QUEENSLAND dealer and property developer Eric (John) Zupp has died aged 93.

Mr Zupp, regarded as Queensland’s most successful and innovative automotive dealer, is remembered through advertising with ‘Big John’ Zupp and ‘Any Old Iron’ being familiar to generations of radio and television audiences.

His family said Mr Zupp died after a long and quiet battle with cancer at his Sanctuary Cove home in the company of his beloved wife of 60 years, Wendy, and his daughters Toni and Terri.He is survived by Wendy, their daughters Toni Mills and Terri McGuire, four grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Mr Zupp opened his first dealership in Ipswich in 1948 and by 1954 had a showroom at 34-36 Brisbane Street dealing in Caltex products. It moved to 40-42 Brisbane Street in the late 1950s on the site now occupied by Hog’s Breath Cafe.

In 1963 Zupps opened a used-car division at the corner of Brisbane and Mortimer Streets, Ipswich.

Zupps was also known for the yellow elephant symbol which was the result of an elephant race on Ipswich Show Day in 1960.

John Zupp entered his elephant adorned with a big yellow rug with ‘Zupps’ written on the side.

On seeing this elephant, he liked the idea and decided to use it as his company logo and the symbol has grown to become one of the most recognised logos in the Australian motor industry.

The Zupps name endured, and in 2007 it became a part of the Automotive Holdings Group (AHG). In 2019 AHG was acquired by A.P. Eagers (now Eagers Automotive).

Although the brand and name lives on, Zupps no longer have a presence in Ipswich.

After the sale of the business to AHG, John Zupp launched Zupp Property Group which owns and develops motor vehicle dealerships, offices and the Interciti office park at Ormeau.

The family said that John will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by his family, friends and a multitude of colleagues who worked with and for him over many decades.