Australia's smallest Ford Dealer??

**Burnout** · 13-01-2012, 02:47 PM

Last week I was up on the Dorrigo Plateau in the pretty town of Dorrigo, green as. I happened to throw a loop around town and noticed they had a Ford Dealer. You could see it had changed buildings at sometime in past years as the Big Ford sign was across the street on a large show room style building which had become a real estate agent.

The dealership was across the street and I reckon it might be the smallest Ford Dealership in Australia. The showroom contained a Fiesta a couple of old bikes, (most businesses in Dorrigo have old bikes on show), a couple of offices down the side and one salesman on the job. He and I had a yarn and he told me the dealership had not sold a Falcon since last October……

Maybe you know of a smaller Ford Dealer than Doust & Fitzgerald of Dorrigo?

4stanger · 13-01-2012, 05:16 PM

Try Sunrise Ford Dunn Street Biloela Queensland on Google Map.
I was there a couple of months ago and I think they were in this building. http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en...210.66,,0,5.52

2011G6E · 13-01-2012, 05:56 PM

Surprised he's still open...the big dealership out at Emerald closed it's doors some time back (not sure if it's re-opened).

That illuminated sign at the front of the building has a seventies look about it...seems pretty old.

DanielXR8 · 14-01-2012, 08:31 AM

For 70's branding you can look at Grant McCaroll Ford at Armidale. Certainly a time capsule. Nothing has been touched, except for sub leasing what use to be the spare parts section to a locksmith and putting some tackly signs for that over the peeling paint.

Mr Brooksy · 14-01-2012, 08:40 AM

A little town called Dungog NSW has a tiny Ford dealer (doubles as an NRMA). I stumbled accross it a few years ago. It looks like a very old workshop. Inside was a Focus and a Model T (in black of cause). With a few Territory posters hanging around the room. Nice old guy ran the place.

sorry will rotate image when I get on my computer...

Smoke Pursuit · 14-01-2012, 10:26 AM

I don't know how they stay in business but alot of them have other sub franchises selling tractors etc...

Brazen · 14-01-2012, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DASH GT

I don't know how they stay in business but alot of them have other sub franchises selling tractors etc...

Yeah our local one sells and services tractors and farm machinery it also has a petrol and diesel bowser. They dont sell many new cars though, however when the Falcon RTV was out it was boom times they were selling almost one a fortnight, since it got cancelled they sell about 5 to 10 Falcons a year.

Fairlane · 14-01-2012, 05:42 PM

Yeah Ive seen the one in Dungog as well, when I was there they had the model T, one ranger and one used BA ute. The mitsubishi / ex chrysler dealer is even smaller.

ieatsports_cars · 14-01-2012, 06:20 PM

A friend of mine works at a Tiny Nissan and ford Dealer Ship in Murgon in Qld
it's pretty small too

Scott142 · 14-01-2012, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fairlane

Yeah Ive seen the one in Dungog as well, when I was there they had the model T, one ranger and one used BA ute. The mitsubishi / ex chrysler dealer is even smaller.

Yeah, a few years ago was in Dungog for MX racing and saw the Ford dealership there. From memory it had something like one RTV and a Courier at the time. I think it had a petrol bowser out the front of it too? haha.

302 XC · 14-01-2012, 07:55 PM

Alexanders Ford in nanango (QLD) is pritty tiny
Come to think of it my XC was sold new there way back when

Benjamin Smith · 14-01-2012, 08:16 PM

Yer the alexander is like a tin roof car port thats it isnt it

Bucknaked · 14-01-2012, 08:23 PM

I was in Katherine in the Northern Territory befgore Christmas and heading along the highway, I came across the ford dealership and the holden dealership.

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=hol...,88.13,,0,6.02

If you go 3 c licks to the left of the holden dealership, you will see the ford one. Both were small and shared the same block of land.

Franco Cozzo · 14-01-2012, 09:39 PM

Not that its a Ford dealership, but Seymour Subaru/Nissan are fairly small, they have an office and a very old looking workshop.

michael wood · 14-01-2012, 10:32 PM

i used to live in dorrigo,we bought a au falcon and a courier ute from this dealer in 2000,couldnt ask for better service or backup ,3 cheers for small country dealers.

pottery beige · 14-01-2012, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

That illuminated sign at the front of the building has a seventies look about it...seems pretty old.

look good hanging up in my shed.........

BFZ Wagon · 15-01-2012, 12:28 AM

I love those small country dealerships. Many years ago I stopped in at the Ford dealer in Roma, (6hrs west Brisbane) and I asked if they had any old brochures they didn't want anymore. I was in luck, they'd just found a big pile of them and were going to turf them out so I scored big time. I was very happy.

If/when I go to buy a new Ford I would prefer to go out and buy from one of these smaller dealers. Support the the little guys in the country I say.

Oh, that illuminated Ford sign on the wall of the Dorrigo Ford dealer is the old style logo. (1976-2003) That's my favourite one. The other one beside it with the business name is the newer one. Not much of a difference but it is noticeable.

Weird seeing a Holden dealer next to a Ford one. (Bucknaked's Katherine Google maps link).

Go the mighty country dealer.

vhcbm · 15-01-2012, 02:55 PM

Gee I thought this one was small till I saw that.

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=38+...h&z=17&iwloc=A

Would be good to get a photo of the car in front of the one at Dungog. who's keen for a cruise up there?

Mr Brooksy · 15-01-2012, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vhcbm

Gee I thought this one was small till I saw that.

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?q=38+...h&z=17&iwloc=A

Would be good to get a photo of the car in front of the one at Dungog. who's keen for a cruise up there?

That would be kinda cool with 20+ polished Fords our front!

vhcbm · 15-01-2012, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Brooksy

That would be kinda cool with 20+ polished Fords our front!

I'm thinking I might do it myself this Sunday, isn't really that far to drive and the road out looks interesting.

v8falconsrule · 15-01-2012, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ieatsports_cars

A friend of mine works at a Tiny Nissan and ford Dealer Ship in Murgon in Qld
it's pretty small too

Aww chris you thought of me! But because we're tied in with Kingaroy we're not actually that small. Alexander's garage in Nanango is pretty small too. Most of the little places survive on servicing and a loyal band of local customers.

aussie muscle · 16-01-2012, 10:38 AM

The Ford dealer in bombala isn't quite that small, although at the moment they don't have any new cars in their showroom! (just three used cars in the lot). he probably makes most of his money from auto repairs and selling mowers (greenfield dealer)

EB# · 06-02-2012, 04:57 PM

I was in Dorrigo myself for work recently....
The dealer did have an FG parked on the street out front.

Burnout's photo prompted me to do the same !
https://www.fordforums.com.au/photos/data/2937/dorrigo1.jpg[/IMG]

vhcbm · 03-12-2012, 08:50 PM

Well I went through Dungog the other day not even thinking about the tiny dealer and saw it. Stopped and had a good look.

IMAG0285 by Charlie Bravo Mike, on Flickr

inside (through the window as they were shut on Sunday's)

IMAG0287 by Charlie Bravo Mike, on Flickr

Plaque on the wall

IMAG0288 by Charlie Bravo Mike, on Flickr

Holden dealer down the road was not much bigger!

IMAG0289 by Charlie Bravo Mike, on Flickr