Old, Long Forgotten Car Dealers

VolvoMan · 20-03-2011 9:34pm #1

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?

Max_Damage · 20-03-2011 9:37pm

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 mother worked there in the offices back in the 70's.

manta mad · 20-03-2011 9:40pm

how about REG ARMSTRONG MOTORS dublin

they were main opel dealers werent they ?
are they still alive ?

carchaeologist · 20-03-2011 9:50pm

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

-Chris- · 20-03-2011 9:57pm

Nope, they went bang about 2 years ago.

Max_Damage · 20-03-2011 10:22pm

Post this before a while back, the original dealer sticker on my Escort MK3:

Stained Class · 20-03-2011 11:02pm

Hmmm...Let's see what I remember from my area back in the 70s & 80s

Statham's/Sheridans, Carlow, Ford.

Stathams, Kilkenny, Ford,later Nissan.

Warren's Garage, Carlow, British Leyland.

Carlow Motors, Carlow, Fiat,later Austin Rover, later Mitsubishi.

Reidys Garage, Carlow, BMW.

Tracey's Garage, Kilkenny, Renault.

Renehan's Garage, Kilkenny, Rootes/Chrysler, later Opel.

Connolly's Garage, Kilkenny, Vauxhall.

I'm sure I'll think of more later, but all these places are long gone.

Doubt anybody under 30 would remember 'em.:(

VolvoMan · 20-03-2011 11:21pm

carchaeologist wrote: »

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

They were in business for about 100 years, but finally became a victim of the motor industry crisis about two years ago.

Sad, isn't it.:(

COB MGV8 · 20-03-2011 11:27pm

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?

A friend of mine's Dad worked there for years right up to the time they shut in the early 80's (?) . My mum bought a Triumph Toledo there in the 70's - used to see it around Clontarf up until a few years ago. I think they were a Triumph main dealer at that time.

carchaeologist · 20-03-2011 11:42pm

VolvoMan wrote: »

They were in business for about 100 years, but finally became a victim of the motor industry crisis about two years ago.

Sad, isn't it.:(

After that long it is, did they sell high end cars like Rolls Royce at one stage?
Anyone remember this garage and when it closed? I found the key hidden in under the seat of my Cork reg'd 100A.

DarenO · 20-03-2011 11:44pm

My father worked as a mechanic for Huets back in the 60s, they were the Des Cullen of their day in that they only dealt with high end cars, dad serviced ZJ 5000 and they had a Rolls Royce breakdown truck, he's loads of stories.

Arthur Daley · 20-03-2011 11:45pm

The PMPA? I remember them insurance crowd bailed out by the government in the 80s.

Smyths were Renault dealers in a few locations I think. But we're going back pre the mid 80s here.

DarenO · 20-03-2011 11:52pm

My favourite was Charlie Gunn, my father worked as a patrol for the AA from 76 onwards and when he brought me out as a kid we used to park their and wait for the next job, I'd jump out and drool over Porsche 928 and XJS Jags.

RobAMerc · 21-03-2011 12:17am

Chapmans of Kildare ?
BMW / Volvo dealers as far as I remember.

There was a BMW dealer in Clogheen - Jimmy Wyse motors too as well as O'Briens of Tullow Audi dealers.

johnayo · 21-03-2011 12:26am

A few in Cork.
O'Mahony Bros. Douglas.
Eglantine Garage, Douglas Rd.,
Deasy&Talbot, Douglas Rd.
Popes, Victoria Cross.
OK Garages, Victoria Cross.
Dennehy's, Dennehys Cross.
Woolams, St Patricks Quay.

Stained Class · 21-03-2011 12:34am

I seem to remember a lot of Fiats with 'Tractamotors' dealer stickers back in the day.

Thing of the past now, are they?

Ali Babba · 21-03-2011 12:56am

Cannys in Anglesea street in Cork, used to be Rolls Royce and Saab dealers, Eglantine Garage used to be a Rolls Royce, BMW and Toyota dealer. Quinlans in Glanmire were Saab and VW. Lee garage in Midleton for Fiat.

