Our Heritage

John Brown and Company starts trading from a rented garage in Greenside, Edinburgh.

John Brown and Co move to Tollcross, Edinburgh

In 1954, he bought the Eastern Motor Company which traded from George Street in the centre of Edinburgh. He saw the large weather vane that sat on the top of St George’s Church on George Street and adopted it as his company emblem. The weather vane is still used today as our Group motif.

The site is developed as a family home and an Esso Petrol Station. The family home was susequently sold to fund thr growth of the business.

116 Colinton Road is purchased. BMW and Mercedes-Benz passenger cars were sold from this site.

John continues to be a motoring fanatic and competes in hill climbs, circuit racing and other motor sport across Scotland.

John bought one of our most iconing sites, No.1 Corstorphine Road.

Western Commercial, our Mercedes-Benz Vans and Trucks business opens at Newbridge.

John Brown passes and the business passes to his son Douglas aged 18.

Saab opens in an Edinburgh City Centre location and Eastern BMW moves to No.1 Corstorphine Road.

We expand into England with the opening of Saab Newcastle. At the saem time we aquire our first VW business, this was based in Falkirk.

We open Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars in the East of Edinburgh.

Lexus opens in West Edinburgh as well as VW acquired in the East of Edinburgh

Eastern MINI opens following BMW's launch of the MINI brand.

Toyota opens in the East and West of Edinburgh as well as Fife. VW is acquired in West Edinburgh. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz Passenger cars acquired in Coldstream.

Our industry leading Body Shop opens in broxburn alongside our Head Office.

Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicles relocates from Newbridge to Broxburn and strengthens their position with new sites in Govan and Bellshill. Further to this Mercedes-Benz passenger cars relocates to Newbridge.

Edinburgh's Luxury Car Village is born. Initially it houses Lexus and Mercedes-Beznz Passenger Cars, joined by BMW & MINI relocating to this site in the same year.

First Honda franchise opens in Edinburgh. We are appointed Franchise dealers for Mazda and Nissan in Edinburgh ans Lexus glasgow opens accompanied by Car Deal Warehouse.

Toyota Edinburgh West site reolcates to Edinburgh's Luxury Car Village.

With the demise of Saab, Lexus glasgow relocates to city centre location. Honda opens in Fife and Western Commercial Vehicles opens for business in Dundee. Scotland's Car Buyer, the groups online car buying service opens for business.

Volkswagen West relovcated to Edinbuegh's Luxury Car Village and Car Deal Warehouse opens it sfirst dedicated showroom adjacent to VW.

We increase our Nissan representation in Stirling and Fife with opening of 2 new facilities. Additionally, a new PDI centre opens in Broxburn and Car Deal Warehouse opens within Honda Edinburgh East.

Nissan and Mazda reolcate to the Edinburgh's Luxury Car Village.

The group acquires the Grassicks BMW and MINI businesses in Perth.

Mercedes-Benz of Edinburgh moves from Willowbrae Road to Fort Kinnaird.

The group acquires Barnetts Motor Group, Tayside including Volkswagen, Nissan and Mazda dealerships.

Western Nissan and Western Honda Stirling move to brand-new purpose-built facilities.