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posted on January 1st, 2009 at 10:58 PM
Old Penrith VW dealer
Ward's Motors was the VW dealer in Penrith from 1958, when they were established on the left hand side of the Great Western Highway, just before you
crossed over the Nepean River bridge (heading west). The VW dealer changed owners in 1973 and became Barry Dyer Motors Pty Ltd. Another change of
owners in 1978 and it became Alan Whittakar Motors. It closed in 1982.
I happened to visit the (closed) site in late 1982, as I was passing in my 40-bhp Beetle. I got a shock coming around the bend to see a closed,
abandoned VW dealer! I pulled in and had a good look around. The site was quite derelict, with plenty of subsidence and wall cracking visible. I went
around the back and could actually get inside. Someone had tried to set fire to the workshop, but it hadn't caught due to the damp. There were books,
parts, paperwork and junk scattered everywhere, together with wet, burned wood. I was able to grab handfuls of abandoned VW parts (most of them rusty
but some in plastic bags and boxes). I still have several manuals and parts lists today, together with a dozen or so VW cardboard parts boxes - the
three compartment ones. I should have brought a truck.
Th site was bulldozed in the months after, and today the Penrith Valley Inn and motel is on the site. But look at the signs, and the awesome VW
lollypop on the pole. I wish I could have grabbed the lot when I had the chance!
Yes that's my old ruby red 40-bhp in the picture.
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decked dubby
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posted on January 2nd, 2009 at 07:16 AM
That is awesome. I live and have lived only minutes away from here my whole life. I was 10 when it closed but i dont remember it. What a great
picture. What a shame too.
Ross Sinclair who owned Sinclair Ford in Penrith owns the Nepean Valley inn, wonder if he was responsible for the knockdown?
Do you have any more pics?
.
Menangler
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posted on January 2nd, 2009 at 07:47 AM
Great photo Phil,
This is a photo of a closed dealer we found on the way to melbourne, probably mid 90's, can't remember where it was, somewhere like Seamore? near
the Vic border anyhow.
Recognize the dudes in the back of the twin cab?
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FAHRVERGNUGEN;
Description of a pleasurable sensation,
Experienced when a car and it's driver are in mutual harmony, A unique driving experience, Pleasure, Satisfaction,
A feeling experienced by Volkswagen Drivers.
Phil74Camper
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posted on January 2nd, 2009 at 08:55 AM
No that's the only photo I took of the old Penrith dealer. However I have some other historic material about it, which I'll post when I get home
(I'm so lucky to be at work today). I should have taken more, but the excitement of the moment got to me. Plus, I was on my way to a VW Club of NSW
wine tasting trip to Mudgee at the time, and I only had a roll of 24-exp slide film with me (you can tell it's a slide from the dust!). I was trying
to conserve shots - silly me.
Dave that looks suspiciously like Leigh Harris and Keith Haeusler - although I thought Leigh's old twin-cab was a low-light. Too much beer has
corrupted my memory. Wow, I wonder if that VW lollypop still exists today?
I remember spotting another old VW lollypop in an abandoned VW dealership, from the window of an Ansett Pioneer coach in 1987 when I was travelling
from Adelaide to Perth. It was just on sunset and the coach was driving through Ceduna. We passed the old dealer, I spotted the VW lollypop and almost
had a heart attack! I wonder if it's still there; doubtful after another 20 years.
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posted on January 11th, 2009 at 01:08 AM
Andre's Garage... it is not still there..thought you would like to know.
Phil74Camper
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posted on January 13th, 2009 at 05:36 PM
Thanks, I didn't think it would be, but no harm in hoping! Andre's Garage existed from 1962 to some time in the early 1980s. I had a quick look on
Google Earth but I can't tell where it used to be. The VW address book only said 'Eyre Highway'.
Anyway, here's a period ad for Ward's Motors at Penrith, as seen in the local paper in 1966. The VW dealer guy reminds me of Ferris Bueller's
teacher.
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