The Colonial Motor Company Limited is a car, motorcycle, truck and agricultural equipment dealer with 18 outlets throughout New Zealand.
From 1911 to 1936 it was Ford Canada's importer and distributor for New Zealand and assembled Ford cars from knocked down packs. It was notable for its pioneering nine-storey assembly plant which built New Zealand's Ford cars from 1922 to 1936.
History
The Colonial Motor Company (CMC) originated from William Black's American Coach FactoryAmerican Coach Factory Evening Post, Issue 194, 21 September 1865, Page 3 which started operations in 1859 at 89 Courtenay Place, Wellington. In 1881 Black's business became insolvent and was boughtMeeting of creditors Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 48, 28 February 1881, Page 2Wanted Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 117, 20 May 1881, Page 3 by the Empire Coach Factory, coach and carriage builders and wheelwrights of Rouse and HurrellRouse and Hurrell. Manawatu Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 540, 2 November 1905, Page 3The Rouse and Hurrell Company Limited Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 72, 22 September 1902, Page 7 who expanded the business with new three storied premises calling it Rouse and Hurrell's Empire Steam and Carriage Works. In 1908 director Charles Norwood arranged a Dominion wide Ford of Canada agency.Rouse and Hurrell Evening Post, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 27, 31 July 1909, Page 6 In August 1911 Rouse and Hurrell's business was transferred to a new incorporation, The Colonial Motor Company Limited.Success of the Ford. Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1246, 30 September 1911, Page 8 Norwood left and formed Dominion Motors.
In 1916 Hope Gibbons and his family interest acquired a shareholding, becoming majority shareholders in 1918. CMC was listed on the New Zealand Exchange in 1962, although descendants of Gibbons continue to hold a majority shareholding.Company History Colonial Motor Company
Assembly of knocked down vehicles Construction of New Zealand's first specialised car assembly plant was begun by CMC in 1919A nine-storey warehouse. Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 89, 13 October 1919, Page 8 and completed in 1922 at 89 Courtenay Place, Wellington. It was a steel box of nine floors, based on the Ford assembly works in Ontario, Canada. The building stood over 30 metres high and was Wellington's tallest building at the time.Car assembly. Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 19, 23 January 1926, Page 6
The top two floors were used for administration. Assembly of cars from imported packs of parts started on level 7, and finished vehicles were driven out the ground floor. bodybuilding with the steel stampings from Canada body painting chassis assembly, completion of engine upholstery parts bulk store batteries and electrical bulk cases and unpacking of parts to be hoisted to other floors In addition to Courtenay Place, CMC built smaller assembly plants at Fox Street, Parnell, Auckland and Sophia Street, Timaru. At the end of 1925 assembly staff numbers were 641: Wellington 301, Parnell 188 and Timaru 152 people. At that time daily output was: 25, 20 and 18 respectively. In the 1970s Wellington's former assembly building was given a new facade inspired by a car radiator.
Reconditioning engines In 1924 an employee demonstrated the K R Wilson Combination Machine. Within three hours he relined the crankshaft bearings, bored them to accurate size and re-bored four cylinders to a standard Ford size. The work would previously have taken 18 to 20 hours. A special assembly bench by Manley Motor Support assisted with quick and accurate re-assembly. The machinery was claimed to bring factory exactness to the local garage and ensure a full 12,000 miles of running without further attention.Re-manufacturing Fords, NZ Truth, Issue 968, 14 June 1924, Page 6 Other machinery for the same purpose included the Wright Multi-valve Grinder which grinds 4 valves at once, the Ames Cylinder Gauge, the Wilson Crankcase Aligning Jig and Weaver Axle Stand.Ford repair methods. Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 194, 16 August 1924, Page 12
Assembly taken over by Ford In 1936 the Ford Motor Company of Canada took over distribution and vehicle assembly establishing a new plant at Seaview near WellingtonNew Ford Factory Evening Post, Issue 47, 25 February 1936, Page 4 while CMC retained most of the vehicle dealerships. The new factory began to assemble cars in early 1937 and was formally opened on 7 April 1937.Forty Cars a Day Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 82, 8 April 1937, Page 14
Dealerships At the end of 2015 CMC reported its subsidiaries held these dealerships in these locations:Dealerships 2015 Ford Manukau City, Botany, Pukekohe, Auckland Airport, Takanini, New Plymouth, Hawera, Waipukurau, Masterton, Lower Hutt, Wellington, Porirua, Kapiti, Nelson, Christchurch (x2), Greymouth, Rangiora, Timaru, Dunedin, Oamaru, Invercargill, Queenstown Mazda Manukau City, Pukekohe, Auckland Airport, Takanini, Masterton, Lower Hutt, Wellington, Porirua, Kapiti, Timaru, Dunedin, Oamaru, Invercargill, Queenstown BMW motorcycles Christchurch Kenworth & DAF Manukau City, Rotorua, Christchurch Peugeot, Citroen, Suzuki & Isuzu Manukau City Nissan Hastings Hyundai New Plymouth Kia Nelson Honda Pukekohe Suzuki motorcycles Masterton, Christchurch Can-Am Pukekohe alsoTractors and agricultural equipment for Southland:Tractors: Case IH, Kubota; Equipment: New Holland Construction, Kuhn, Norwood
See also Automotive industry in New Zealand
References
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