The Early Years
John Brown, born in 1910 - son of a coal miner. In 1927 John Brown & Co starts trading from a rented garage in Greenside, Edinburgh. After qualifying as a Certified Insurance Broker in 1933 John Brown & co moves to Tollcross in Edinburgh. After servicing as a WWII Spitfire mechanic from 1939 - 1945 John Brown designed the first mobile bank in 1950.
In 1954 the old established Eastern Motor Company in George street was aquired from George Black. This business, which had been established for 27 years, was a key building block in the current Eastern Western Mortor Group of today.
The 1960's, 1970's and 1980's
John Brown bought Dean Park House , Craigleith in 1960 and developed the site into a family home and Esso petrol station. In 1963 116 Colinton Road was purchased and BMW & Mercedes-Benz cars were sold from this site.
Douglas Brown, one of three children John & Rona Brown had was born in 1963.
Throughout the 1960's John Brown competes in a range of motor sport activities including both hill climbs and circuit racing.
The 1970 were economically very turbulent and the UK witnessed the advent of the 3-day-week and mass unemployment. There was a world fuel crisis and resulting energy shortages. People had to queue for fuel and staff regularily used candles at work.
John Brown bought one of our most iconic sites in 1973 - No 1 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh.
In 1975 Western Commercial opened it's Mercedes Van and Truck business at Newbridge.
Sadly in 1981 John Brown died. The business was passed to Douglas Brown, aged 18. Douglas joined a programme run by Mercedes-Benz UK which involved a two year secondment to London.
In 1982 Eastern BMW moved to No 1 Corstorphine Road, where it remained until 2009. In 1984 our Financial Director, Nasser Mohammed, joins the business as 'Assistant to the Group Accountant'.
The 1990's
Eastern Western Financial Services is incepted. In 1991 our Managing Director, Keith Duncan joins the group as Sales Manager and our Financial Director Kenny Robb, joins the group as Purchase Ledger Clerk both at Western Mercedes, Colinton Road, Edinburgh. Our Managing Director, Peter Collin, also joined Western Mercedes, Colinton Road, as General Manager in 1992.
Van Delivery Service was started in 1996 delivering the groups mail and parts distribution. Carron Motors Volkswagen in Falkirk is acquired and becomes the groups first Volkswagen retailer. In 1999 Western Mercedes opens a second business in East Edinburgh.
Volkswagen, Lexus, MINI, Harley-Davidson and Head Office
Abercromby Volkswagen acquired in East Edinburgh becoming the group's second Volkswage retailer. Lexus Edinburgh opens at Newbridge, Edinburgh. Eastern MINI opens following BMW's launch of the MINI brand across the UK. Initially in a corner of the BMW showroom.
3 Abercromby Toyota sites acquired. Western Toyota opens at Sighthill, Halbeath and Whitecraigs in East Edinburgh. Sloans Volkswagen acquired in Gorgie Road, West Edinburgh giving us 3 Volkswagen retailers at this time. Our industry leading bodyshop opens at Broxburn, West Lothian. The Current Head Office opens at East Mains Industrial Estate, Broxburn and all current Head Office functions relocate to this location.
The Harley-Davidson brand is acquired for Edinburgh and Western Toyota Whitecraigs relocates to its current location on old Dalkeith Road.
Western Commercial, Mercedes-Benz, Car Deal Warehouse
Western Commercial relocates from Newbridge to purpose built facilities in Broxburn. Western Commercial expands with new sites opened in Glasgow and Bellshill. Western Mercedes Passenger Cars relocates from colinton Road to the UK's largest Mercedes-Benz site at Newbridge.
Car Deal Warehouse, the groups own multi-franchise used car brand opens at Gorgie Road. Gogeta Rental Car, the groups hire car business, starts trading. Eastern BMW & Eastern MINI relocate from Corstorphine Road to Newbridge. The showroom design was the first 'slice design architecture' BMW showroom in the UK.
Car Deal Warehouse Halbeath opens, trading within the Western Toyota site. Edinburgh's Luxury Car Village' at Newbridge is created and this description would quickly become 'normal parlance' in Edinburgh.
Moving, expanding and adding to the impressive collection within the group.
We replace Arnold Clark as the Lexus franchise holder in Glasgow, initially trading from Kennedy Street. Car Deal Warehouse Glasgow opens within the Lexus Glasgow site.
We replace Chatham Honda and open our first Honda franchise in Fort Kinnaird, Edinburgh. We replace John Martin group and open our first Mazda dealership at Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh. We are appointed Nissan dealers for West Edinburgh, sharing an address - but not a showroon - with Mazda at Corstorphine Road.
Western Toyota Sighthill relocates to The Luxury Car Village in stunning new premises. Lexus Glasgow relocates from the temporary premises at Kennedy Street to a stunning showroom in West Street, Central Glasgow.
Western Honda opens it's second franchise in Halbeath, Dunfermline, replacing Arnold Clark Honda. Western Commercial opens it's fourth location, this time in Dundee. Scotlands Car Buyer, the group's online car buying service opens for business.
Present Day
Western Volkswagen relocates from Gorgie Road to purpose built premises at Edinburgh's Luxury Car Village. Car Deal Warehouse opens it's first dedicated and branded showroom adjacent to Western Volkswagen in Edinburgh's Luxury Car Village. Car Deal Warehouse, Edinburgh East also opens within the Western Honda Fort Kinnaird site.
Western Nissan Stirling opens having replaced Arnold Clark as the franchise holder. Western Nissan Fife opens in Halbeath adjacent to Western Toyota and Western Honda.
Western Nissan and Western Mazda relocate from Corstorphine Road to purpose built premises within Edinburgh's Luxury Car Village.