G Luxel · 21-03-2011 1:07am

There used to be TRUX but i think it was Chrysler rootes that was sold. I remember a cousin of mine bought a Fiesta from Walden's or was it Archer's of Dublin, late 70s?. It was a Ford dealer. I also got a DVD of an old Irish film made around 1970 and it featured a dealership with cars on the grass verge somewhere in wicklow, cant remember the name of the film

gfwd · 21-03-2011 1:31am

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!

PanhardPL · 21-03-2011 1:34am

Esmonde Garage Ltd.

jos28 · 21-03-2011 1:41am

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.

vampire of kilmainham · 21-03-2011 1:54am

booth poole
islandbridge dublin long gone now i rember it when i was a kid
apaetments there now...

VolvoMan · 21-03-2011 2:19am

Stained Class wrote: »

I seem to remember a lot of Fiats with 'Tractamotors' dealer stickers back in the day.

Thing of the past now, are they?

No, they're actually still around in Blanchardstown.

jos28 wrote: »

There was one on Drumcondra bridge but I can't remember the name.

Ah, that was BK Motors. They were a Volvo dealer for many many years.

They folded about two years ago as well.

Apparently Huet Motors used to have quite a big showroom when they were in Townsend Street, but it's a block of apartments now.

Ali Babba · 21-03-2011 9:58am

G Luxel wrote: »

There used to be TRUX but i think it was Chrysler rootes that was sold. I remember a cousin of mine bought a Fiesta from Walden's or was it Archer's of Dublin, late 70s?. It was a Ford dealer. I also got a DVD of an old Irish film made around 1970 and it featured a dealership with cars on the grass verge somewhere in wicklow, cant remember the name of the film

Trux were Volvo dealers too.

Run_to_da_hills · 21-03-2011 12:24pm

My old man bought a brand new VW Variant from Europa in Blackrock in 1969.

I can remember the large metal arch in the forecourt displaying the VW logo.

PanhardPL · 21-03-2011 2:06pm

A few more of Dealers no longer in business.

Bagenal Fagan & Sons Ltd.

Davin Motors Ltd

Max Power1 · 21-03-2011 2:08pm

RobAMerc wrote: »

Chapmans of Kildare ?
BMW / Volvo dealers as far as I remember.
.

BMW, volvo, rover & landrover.

They closed a couple of years back. The aul lad bought a rover 416 there back in the day.

Big Nasty · 21-03-2011 2:33pm

Smithfield Motor Co (Ford Dealership) - originally in Benburb St then opened where McDonalds is now on Kylemore. Opened a massive truck centre in the early 80's which was too much way too soon. Went bang around '85. Two of the sales staff were part of Newlands Renault that went under 2 years back.

VolvoMan · 21-03-2011 3:58pm

Here's another one actually that I just thought of - George A. Dagg on Church Avenue in Rathmines. They were a Mazda and Peugeot dealer.

Big Nasty · 21-03-2011 4:00pm

Europa Mazda Centre Blackrock - how long is that gone now?

VolvoMan · 21-03-2011 4:14pm

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Europa Mazda Centre Blackrock - how long is that gone now?

Ah not long at all. The place was supposed to be redeveloped and is now lying abandoned since the downturn.

mike65 · 21-03-2011 5:15pm

Anyone remember that name of that Volvo dealer in Dublin that went bust in the early 90s? (I think) I believe it was one of the largest in the country at the time. I also remember a SAAB dealer on the Naas road in Dublin which was at a junction. Maybe that moved.

VolvoMan · 21-03-2011 8:34pm

mike65 wrote: »

Anyone remember that name of that Volvo dealer in Dublin that went bust in the early 90s? (I think) I believe it was one of the largest in the country at the time.

Huet Motors.

Kevin_Herron · 21-03-2011 9:28pm

Caveys on sold and assembled Jaguars.
They were where the Concern building is now on Camden Street.

Crawfords were main agents for Aston Martin, Lagonda and Bristol once upon a time when the were on Hatch Street.

PanhardPL · 21-03-2011 11:08pm

Caldwell's of Lucan were agents for Peugeot Scooters and Messerschmitt Bubble cars before before becoming the sole distributor (assembler) of Panhard cars in Ireland.

