Mr Booth OAM was the foundation of Booth’s Motor Group for more than 60 years and worked in the dealership until he was 90 years old.

The funeral service was held at Gosford Anglican Church on August 9.

The Booth family last month sold its car dealerships in the Central Coast of NSW to Sam Elabbasi and his family and team. 

The sale also farewelled the Booth’s Motor Group name from the communities, with new owners to trade as the Central Auto Group with franchise names of Central Coast Mitsubishi, Central Coast Hyundai, Tuggerah Mitsubishi, Tuggerah Hyundai and Coast Ford.

David Booth, outgoing dealer principal and third-generation owner of the business with his family, told GoAutoNews Premium at the time of the sale that his grandparents – Fred and Evelyn – started in 1939 with the purchase of a petrol station and parts supply store with a small mechanical workshop in Gosford.

The business grew to become a larger workshop and petrol station until it was taken over by their son, Kevin, who further expanded the business by taking on the franchise of the Rootes Group cars.

Mr David Booth said selling the dealerships was a bitter-sweet moment, saying: “I love the business.”

He said that his family survived through wars, recessions, financial crises and pandemics “growing and satisfying Central Coast motorists with new and used cars, finance, parts and service.”

Mr Booth is survived by his family of Nancye, David and Kate, Col and Jacquie, Sandie and Rob, Jake, Emily, Matt, Kelly, Sophie, Hamish and Hannah.

On the sale, Mr Booth said: “We are all sad to be bringing this chapter of our family history, and Gosford history, to a close. Nothing lasts forever.”

Kevin Booth

By Neil Dowling