23 March 2019:
Another bit of family history – after graduating from Commerce from #MelbourneUniversity, my mother in about 1955 instead of becoming a stock broker like she wanted got a job here at #PrestonMotors (now #PMautomotivegroup), in this great streamline Deco / #Moderne #carshowroom on the corner of Russell and #LittleCollinsStreet almost exactly when this photo was taken in 1956. (thanks @heraldsunphoto_retro [The Argus]). I knew it was there, but havnt see such a good photo; there were a number of car dealers around that corner. This one dem in the late 60s, eventually #120Collins built there. Mum made lots of great friends there, and got to use the car-lift, some great hand and rope operated thing, she was slim and blond, but determined. Sadly never got to be a stock broker, but later made some $ from the Poseidon bubble, paid for our kitchen Lino floor in 1970; meanwhile she’d become a school teacher, like so many other women, but didn’t stop there, agitating for equal pay and getting it in 1971, and other stuff too…..
FromPMGroup website, looks c1940: 
Storey of Melbourne 
Preston Motors at 104 Russell Street, were of course most famous for being the primary distributing Victorian dealer for Chevrolet & Buick. These two brands play a much more important roll in Preston Motors history and in particular their stunning Russell Street showroom with its unique curved windows, than the Holden brand ever did.
Preston Motors continued to sell new Chevrolets and Buicks well into the early 1970s. I am the proud owner of a fully restored 1962 Chevrolet Impala 4 door hardtop that was displayed as a new car in the Preston Motors showroom at 104 Russell Street. On July 7, 1962 this Chevrolet Impala was driven away from the Preston Motors dealership by its first owner. I am the cars second owner and have owned it since 1977. My Impala is an important part of Preston Motors history. It still has the same Victorian registration number that was applied to it when it was delivered as a new car!
I have many childhood memories of visiting this dealership. My first visit was in 1964 when the then Sales Manager for Buick & Chevrolet, Mr. R. B. Callaghan showed me the then new ‘64 model Chevrolet Impalas and Belairs. I could go on and on. Great memories.
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Is was leading hand in workshop @ 132 stuart sth melb in 1967, Ern Cornish was service manager.
Was a great dealership.
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Barry, I am very interested in your comments. As Preston Motors ‘leading hand’ at 132 Stuart Street South Melbourne in 1967, I imagine that you might have clear memories of Buick Electra 225s being converted to right hand drive and perhaps you worked on more than a few Chevrolet Impalas.
I have written a lot of articles for various motoring magazines including in recent years, Australia’s Restored Cars magazine covering GMH assembled 1949 to 1969 Chevrolets and the fully imported 1962, 1963 and 1964 ‘fully imported’ Chevrolet Impalas that Preston Motors directly imported into Australia.
I often wonder, if photos exist of the interior of Preston Motors 104 Russell Street showroom with 1960s model Chevrolets, Buicks and Holden displayed. I have only ever seen photos taken in the late 1940s / early 1950s.
I have seen the Southern Motors stock book which lists every Pontiac sold new through Southern Motors from 1926 to 1966. I have to believe that Preston Motors had a similar book, and often wonder if it survives in 2023. Would be very interesting reading.
Do you by chance have any photos or historical Preston Motors material? I have a book covering Preston Motors 100 year history, but unfortunately it’s mainly about GMHs ‘Holden’ brand and the families that owned Preston Motors over time. It all but ignores Preston Motors signifiant involvement with Chevrolet and Buick from 1949 to 1970.
Hope to hear back from you.
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Carl, do you remember converting a green 1968 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham 4door hardtop with the 428ci . This car belonged to a family friend who has passed away and we lost track of it?
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G’day Trevor,
In 1968 was just a 17 year old, so I of course I did not convert your family friends 1968 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham and even as an adult I have never converted any vehicles from LHD to RHD, but nevertheless I do own a 1965 Chevrolet Corvair and a 1983 Cadillac Eldorado that have been converted to RHD.
The 1968 Pontiac Bonneville Brougham that you mention was almost certainly sold new by Southern Motors in Melbourne, however it could have also been imported by Stack & Company in Sydney and Southern Motors might not have been involved in its importing it to Australia.
Stack & Company did sell a lot more ‘one off’ or unusual Pontiacs. Southern Motors did sell fully imported Pontiacs but stuck mainly to selling GMH assembled Pontiacs.
The subject ‘68 Pontiac Bonneville would have been one of very few imported and could have been the only one imported to Australia. During the 1970s, large V8 American cars were not appreciated and many were crushed or broken up, sometimes just for the cars engine which would be transplanted into another vehicle. A lot of these cars were lost this way during the 1970s.
Southern Motors sales book / register might list this ‘68 Pontiac Bonneville. If it does it would only show the first owners (your family friend) name but nothing about subsequent ownership.
It is possible to check old VicRoads records by registration number, however lots of older cars today have long lost their original registration numbers and are driven on Victorian roads unregistered using VicRoads Permits, which are often incorrectly referred to as ‘club rego’.
It’s hard to say whether the subject ‘68 Pontiac Bonneville has survived today. If it has I am certain its current owner would be very interested in its early history.
Sorry, can’t be of much help. Consider also that the ‘68 Pontiac Bonneville might not be in Victoria, and could be owned by someone living in another state.
Regards
Carl Kelsen
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