Continental Car Services (CCS) began life back in the 60's as “Town & Country Motors” where mechanic Tim Bailey both fixed & sold cars. They included Fiat and I remember going there as a kid with my Aunt who had 850 and 124 Fiat Coupes in the 70’s, an Uno in the 80's.
CCS became part of the Sime Darby conglomerate who retail a wide variety of brands in NZ. Within a few hundred metres you could see Alfa, Audi, Fiat, Ferrari, Peugeot, Porsche, Maserati and VW vehicles in the CCS stable. It’s like a permanent motor-show with all the cars on sale!
My faithful old Uno 45 came from CCS, my Bravo HGT was originally sold by them although I got it from Precision Motors (part of the same group). For as long as I can remember CCS has been the place to go for Italian, the best, cars.
Therefore, it was very sad to get a letter today announcing from April 1 2009 CCS will no longer be selling Fiat or Alfa Romeo. They will continue to service them but I presume this will close the combined Fiat/Alfa showroom they opened back in 2006. It's a pity to see such a long standing relationship with a quality operation come to an end but they said the small sales volume did not justify the investment required.
I hope Ateco (who represent Fiat, Alfa Romeo & Citroen in NZ) get through this but it's tough times for the whole industry, even tougher for the small brands*. I have heard another, primarily Mitsubishi, dealer will be taking over but as I write there is no news on the Fiat NZ site and I've had no reply to an email sent several days ago. If Ateco read this feel free to respond in the comments.
So long Continental Cars, thanks for the decades of service.
From June 2006 - New Fiat & Alfa Romeo Showroom in Auckland
Continental Car Services (Auckland) launched a new dedicated Alfa Romeo & Fiat Showroom this weekend...
* For my U.K. and European readers: It may seem strange but in New Zealand Fiat is regarded as a niche, almost prestige, brand rather than the mass market option it is in Europe with sales measured in hundreds according to the latest public registration statistics. The 500 will have bumped that number up this year but even it has been positioned as an expensive small car. Judging by the number I've seen on the road I suspect it hasn't been the boost I'd hoped for Fiat in New Zealand.
