Skurrays Vauxhall dealerships in Swindon and Marlborough have been renamed ‘Now’ after a takeover.
This comes after the retirement of Skurray’s managing director Nick Plevey.
Skurrays, the oldest brand in the UK motor trade, have been in business since 1899 when Ernest Skurray entered in to a contract to buy and sell Accles Turrell motor cars.
It is believed that this was the first formal contract for the sale of cars in the UK and Skurrays were the first motor dealers in this country, with the Skurray family owning the company until the 1960s.
The changeover took place on Monday 11 January and the Swindon and Marlborough sites are Now’s first acquisition outside of the M25, with Skurrays in Oxford being sold to a different company – Eden.
Managing Director Jon Taylor said: “We are very pleased to be taking our first steps outside of the M25 with our new locations in Swindon and Marlborough.
“This is an exciting time for the Now team and customers alike. We are confident we will be able to provide a fantastic experience to all as we develop the business further. We look forward to working within the local community and to welcoming customers, past present and future into our Now dealerships.”
In an interview with Automotive Magazine, Nick Plevey, who in 2009 bought the dealerships with business partner Nigel Harvey, said: “The simple truth of it is that I’m 60 now and I’m going to start my retirement. I started work serving petrol at 14 and it’s been non-stop ever since. I’m ready for a break.
“Throughout my time here we’ve enjoyed excellent backing from Vauxhall Motor Holdings and it’s a relationship that the brand has maintained with the Skurrays name for over a hundred years.
“The biggest loss in all this is the loss of the Skurrays name.”
