In the beginning...
Reg Smith, father of Garry and Warren,
was born in 1903. His work career prior to establishing a
used car business was primarily mechanical automotive. However,
Reg also learnt motor cycle work including smash repairs,
wheel lacing etc. His automobile technical skills included
mechanical, body, painting, hoods and side curtains.
In 1930
Reg started a business, Smith's Motor Smash Repairs in Fitzroy
and with the depression hardening, he closed it and returned
to motor trimming and mechanical repairs on contract.In the
1930's, with the advent of wireless and sound pictures, Reg
formed Smith's Radio Pty Ltd and sold wet batteries and electric
radios door to door. Reg later opened a shop in Ivanhoe,
then moved to Fairfield and then Collingwood before changing
to the Fitzroy side of Smith Street and opening a branch
at Footscray.
In 1948, Reg started a Used Car Yard in Glenferrie
Road, Hawthorn under the name of Reno Auto Sales Pty Ltd.
This business prospered and was moved to Richmond, and various
other outlets were opened. Reg Smith had taken up motor sport
as a hobby and was a most regular contender in all its aspects
- circuit racing, hill climbing, trials etc. in a number
of different makes of car.
On 2nd October, 1960 Reg was competing
at Bathurst in a Porsche, and had broken the "Flying Quarter
Mile" record,
when his car left the circuit, crashing into a tree. Unfortunately
Reg was killed instantly.
Growing with Melbourne...
In total, nine businesses were then continued to be run by
Warren Smith and after a period of consolidation, continued
to prosper and expand. In the late 1960's Warren Smith had
many used car outlets across Melbourne, trading under various
names and became one of the largest ever independent used car
dealers in Victoria.
1972 Mazda...
Garry and Warren Smith proudly opened a new Mazda Dealership
in Springvale Rd, Mulgrave. We are currently celebrating our
37th year as Melbourne's second oldest Mazda Dealer.
Leading
the way...
The Garry and Warren Smith group sells approximately 5,000
vehicles per year, making us one of the largest automotive
retailers in Melbourne. Garry and Warren Smith holds the number
one market share in Melbourne over five product categories.
Garry and Warren Smith Mazda
Melbourne's number one choice for
new and used vehicles |