MS Marlborough Ford New Zealand

MS Marlborough Ford Company History

The first Ford dealer, Edward Parker, a general trader, took on the franchise about 1913.  About 1920, Dix and Sons obtained the franchise and shifted to dedicated motor garage premises.  However when they took on Chevrolet in 1927, they lost the Ford franchise which went to Lucas Brothers.  Ed Lucas, and his brother Fred, had started a service garage at Seddon in 1919 and shifted to leased premises in Blenheim to operate the Ford garage, still keeping their branch at Seddon.

In 1929 Lucas Brothers borrowed money and shifted to very smart new premises in Alfred Street.  The Depression hit in late 1930, and caused them considerable financial stress but with assistance from Colonial Motor Company they managed to trade out of the situation.

When Ed Lucas retired in 1958, his son Ted took over the business, which he ran for another 33 years.  Ted Lucas remembers the day he made his biggest ever sale, to Montana Wines in 1973.  He delivered 26 new Ford Tractors together with a variety of ploughs, cultivators, loaders and water tankers.  How could he forget a sale like that!

1n 1998 Colonial Motor Company purchased MS Marlborough Ford which today, operates a full range of Service, Parts and Vehicle Sales under the experienced eye of Alan Kirby, Dealer Principal.