It all began in the 1960s when young Colin Giltrap, a car mad businessman, founded Hamilton luxury car dealership, Monaco Motors.
Colin expanded his interests by buying Matamata Motors and
Coutts of Great North Road. Colin has since invested a passion for
cars into a portfolio of automotive businesses both here and
overseas.
Today the Giltrap Group is one of the strongest motor vehicle
groups in New Zealand. While Colin continues his interest in
business and motor racing, sons Richard and Michael have taken
hands-on management roles. Like Colin, they love cars and know it's
how and where they go that matters.
1966
Colin Giltrap founded Hamilton luxury car dealership: Monaco
Motors
1970
Colin Giltrap expands the business- buying Matamata Motors
1971
Colin Giltrap buys a company called P Coutts and Co a
dealership- the distributor and retailer of Daimler, and retailer
of Triumph and Rover. This was later renamed Coutts Cars.
1973
Mazda Dealership set up at 444 Great North Road, a dealership
that also sold Audi
1974
Colin Giltrap acquires the distributor right to Porsche in New
Zealand
1977
European Motor Distributors Limited is formed. This acquires
distributorship rights for Volkswagen and later on Audi
1982
Acquisition of Schofields of Newmarket- a major public
company
1983
Coutts Cars becomes a standalone BMW dealership: Coutts BMW at
150 Great North Road, with Giltrap North Shore also hosting BMW
Audi, VW Porsche, Rolls Royce and Bentley move to 101 Great
North Road, under a new dealership called "Giltrap Prestige". This
dealership also retailed GM products and later on Nissan
1985
A 50% ownership of Archibald & Shorter in Greenlane,
Auckland- a Jaguar dealership- on a Joint Venture basis
1989
Acquisition of a Toyota franchise for Auckland City. Giltrap
City Toyota located at 101 Great North Road
Colin Giltrap becomes the Mercedes-Benz distributor for NZ,
relinquishing the right to have both BMW dealerships- City and
North Shore. Therefore Coutts BMW changes to Coutts Mercedes-Benz,
and moves to new premises in Newmarket
An additional showroom was built at 100 Great North Road- a
purposebuilt prestige dealership, and Giltrap Motor Group is
renamed as Giltrap Prestige.
1993
Giltrap Prestige becomes the only Aston Martin dealership for
New Zealand
1996
The Giltrap Group acquires the distributor rights to Skoda in
New Zealand
2001
Giltrap Prestige outgrows the building at 150, and creates a new
purpose-built building with dedicated showrooms for Audi,
Volkswagen and Porsche at 100 Great North Road. This is now also
the new location for European Motor Distributors.
2002
Giltrap Prestige becomes the only Lamborghini dealership for New
Zealand
Giltrap Prestige separates its six luxury brands, and
Independent Prestige is formed, hosting Bentley, Lamborghini and
Aston Martin at 150 Great North Road. Giltrap Prestige stays at 100
Great North Road with Audi, Volkswagen and Porsche.
2010
Lexus of Auckland City is split from Giltrap City Toyota, and
moves to its own purpose-built facility at 29 Great North Road.
Independent Prestige moves to 120 Great North Road.
2011
With Audi New Zealand expanding beyond expectations, the
Giltrap Group decided to construct a new Audi Terminal at the old
Independent Prestige site - 150 Great North Road. This was
officially opened on July 15th, 2011.
2012
Sir Colin Giltrap received New Year's Honours as he was
made a Knights Companion of the Order of New Zealand of Merit for
his services to motorsport and philanthropy.