THE Mylchreests Group will celebrate the company's 50th anniversary and its 40th anniversary as a Land Rover-Jaguar dealer with a total refurbishment of its headquarters in Douglas.
Work has already started on gutting the main showroom at Millmount on the New Castletown Road and the aim is for the refurbishment to be completed by late spring.
Mylchreests has been based there for 10 years, taking over the premises from Westminster Motors.
The official opening of the new-look Mylchreests headquarters will be performed by Colin Green, the managing director of Land Rover-Jaguar in the UK on July 4 - the precise date of the Mylchreests 50th anniversary.
A key feature of the refurbishment is the installation of a state-of-the-art lighting system which is being provided by local experts Luminaires.
The latest Italian designed energy efficient lights will be used in the premises, resulting in a one third saving in energy costs and a significant overall improvement to the appearance of the premises.
Mylchreests managing director David Mylchreest said: "We wanted a new look for the showroom which includes new external signage, new flooring and a number of new features.
"However, in a car showroom the lighting is a really important feature and I am really looking forward to seeing the new lighting system. It promises to be a really dramatic display."
The Mylchreests Group was formed in 1961 by Brian Mylchreest, father of David Mylchreest.
David took over from his father in 1985 while the company was based in Westmoreland Road, Douglas.
The Mylchreest family were pioneers of the Isle of Man motor business - Brian's father started Athol Motor Garage in Athol Street, Douglas, in the 1920s.
During the early years the Mylchreests Group specialised in the entire range of cars produced by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) namely Austin, Morris, Riley, MG & Wolseley.
With the formation of British Leyland in the latter part of the 1960s the Jaguar, Rover and Triumph franchises were added to the company's portfolio.
Mylchreests also handled Rolls-Royce, Bentley and Leyland trucks and vans for a number of years with the company previously having branches in both Ramsey and Castletown.
Today Mylchreests hold franchises for Jaguar, Land Rover, Mitsubishi and MG Rover as well as selling a range of quality used cars.
Mylchreests also provides a car rental service with vehicles available from the airport and the Sea Terminal or delivered anywhere in the Island.
Picture by Bill Dale
