SEGEDINS TO BE REBRANDED

As far as aftermarket parts go in New Zealand, long-running Segedins Auto Spares is the grandaddy of shops. Founded way back in the early 1970s by Ivan Segedin Sr after he stepped aside from racing his Fleetwood Mustang, the little shop on Dominion Road became the go-to option for car builders and hot rodders looking for parts and advice. And while it tends to cater more for the American muscle and hot rod side of things, ‘Seges’ has always been favoured for a massive range of parts in our scene, too, regardless of what you drive.

So, with that kind of history behind the brand, it may come as a surprise to hear that the company is currently undergoing a total rebrand to become 1st Auto Parts.

Company director Shane Johnson explained that it’s simply about moving the business forward as times change, and that customers can still expect the same Segedins service. And Shane knows that service better than anyone, having been employed by Ivan Segedin himself in 1979.

“I had just turned 15, so I’ve been here a long time,” Shane told us. “I worked here pretty much full-time and did my time as an apprentice mechanic at the workshop, then got back into the spare-parts side of it and have been involved ever since. When the [business] split happened around 15 years ago, [Ivan] gave me the opportunity to become partners with him, and we had a pretty successful partnership for many years.”

However, when Ivan Segedin passed away in 2014, Shane realized the potential to guide the company forward: “I’ve been involved with the company for 38 years, so it’s a little bit about getting my own identity, but also with the parts we’re importing — we’d like to get our own inhouse brand. It’s just something that I feel we have to do. I only sell stuff that I’d put on my own car — I’m over rubbish, and there’s some bloody rubbish out there.”

For now, 1st Auto Parts will retain the famous Dominion Road location, although Shane hasn’t ruled out a change of premises, among other things, in the future.