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Toyota dealerships, corner of Main and Gibbons Streets.
History
HistoryBryan Ross's career had started around 1957, at Anthony Motors, on the corner of Main and Wilson Streets; the building is now Beaurepaires. By the late 1960s he was managing director, and had expanded into caravan sales.
He started his Toyota dealership as Rosscars Toyota in 1976; a full-page 'Leader' advertisement appeared on August 24. The corner site had been owned by Stan Mudgway's Mudgway Motors, which later moved down Gibbons Street. Tom Croft Motors (Ford dealers), based on Main Road North, had a down-town showroom on the site after Mudgway's move; both are visible in a 1966 auction photo.
They announced a new service facility in the February 15, 1983 'Leader'.
Rosscars Toyota closed in August 1986 (or at least changed ownership; a thank-you letter from Bryan Ross was printed in a full-page advertisement on August 19.
Rosscars took up an agency for Yugo cars in 1987; the October 27 'Leader' printed a picture of Barry Savage at the wheel of one. The cars were Fiat-designed, assembled in Serbia, originally for Eastern Europe. The 1985 GV made No. 39 in Time magazine's '50 Worst Cars of All Time'.
The site became Woodings Toyota, July/August 1989; owners were Peter Cummings and Mike Woodhead, who had been director dealer principal for Rosscars.
August 1, 1994 'Leader'; Rick Mudgway, managing director, and Hurst Holdings, of Oamaru, took over, renaming the business Upper Hutt Toyota.
In November 1995 there was a quiet change to becoming a branch of King Toyota; six months later, the May 22, 1996 'Leader' printed an article on the change. six onths
The January 15, 1997 'Leader' reported Bryan returning to King Toyota Upper Hutt; the article gives an extensive description of his career. He took over Woodings Toyota and renamed it King Toyota; the 'King' word was sometimes displayed as a mirror image.
Paula Penrose was appointed CEO in March 2001.
The firm sponsored Festival of the Arts events in Harcourt Park in 2004.
The September 21, 2005 'Leader' reported Brian Ross selling King Toyota to David Clarke.
He started his Toyota dealership as Rosscars Toyota in 1976; a full-page 'Leader' advertisement appeared on August 24. The corner site had been owned by Stan Mudgway's Mudgway Motors, which later moved down Gibbons Street. Tom Croft Motors (Ford dealers), based on Main Road North, had a down-town showroom on the site after Mudgway's move; both are visible in a 1966 auction photo.
They announced a new service facility in the February 15, 1983 'Leader'.
Rosscars Toyota closed in August 1986 (or at least changed ownership; a thank-you letter from Bryan Ross was printed in a full-page advertisement on August 19.
Rosscars took up an agency for Yugo cars in 1987; the October 27 'Leader' printed a picture of Barry Savage at the wheel of one. The cars were Fiat-designed, assembled in Serbia, originally for Eastern Europe. The 1985 GV made No. 39 in Time magazine's '50 Worst Cars of All Time'.
The site became Woodings Toyota, July/August 1989; owners were Peter Cummings and Mike Woodhead, who had been director dealer principal for Rosscars.
August 1, 1994 'Leader'; Rick Mudgway, managing director, and Hurst Holdings, of Oamaru, took over, renaming the business Upper Hutt Toyota.
In November 1995 there was a quiet change to becoming a branch of King Toyota; six months later, the May 22, 1996 'Leader' printed an article on the change. six onths
The January 15, 1997 'Leader' reported Bryan returning to King Toyota Upper Hutt; the article gives an extensive description of his career. He took over Woodings Toyota and renamed it King Toyota; the 'King' word was sometimes displayed as a mirror image.
Paula Penrose was appointed CEO in March 2001.
The firm sponsored Festival of the Arts events in Harcourt Park in 2004.
The September 21, 2005 'Leader' reported Brian Ross selling King Toyota to David Clarke.
Photos
Details
Organisation typeMotor dealershipGeotag[1] FunctionSale and servicing of new and 'Signature Class' second-hand Toyota cars.
Geotag[1] FunctionSale and servicing of new and 'Signature Class' second-hand Toyota cars.Also known as
Alternative nameRosscars ToyotaFor the yearsBetween 1st January 1976 and 31st July 1989
For the yearsBetween 1st January 1976 and 31st July 1989Also known as
Alternative nameWoodings ToyotaFor the yearsBetween 1st August 1989 and 31st July 1994
For the yearsBetween 1st August 1989 and 31st July 1994Also known as
Alternative nameUpper Hutt ToyotaFor the yearsBetween 1st August 1994 and 31st December 1996
For the yearsBetween 1st August 1994 and 31st December 1996Also known as
Alternative nameKing ToyotaFor the years1st January 1997
For the years1st January 1997loading google map....
Toyota dealerships, corner of Main and Gibbons Streets.. Upper Hutt City Library, accessed 03/04/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/25828