A history of Dingles: A look back at the firm bought by St Leonard’s Motor Group
Places -- A Dingles Garage, Attleborough Dated -- 1921 Photograph -- c10214
The news that East Anglian car dealer Dingles has been bought by a Sussex-based motor group brings to an end nearly a century of family ownership.
John Dingle, managing director of Dingles Toyota, with an EDP Business award for customer care, at the new showroom by Norwich Airport. Photo: Denise Bradley . - Credit: Archant � 2005
Here, we take a look at a brief history of Dingles Motor Group.
• 1919: George Arthur Dingle founds the company, initially with a blacksmith's shop and then moving on to offer commercial vehicles.
• 1947: Nearly 30 years later, the founder's son, George Henry Dingle, joins the company. Over the years he brought in Ford, BMC and Triumph franchises.
• 1979: John Dingle joins the company with just the Ford franchise.
• 1996: Dingles take on the Toyota franchise in Attleborough
• 2002: The Toyota franchise in Norwich joins the Dingles group.
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• 2003: The Toyota franchise in Lowestoft, originally run by Gooch Motors, is taken on. Dingles Toyota moves to new premises in Delft Way.
• 2008: Dingles win the Subaru and Isuzu franchises in Norwich.
• 2011: Lexus's Norwich service starts to be run from Dingles in Norwich.
• 2016: Dingles is named as one of the 1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain by the London Stock Exchange Group, in recognition of its rapid growth.
• 2017: Dingles, under the leadership of John Dingle, is sold to St Leonards Motor Group, heralding a new era for the company and its 140-plus staff.
