71 replies to this topic

[slr5640]

As an offshoot to my thread on locating the original owner of my A9X, link
I have a few questions for every one.
It appears that my car was once sold by Barry Thompson Performance Specialists who was in Parramatta Road, Homebush, some time ago.
A fellow forum member has taken this pic of the rear window sticker on his car and I was curious if someone could help with a bit more info on this guy.
How long ago did he finish up his business?
Does any one here know him?
Is he still about ?
Has any one else got the same sticker on their car?
It seems he sold a lot of performance Torana's back in his day.

Edited by slr5640, 02 November 2006 - 09:36 PM.

[StephenSLR]

Barry Thompson had a dealership near the corner of Bridge Rd and Parramatta Rd Homebush in the 80's.

He did sell quite a few muscle cars and once drove a red SL/R of some sort himself, more than likely an A9X.

He would often have Toranas and I remember seeing some nice earlier model Holdens and Chev's

He would have the pick of the bunch.

Second to that there was also a dealership just down on the same side of the road near Suttons Holden that would also sell many Holden Muscle cars.

Across the road from that you would also find some nice muscle cars every now and then.

Down further on the other side of the road next to American Autos Rare Spares you had El Rancho and they had the dodgiest looking fake muscle cars - they may have looked good from a distance but upon closer inspection .

His brother John Thompson also had a dealership on the corner of Neich Pde and Parramatta Rd Burwood. He sold the more exotic - Jags, Spyders, Triumphs, BMW's and on the odd occasion would have A9X's.

s

Edited by StephenSLR, 14 November 2006 - 11:27 AM.

[Dr Terry]

Hi Guys.

Yes, I remember Barry Thompson's Homebush yard well, we did a lot of work for him. The yard itself has now combined to be part of the Larke Hoskins Honda dealership, on the corner of Bridge road. My workshop (for 20 years) was in between Barry's yard & Suttons, it's now a half empty apartment block.

Barry started in Church st Parramatta, then moved to Homebush. In the late seventies he sold the yard to his head salesman, Norm Connor, who ran it for around another 8 to 10 years, before closing down.

Dr Terry.

[StephenSLR]

My workshop (for 20 years) was in between Barry's yard & Suttons, it's now a half empty apartment block.

I know that area well, was your workshop named Bebco by any chance?

I bought my SL/R from Homebush Intersection - a yard pretty close to Suttons.

s

[slr5640]

All the above information has been very informative and helpful. I'll let you know if I ever come across Barry or Norm.
Unfortunately the local library no longer keeps an electoral roll so this could prove difficult. The state library keeps one however this is a four hour drive for me.

[LS1LX]

All the above information has been very informative and helpful. I'll let you know if I ever come across Barry or Norm.
Unfortunately the local library no longer keeps an electoral roll so this could prove difficult. The state library keeps one however this is a four hour drive for me.

If you make that drive Ill give you some names to chase up for me?

[Dr Terry]

Hi Guys.

Stephen SL/R said "I know that area well, was your workshop named Bebco by any chance?"

Yes. You probably know who I am now.

Dr Terry

[StephenSLR]

Yes. You probably know who I am now.

Dr Terry

No not really, I took my car there once and questioned someone about pollution gear as I bought my car with some items missing from my engine bay.

It was a very long time ago so cannot remember exactly who I saw.

s

[slr5640]

If you make that drive Ill give you some names to chase up for me?

Sorry LS1LX i made the drive but forgot to let you know.
It turns out there are 41 Barry Thompson's on the electoral roll in NSW.
So far I have been able to eliminate 25.
Next thing is to send into muscle assist in the Muscle Car Magazine in the hope that some one will be able to help.

[slr5640]

From what I heard Barry moved up to Queensland, where he did those convertible celicas called "sunchasers".

Thanks Louie, very helpful information.
No wonder I can't find him if he has moved interstate. I will give QLD a go then.
I found a pic of a Celica Sunchaser

[slr5640]

Thanks to Louie's tip (purpleLC), I went back to the library and looked him up in Queensland.
And after numerous phone calls I finally got hold of him.
He doesn't however have any info of his sales which I was hoping against hope that he would. He could have answered a lot of my questions.
Once again records are only kept for a certain amount of years before being destroyed.

[RallyRed]

Hi mate,

Did you ever solve your search for info on your A9X?
thanks

[slr5640]

Not solved but have been able to find out a bit more.
Car was stolen and crashed whilst in Belconnen, Canberra
Wreck was returned to owner but I cant find out who he was
I have just about annoyed every Canberra resident on here !!
I did have a lead but cant get any further with it ...

Um..... I have nicknamed the car "Richelle" now all good now (these emoticons are fun aren't they )

[RallyRed]

Ok...I have just come across some old pics and business cards from Barry Thomson Performance cars.
Will post them once I figure out how ( have seen the link, just havent had time to digest it )
The Sales guy there was Chis Miller, was there for years....was always up for a Torana chat...maybe he would remeber your car IF you could find him??...reckon he would have to be late 50's by now?

[RallyRed]

 Barry Thompson ZOOM.png   458K   8 downloads

Hi again, here are some old BTPC biz cards...I will load up some actual photos later on.
( there is one of a black sLR / L34 which is notes as "actual Bathurst 1975 winner"......as well as selling heaps of Torana road cars, Thompsons also sold a fair few ex race cars, particularly lots f ex Bob Forbes race cars, so the 1975 car was prob. legit , however dont recall it being a Forbes developed car?

[RallyRed]

 Barry Thompson ZOOM 2.png   525.79K   12 downloadsHere is another one.....have a look at the number of desireable cars there!!!!....as someone else said earlier in this thread...the sold HEAPS of them..

[unclefestal34s]

that red L34 you can see belonged to guy i knew ..rego KST-152 or something like that and the white hatchback was my cousins car he bought of him as a genuine unflared 5Litre and fitted flares to it...that picture is roughly about 1983 ..it was a bussiness card with his only salesman chris miller who later opened his own perfomance caryard directly across the road from BEBCO (dr.terry)

[RallyRed]

wow...i thought someone would be familiar with some of those cars....good stuff

[StephenSLR]

have a look at the number of desireable cars there!!!!....as someone else said earlier in this thread...they sold HEAPS of them.

Those pics bring back great memories.

A guy I knew bought a dark blue HX (I think) Kingswood from him with a Ford XA bonnet skin grafted onto it. Personally I thought it was a crap car, it was after he finished with it anyway.

s