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.
1975
Today we are the oldest Suzuki Dealership in Melbourne.
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 - Melbourne's number one choice for new and
used vehicles.
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