Caldwell advert.

gfwd · 22-03-2011 2:32pm

Great thread this. Does anyone have any pics of any of these old places?

PanhardPL · 22-03-2011 3:36pm

John Caldwell

richardsheil · 22-03-2011 4:24pm

PanhardPL wrote: »

Caldwell's of Lucan were agents for Peugeot Scooters and Messerschmitt Bubble cars before before becoming the sole distributor (assembler) of Panhard cars in Ireland.
Caldwell advert.

love the phone no,448.

gfwd · 22-03-2011 5:21pm

Great pic. What stands there now?

VolvoMan · 22-03-2011 5:58pm

gfwd wrote: »

Great thread this. Does anyone have any pics of any of these old places?

Yeah, it would be fantastic if anyone has any old pictures.

gfwd · 22-03-2011 6:05pm

PanhardPL wrote: »

John Caldwell

And how it looks today...

PanhardPL · 22-03-2011 8:53pm

Lets not forget the Citroen ID which was assembled by Ashenhurst Williams of Talbot Place, Dublin. They also assembled Leyland Commercials.

carchaeologist · 26-03-2011 6:21pm

Here's a 1979 version of Esmondes rear window sticker.

An 80s Kerry Motor Works sticker.

And I don't know how old this sticker is, but it was on a one owner from new Datsun 100A, so it could be late '70s? Can anyone date it?

johnayo · 26-03-2011 7:26pm

G Luxel wrote: »

There used to be TRUX but i think it was Chrysler rootes that was sold. I remember a cousin of mine bought a Fiesta from Walden's or was it Archer's of Dublin, late 70s?. It was a Ford dealer. I also got a DVD of an old Irish film made around 1970 and it featured a dealership with cars on the grass verge somewhere in wicklow, cant remember the name of the film

Back in the day,Trux had a Hillman dealership in Cork city centre on Lavitts Quay. It was where the Paul Street Multi Storey c/pk is now.

macplaxton · 26-03-2011 8:14pm

carchaeologist wrote: »

And I don't know how old this sticker is, but it was on a one owner from new Datsun 100A, so it could be late '70s? Can anyone date it?

Looking at the font for the address, would look more mid-80s that sticker.

Sunnyisland · 26-03-2011 8:20pm

Fairlane greenhills road Dublin (ford)

VolvoMan · 26-03-2011 9:54pm

realies wrote: »

Fairlane greenhills road Dublin (ford)

That's the place Bill Cullen ran before he took over Renault.

Magnum · 26-03-2011 10:17pm

O'Doherty &O'Dwyer. Tipperary and Cashel

LookBehindYou · 26-03-2011 10:35pm

McCairns motors in Santry, they assembled Vauxhalls.

VolvoMan · 27-03-2011 6:36pm

Just a bump for this thread.

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

-Chris- · 27-03-2011 7:20pm

VolvoMan wrote: »

Just a bump for this thread.

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.

I was in there last week and was pleasantly surprised to see how they were emphasising that heritage - at the reception desk there's a glass table with original documents dating back to 1938 - meeting minutes etc. - really interesting minutiae from a different time.
It's a very classy garage now too - the removal of the BMW branding hasn't diminished their self-esteem in the slightest. It's minimalist and cool, but welcoming - qualities the German guys who write the International Dealership Standards handbooks spend their lifetimes trying to achieve.

I'm also struck/saddened to be discussing Crawford's in this thread - as much as I knew they had gone bang a few years ago, further reflection has reminded me of the fact that I did my work experience in their Dun Laoghaire (Honda) premises and my impression of David(?) Crawford was that he was a very nice guy - a gentleman.
My dad bought several Opels, back-to-back, over the years from a salesman in Crawford's Sandyford (a guy called Ryan I think). Given the choice he wouldn't have bought anywhere else. Mr. Ryan was his salesman, and my dad was his customer. That was that.
You could only wish for customer loyalty like that in today's dealerships.

Old, Long Forgotten Car Dealers

Comments