After more than 80 years, one of the Central Coast’s oldest businesses is changing hands.
Booth’s Motor Group has closed its doors and has been bought by Central Auto Group.
Fred and Evelyn Booth started Booth’s 83 years ago, buying a small mechanical workshop in Gosford.
The couple grew the business to become a larger workshop and petrol station before son Kevin took over, with the company becoming a Rootes Group new car dealer in the 1940s and moving into car sales.
Chrysler took over the brand in 1964 and Booth’s remained a Chrysler dealer until Mitsubishi took over in 1981.
In the 1980s the next generation joined the business, when Kevin and Nancye Booth’s sons David and Col and daughter Sandie came on board.
They initially took on the Proton and Great Wall franchises, before acquiring Peter Robert Hyundai.
This was followed by expansion to Tuggerah with the purchase of Wyong Mitsubishi in 2005.
Hyundai was added to this business and then began construction of a number of new showrooms and service departments across the group.
After another period of stabilisation, Booth’s bought the Central Coast Ford business in 2018.
“We have survived through wars, recessions, financial crises and pandemics, growing and satisfying Central Coast motorists with new and used cars, finance, parts and service,” David Booth said.
“We have all enjoyed the ups and downs, and every member of the extended families has had an involvement in the business over the years.”
Booth’s has been a family business from the outset.
Following in the footsteps of their parents, David and Kate Booth, Col and Jacquie Booth and Sandie and Rob Parry, fourth generation members of the family Jake, Emily, Matt, Kelly, Sophie, Hamish and Hannah have all enjoyed being involved in the business over the years.
But the family has decided that now is the time to finish up and move into retirement.
The company has been sold to Central Auto Group with franchise names of Central Coast Mitsubishi, Central Coast Hyundai, Tuggerah Mitsubishi, Tuggerah Hyundai and Coast Ford.
“Sam Elabbasi, his family and his teams will continue to provide the same sort of family service that Booth’s has provided over the past 83 years,” David Booth said.
“We are all sad to be bringing this chapter of our family history, and Gosford history, to a close (but) nothing lasts forever.
“It is bittersweet but we are pleased that we can pass on a solid business to the new owners.”
Booth thanked the many employees who contributed to making the business strong and grew with it over the years, some of them committing more than 30-40 years to the company.
“Most are staying on with the new business and we wish them well and thank them for their input to our business over the years,” he said.
“For those who are moving on; we are sorry to see you go and wish you the best in pursuit of another position, or in your retirement.”
Booth’s Motor Group recently received a Ford President’s Award as one of the top performing Ford dealers in Australia, and a Mitsubishi Diamond Award for excellence in Sales for Mitsubishi dealers, having previously won Hyundai Dealer Performance awards.
“We are very proud of these achievements to add to the trophy cabinet,” Booth said.
“We would also like to thank the many suppliers we have worked with over the years.
“They have been extremely supportive and worked with us to make our customers happy.”
Booth said the company had enjoyed long-term repeat relationships with many Central Coast families over the years.
“People love telling us stories about what they remember Fred or Evelyn or Kevin doing for them to help them out of a difficult motoring situation,” he said.
“We have mixed emotions about our decision, but by selling now, we will have more time to spend with our parents and families.
“Thank you, Central Coast motorists; it has been a pleasure to serve you over the past 83 years.”
Terry Collins
So sad to see Booths finish up after all these years, but I wish all the family a well deserved retirement to David, Col, Sandy and best wishes to the rest of the family.