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SUTTONS has shocked Sydney by going blue, with a new Parramatta site to sell Ford cars from January 2 that turns the tables on the historic rivalry between Ford and the brand with which it had a 72 year relationship, Holden.

Suttons’ director Craig Sutton told GoAutoNews Premium that Ford was a brand that he had “long admired and competed against” and was excited about the “fantastic franchise”.

“We have sold Holden since 1948 (with Holden’s first 48/215 model) and even longer with the General Motors brand,” he said.

Suttons Ford opens next month on a new site, showroom and service centre opposite its previous Holden outlet at 101 Parramatta Road, Homebush.

Mr Sutton said the highly successful Holden dealership – one of five wearing the Suttons name – was culled by Holden in 2017 and the company replaced it with Nissan and Honda franchises.

The patriarch of the Sutton family, Sir Frederick Sutton, started selling GM cars in 1943. His son Laurie now runs the group with his sons, Craig and Ryan.

Suttons now has 42 outlets including new and used cars, auction houses and truck dealerships. With Ford, it has 18 brands that it sells and services.

While in different circumstances, old hands in car retailing will equate the move by the Suttons’ family with the shock move when Bib Stillwell was lured by Ford from its long-standing allegiance with Holden in 1966 at a time when Holden and Ford rivalry was at its most intense and Ford was in the early stages of establishing the Falcon in the Australian market.

The move by Suttons to Ford was clearly precipitated by Holden.

By Neil Dowling

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