell up and retire and the premises is now apartments called Heeley's Bay.

pmac086 · 08-10-2011 12:38am

Hi you guys, seen the thread and dont know if it is still alive.
Reg Armstrongs was the opel assembler in Ringsend and it spawned some of our finest, to name two, Peter Cullen Late MD of Honda and Des Cullen still kicking the ball and known to us all.
Also saw one of the threads showing a Key fromm CAB who still have their Ford Dealership in Cork, did you know CAB stood for "cheapest and best"
Lot of good stuff out there, should be filed and put into a muesem.

dergside · 09-10-2011 5:33pm

A couple of other dealers that have disappeared:

McCormacks - Ford dealer in Naas (Dublin Rd) - dropped the franchise sometime in the '80's and traded independently for a few more years.
PNM O'Hanlon and Hanlon Bros - Hillman/Chysler dealer and Ford dealer in Longford. Hillman site went on to be the site for Hanlon Ambulances iirc and the Ford site is now an Aldi or Lidl.
Longford Motor Works - BL, Rover, MG, Triumph, etc. at the side of the Longford Arms hotel. Now assimilated in to the hotel. IIRC it was owned by Albert Reynolds brother.
Lakeview Service Station - Lanesboro - were Fiat dealers until sometime in the early '80's.
Connaught Motors - Roscommon - Fiat dealers - from '70's to early '90's or so.
Martin Bros - Mullingar - at various times had BL, Austin, etc. franchises and Ford for a while. Finally disappeared a few years ago I think.

TR FITZ · 10-10-2011 12:02am

jos28 wrote: »

Waldens of Parnell Street - Ford dealers
Bolands of Prussia St- can't remember what they sold
Downeys in Clontarf, block of apartments there now. They used to have classics in the windows.
There was one on Drumcondra bridge but I can't remember the name.

BK Motors - moved out Balbriggan direction when they left Drumcondra - don't know if they are still going.

Regards

gfwd · 10-10-2011 12:15am

BK went belly up a couple of years ago.

goochy · 10-10-2011 1:40pm

they are now used car dealers on that site in Balbriggan , their website says they will be opening a new garage in Drumcondra too.

WDB123 · 14-10-2011 11:02pm

Ftd autos athlone (i think),nissan dealer
PMPA had a garage in Roscrea,

Anyone know was there any Mercedes agents in the Midlands back in the 80s??

Stained Class · 15-10-2011 12:15am

Not strictly Midlands, but, Im fairly sure Sheehy Motors in Carlow were doing them back then.

Could be wrong though...

chinwag · 15-10-2011 12:50am

Annesley Motors of Ballybough in Dublin closed fairly abruptly last year after more than 60 years in business, but they had lost the dealership franchise shortly before that. They were dealers for Audi, Mercs and VW, and also Mazda previously. Annesley website is still there as if the place is still open but with no cars for sale.

gfwd · 16-10-2011 1:45pm

Annesley in Cloghran is still going as far as i know.

chinwag · 17-10-2011 12:21am

Think Annesley Cloghran may be owned by other family members but it's not the same outfit as Ballybough far as I know. Word was that Annesley in Ballybough had been under pressure to update their outfit to manufacturer's specification before they lost dealerships and eventually closed.

goochy · 17-10-2011 12:55am

yes the two annesley named garages went their separate ways in the mid 90s. While most garages over invested during the boom and are under pressure now, Annesley in ballybough under invested and closed They were supposed to move to the Malahide road in the late 90s and they would have thrived during the boom if this had happened but they obviously had little interest in the business. Annesley in cloghran used to be great as a mercedes dealer in the 80s and nineties but not as much now, think the only reason they get away with the outdated mercedes showroom is that MDL still look after mercedes here and they have a close relationship with them.

Shirleysrumbler · 23-12-2011 10:09pm

prospect wrote: »

Anyone remember the Garage that used to be on the Quay in Waterford, I think it was C&G Motors, part of Gowans, selling Citroen & Peugeot.

I have vague memories of going there with my Dad.

Thats T &C .They're on the inner ring now. T & C also had apremises in Cuffesgramge Kilkenny in the late sevemties,

Shirleysrumbler · 23-12-2011 10:18pm

chinwag wrote: »

Think Annesley Cloghran may be owned by other family members but it's not the same outfit as Ballybough far as I know. Word was that Annesley in Ballybough had been under pressure to update their outfit to manufacturer's specification before they lost dealerships and eventually closed.

Lived near Annesly as a student in the 80's it was then state of the art. ~Thanks for reminder.

chinwag · 24-12-2011 1:29am

Shirleysrumbler wrote: »

Lived near Annesly as a student in the 80's it was then state of the art. ~Thanks for reminder.

It may have been state of the art in the 80's but apparently not so in the noughties. I passed it by a lot over the years and still find it hard to believe it is gone after all those years.:(

TR FITZ · 24-12-2011 1:37am

beetlefan wrote: »

Shannon motors in athlone, opel dealers, long gone

My late uncle Johnny (Fitzpatrick) was Service Manager for Shannon Motors in the 80's before he retired - served his time as mechanic in Gills - BL Dealer - I think (demolished to make way for old Athlone Shopping Centre) then he, and brother Tom (also served time in Gills) opened Fitzpatrick Bros on Ballymahon Road in ? early 60's main VW and LAINZ Tractor agencies - liquidated by McMullan Bros cos of unpaid petrol bills - only clue as to site of this garage is sign 'Pairc Ciaran' (entrance to GAA grounds) which was original Munster Simms petrol sign on front of forecourt - used to have a photo of a busy forecourt with split screen beetles etc but mislaid at moment. Would love to hear from any body with more info about Fitzpatrick Bros as both Uncles now deceased - Thanks

Blue850 · 24-12-2011 11:40am

500man · 24-12-2011 11:02pm

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

500man · 24-12-2011 11:09pm

Some others i can remember Dan Ryan limerick fiat elm motors fiat adams glin fiat finmax ballina fiat mayo motors fiat cathal duffy vw od and od tipp modern motors renault tipp Con cash tipp fiat service garage limerick vw dan dooley toyota i could go on lol

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.

Old, Long Forgotten Car Dealers

Comments