Dealer calls time after nearly 50 years at helm

A Kaikohe car dealer is preparing to retire after 47 years of running his business in the Northland town.

Peter Petersen is closing Petersen Motors at the end of August. While there will be no more car sales, staff have bought the parts and service departments and will operate those from Raiharo Street.

The site on Broadway has been home to a dealership for 75 years, with the first operation opening it doors just after World War II and selling Morris, Austin, Triumph and Leyland cars.

Petersen, pictured, took over the business as a Morris dealership in 1973 and ran it under the Motorcorp banner.

When Motorcorp reduced the size of its network a few years later, Petersen turned to selling Hyundai and Lada vehicles, reports the Northland Age.

The dealership operated as a Toyota franchise between 1989 and 2003, and since then it has concentrated on selling used cars for less than $10,000.

Petersen says he is well past the “normal time” for retirement and also plans to sell his collection of rare car manuals to collectors.