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Buyers Like Lots of Options On Their GM Cars and Trucks In 1922 a man named Roy Nichols opened a General Motors Dealership Dealership between Courtice and Bowmanville. Sixty-six Sixty-six years later, it's still a booming business. "We're picking up 35 per cent of the business in this area," said company company president Fred Owen. The area he refers to is Oshawa-Newcastle, where General Motors vehicles are very popular. popular. Mr. Owen describes the typical car buyer in Newcastle and area as desiring four-door vehicles vehicles with lots of "extras" like power doors and locks, air conditioning and tinted windows. The demand for luxury features features surprises this car veteran, in the business for 50 years. "It shocks me to think that at one time we wouldn't even put a radio in our demonstration models. Now, it's loaded...vinyl loaded...vinyl top, tinted glass-you name it, " he said. In the car sales industry industry where employees come and go, it's nice to see that Fred Owen's top salesman has been with the company 25 years. "We try to hold on to our people. Harold Michel- son is our 'gold' salesman," salesman," he said. • Fred's nephew, Bob Owen, has been with Roy Nichols for eight years, and salesperson Pat Bagnell for over 15. Fred Owen finds this reassuring for customers. customers. "You want to be able to talk to someone you know. One of the advantages advantages of coming back to the dealership is that they have a file on your car. he said. The dealership is located located on Highway Two in Courtice at Courtice Road and sells all Chevrolet Chevrolet and Oldsmobile vehicles, vehicles, including 4x4 trucks and pick-ups. And they do a fine job of it. "Our sales are way up," said Mr. Owen. Mr. Owen does not see the company as being affected affected by the CanadarUS Free Trade Agreement because of the Auto Pact signed over 20 years ago. The pact allowed General General Motors (and other car manufacturers) to distribute distribute and ship parts across the United States and Canada without tariff. tariff. GM parts are manufactured manufactured in such distant places as Spain, Mexico, Germany and Japan. Roy Nichols Motors must be doing something right to be surviving, said Mr. Owen. He believes believes his company is built on "solid foundations foundations of customer satisfaction". satisfaction". He's.got 50 years of GM experience to back him up. Bait Shop Grew and Grew Farrow's Bait and Tackle has truly grown since its humble beginnings as a tackle-selling van at the Port Darlington Marina in the summer of 1986. At the end of that summer, summer, Ron and Linda Farrow decided that the high demand demand for tackle in this area warranted a permanent store. By October they were installed at 69 King St. West in Bowmanville where they remained until January of this year. Since January, the Farrows have been selling live and artificial bait along with tackle and even some archery equipment from their new location at 44 King St. West. Although a somewhat seasonal business, Farrow's Bait and Tackle stays busy throughout the year as it offers offers fishing rod building courses all winter and moose calling courses all year. (Ron Farrow was the World Moose Calling Champion in 1983). The family still runs a fish weighing station and a charter fishing boat service from Port Darlington during the summer months. Summer may be their busiest time but the Farrows are kept hopping through the winter by ice fishermen's demands for live minnows, distribution of hunting and fishing licences, and bait sorting in preparation for the summer season. 32 Progress Edition of The Canadian Statesman, Wednesday, June 29,1988 Fred Owen stands beside one of the many new vehicles on the lot at Roy Nichols Nichols Motors, on Courtice Rd. and Highway Two. Nichols Motors has seen a lot of changes in.the automotive industry. In most recent years, the industry has witnessed witnessed an increased customer demand for options and extras: IMPR0VEMEN1 Vinyl Steel Window Replacement Aluminum Soffits Fascia Hardboard Eavestrough PETER SUTHERLAND ALUMINUM Bowmanville 623-4398