An historic timeline

Motorworld-wide

At Motorworld we are proud to be part of a 115 year history of servicing the motoring public of Marlborough. The roots of this business go right back to 1905 and as we transition into a very new look business in 2020 it’s important for us to take some time to look back on the long journey and the people who have been involved along the way.

1905

1905 - Wintringham and Mitchell

Ivan Wintringham and H.J.S. Mitchell established a business in Blenheim as a branch of Wellington-Wairarapa Motor Co. Together they promoted the business themselves with ambitious motoring feats such as being the first to travel from Blenheim to the West Coast by car in 1910.
1914

1914 - Wintringham and Mitchell built one of the first commercial buildings in Queen St.

Wintringham and Mitchell, Cnr Queen St and Arthur St
Ivan Wintringham and H.J.S.Mitchell built one of the first commercial buildings in Queen St and established their own business, Wintringham and Mitchell. They were the principal agents for Overland, Cleveland, Maxwell cars, Buick, Leyland trucks, Hupmobile cars, farm tractors and threshing plants.
1920

1920 - Marlborough Farmers Co-op Motors Ltd

Marlborough Farmers Co-op Motors Ltd, Cnr Queen St and Arthur St
Marlborough Farmers Co-op Motors Ltd acquired the business of Wintringham and Mitchell and established a garage as part of their general farm supplies, continuing trading at the Queen St site.
1923

1923 - H.R.Dix & Sons

H.R.Dix & Sons Ltd, Cnr Queen and Arthur St.
The business changed hands and became established in 1923 as H.R. Dix and Sons. Mr H. R. Dix, his wife, and two sons, C.C. Dix and F.R. Dix, set up H. R. Dix & Sons on the corner of Queen and Arthur St in Blenheim. In 1923 they added Ford and Austin franchises. In 1930 they dropped the Ford franchise and added Chevrolet. In 1940, Bedford and Vauxhall were added.

H.R.Dix & Sons car sales yard
1960

1960 - Terry Motors Ltd

In 1960, Terry Motors Ltd purchased the business of HR Dix & Sons Ltd. Terry Motors Ltd was part owned by Nelson General Motors dealer Tony Bolton but the New Zealand Farmers Co-op had the majority shareholding in the business. This business was still run on the former H. R. Dix & Sons site on the corner of Queen and Arthur St in Blenheim and was managed by Mr Frank Terry. Pic here- Terry Motors Ltd, Cnr Queen St and Arthur St.

H.R.Dix & Sons Ltd, Cnr Queen and Arthur St
A Marlborough Express extract...23 April 1960

“The well-known firm of H.R. Dix & Sons Ltd, which has served the motoring public of Marlborough for the past 37 years is shortly to change hands. The business has been purchased by a private company and will operate under the name of Terry Motors Ltd from May 2nd. It will be managed by Mr F.W. Terry, of Blenheim, who has been secretary to H.R. Dix & Sons Ltd for the past 15 years. H.R. Dix & Sons Ltd was established by the late Mr H.R. Dix in 1923, when he and his wife, with their sons, Messrs C.C. Dix and F.R. Dix, came to Blenheim from Christchurch and set up their garage business in High Street.”
1963

1963 - Terry Motors Ltd moved into their new site on the corner of Scott and Francis St.

Terry Motors Scott St 1963
Marlborough Express Newspaper article - Terry Motors Scott St - 1963
1973

1973 - New Zealand Farmers Co-op are purchased by R.A Brierley Investments.
1976

1976 - Terry Motors were awarded the Suzuki franchise when the Coleman family built an assembly plant in Wanganui. Terry Motors, as a GM dealer, went on to sell Holden, Suzuki and Isuzu Trucks.
1984

1984 - Wadsco Motorworld

25 May 1984, Wadsco Motorworld Ltd was established when John & Lynley Wadsworth and Rex & Jill Scoble purchased Terry Motors Ltd, selling Holden, Suzuki and Isuzu utes and trucks.

John Wadsworth and Rex Scoble approx 2001
1997

1997- VT Commodore Launch

Rex Scoble, John Wadsworth, Holden Managing Director Don Bowden, Jared Morris and Wayne Young
2002

2002- Wadsco Holden Colorado fleet sales take off

A fleet of Colorados purchased by Kevan Buck for his Forestry operation in 2002
2001

2001- Isuzu Trucks moves to new premises at Horton St, under the new name of Wadsco Commercial Ltd.
2006

2006- Jared & Melanie Morris and Wayne & Joanne Young purchased Rex & Jill Scobles’ shares in the business. Wadsco Paint and Panel moved to 30 Timandra Place.
2013

2013- Jared & Melanie Morris and Wayne & Joanne Young purchased John & Lynley Wadsworth’s shares in the business.

Jared Morris and Wayne Young
2015

2015- March - Jared, Melanie, Wayne and Joanne purchased Mayfield Motors from Sturrock & Jo Saunders. The business is re-named Mayfield Motorworld.

Jared Morris, Sturrock Saunders and Wayne Young. Mayfield Motors purchase - March 2015
2017

2017- November - Jared & Melanie Morris purchase Wayne & Joanne Young’s shares in the Wadsco Motorworld and Mayfield Motorworld businesses.
2018

2018- Motorworld Group Ltd acquire Blenheim Rentals Ltd and purchase a small rental vehicle fleet to operate locally.
2019

Motorworld Group Ltd established Total Wash, a car wash operation.

Total Wash, Francis St - October 2019
2020

February 17 2020 - General Motors announces retirement of Holden Brand

General Motors announced that it would be retiring the Holden brand and pulling out of the last remaining right-hand-drive markets globally. Although we are sad to see an end to an iconic brand we are very excited about what our future holds. We are very proud to be New Zealand’s longest serving Suzuki motor vehicle dealer (44 years) and we are very excited to add Kia, Volkswagen and Isuzu utes franchises, along with Skoda and Holden genuine parts and service franchises, to our new look Motorworld dealership, and continuing a long line of motoring history in Marlborough.

Motorworld group Ltd includes franchises for Kia, VW, Izuzu and Suzuki.

Motorworld 2020 - Concept Drawing.
Motorworld 2020 - Concept Drawing..