Business built over 25 years

Murdo established the Doune operation in 2003 but started building the business many years before.

He left his job as an area manager with Fiat more than 25 years ago to start his car sales business, which grew over the years from a small start to become one of the largest used car dealers in Central Scotland.

He said:“It started with a few cars at Gargunnock Filling Station and in 1993 moved to Springkerse Road in Stirling.

“In 1999 purpose-built premises were erected at Borrowmeadow Road then in 2003 the business was transferred to Doune with the advantage of a main road site.

“In recent years the business has expanded from selling 300 cars a year to selling 600 cars a year.

“Customers come from as far afield as Shetland, London and Southern Ireland because of competitive pricing.”

Murdo’s interest in the trade goes back to 1969 when as a boy he started serving petrol, repairing punctures and sweeping the floor of the garage started by his grandfather in 1932.

As his interest in cars developed he even repaired and sold cars to his teachers.

In 1981 he started work as a salesman for a Fiat dealer in Inverness and found a passion for selling cars.

In 1989 he became an area manager for the Lancia division of Fiat, covering Scotland and Northern Ireland, and moved to Stirling.

He said:“While the job was very interesting, I found I was never at home and I knew I would be happier with the one-to-one contact with customers I had enjoyed in the past.

“In 1991 I finally started to sell cars under my own name from Gargunnock, with an office in my house.”