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Story: Cars and the motor industry

First Todd Motors garage

First Todd Motors garage

The Todd brothers became major players in the New Zealand car assembly industry. This is their original garage in Heriot, West Otago, in 1925. Charles Todd had become a fellmonger (animal-hide dealer) in Heriot in 1884 with his son Charles. In 1915 Charles junior moved to Dunedin and formed a stock and station agency, Todd Brothers. This soon opened branches around Otago, selling Ford cars, and later trucks and tractors.

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Neil and June Penman

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How to cite this page

Eric Pawson, Cars and the motor industry – Car imports and the assembly industry, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/22842/first-todd-motors-garage (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Eric Pawson, published 2 March 2010, updated 1 December 2014.

Comments

Te Ara
16 August 2012
You're quite right! We think we might have confused it with Herbert or Hampden in North Otago. We'll fix that very soon.
wrong
15 August 2012
Heriot is not in North Otago it is actually in West Otago