Wide range of expertise

Press, 9 March 1982, Page 25

Wide range of expertise

Stuart Blanchard Motors, Ltd, is the new name for what was formerly known as Eric Sides Motoring Services, at 92 Disraeli Street, near the Antigua Street corner south of Moorhouse Avenue and Hazeldean Road. The proprietor, Stuart Blanchard, used to work in the Eric Sides’ garage on the corner of Durham and Lichfield Streets; When he took over the Skoda dealership in September,; 1980, and moved to Disraeli. Street, he kept the Sides name because of its established association with Skoda. Now, Stuart’s garage has become :known in its own right for the care of Skoda cars and it is the only Skoda parts outlet between Rakaia and Kaikoura. There is a full range of mechanical parts in stock for all Skodas from the late 1960 s onwards, and body parts are available through a North Island dealer. While the Stuart Blanchard Motors’ business is based on Skoda vehicles, the firm’s small team of mechanics is prepared to work on all makes and models of cars and trucks, and its wide range of experience includes specialist expertise in the care of Ford General Motors and Japanese cars. Stuart served his apprenticeship in a North Otago country garage that catered for everything from lawn mowers tb a transport fleet. He was then employed for two years in. a British Motor Corporation workshop before becoming the manager of a suburban workshop. Stuart’s foreman, Bob Smith, served his apprenticeship with Ford in England before two years with Ford, New Zealand. During his 11 years in this country he has been the manager of three suburban garages.

The third mechanic, Ross Melhop, served his apprenticeship with the family Datsun franchise in Invercargill. He has been working with Stuart for nine months and has wide experience on all makes and models of Japanese cars.

Stuart’s father, Alf, runs the “lube" and tyre bay, and the most recent addition to the staff is Margaret Hood, who joined the firm in February to take over the everincreasing clerical work load and manage the spares department. . ~ Stuart says his is a general workshop that looks after “a lot of Datsun, General Motors and-Ford cars,’’ doing repairs both large and small, with emphasis on the sort of competent and personal service that builds confidence and loyalty in his clients. “We won’t go, beyond what’s required and what the client can afford,” he says, “and we’ve got an advantage in being small — not a huge, impersonal concern. “The bulk of our Skoda clients, particularly, are very loyal because we have the specialist knowledge and we have the parts,, if, they’re needed. “We used to be booked ahead about a week, but now we have Ross, we’re booked ahead only two or three days, usually, so clients can expect prompt service.” Stuart Blanchard Motors is a 7.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. business, five days a week, offering a pick up and delivery service and free estimates. There is plenty of parking space both around the garage and on the roadside, and access to Stuart Blanchard Motors is twice as good now that Disraeli Street joins through to Sandyford Street, off Colombo.