Celebrating Thirty Years of Wheels

Advertising Feature

Richard Bateman lives and breathes cars. “For as long as I can remember our family talked cars at the breakfast table,” he says laughing.

“My father had a car yard and at eighty is still selling cars. I worked with him for a few years before branching out on my own.”

The passion runs in the family with his brother having his own car yard in Australia.

Richard Bateman Motors Ltd has just reached its thirty-year milestone of being in operation and Richard still talks cars at breakfast.

He started the business by finding someone who wanted to buy a car. “I found them one and made a small profit that enabled me to buy another car and it grew from there.”

Nowadays Richard has over forty vehicles in his yard at any one time and, if there isn’t one there to suit a customer, he will find one that will.

Over the years the business has expanded into selling second-hand utes and vans. He also imports caravans  from Australia.

“Taking to the road for longer periods has become very popular with kiwis since Covid and motorhome/caravan living is on the rise,” he says. “There is a great demand now for good quality home-away-from-home options.”

The business has become a stalwart of the Marlborough motoring scene with repeat buyers a major factor in its success. “I have had whole families as customers through the years right from teenagers getting their first set of wheels through to their parents needing upgrades,” says Richard.

“Getting to know my customers is one of the most enjoyable aspects of the business. Some have bought up to eight cars through me and there are even some vehicles I have resold three or four times.

'That’s when I know we have done our job properly, making sure each one leaves this yard in the best condition possible so that it continues to run well for the next owner.

“It’s so important to make sure that customers are happy with their vehicle and leave here after purchasing from us with complete piece of mind,” says Richard. "That’s why we have a workshop on site along with wheel alignment facilities and our own car grooming service. On the rare occasion that there is a problem it is our priority to put that right.”

After thirty years of being in the automobile business Richard knows a good vehicle when he sees one. “One thing I learnt early on is that just because I like a vehicle doesn’t mean someone else will and, even if I don’t like it, there will be someone who does,” he says.

“You have to be flexible and provide a good range of options so that customers have choice. It’s about getting the right car for them.

“Throughout the decades the trends in car buying haven’t changed much,” says Richard. “When the cost of fuel goes up there is a rise in demand for hybrid vehicles and yet there always remains a market for a V8 Holden or Falcon.

“Some of the cars from the 1990s are still performing better than others produced today. If a vehicle is looked after and properly maintained, it can keep performing well for years.”

Richard’s passion for cars extends to rallying and he has been the president of the Marlborough Car Club for more than thirteen years. “I’ve always had a couple of rally cars,” he says. “Kids can start at twelve years old with basic training and I really enjoy teaching them. If you can save one kid's life by showing them how to turn into a slide instead of out of a slide why wouldn't you? Introduce them to motor support and they’ll never have money for drugs either.”

He also can’t help himself when it comes to collecting cars from the 1960s and 70s. “They’re mostly Australian models but I do have a 1965 Galaxie coupe in the collection,” he says. His spare time is spent on old cars, rally cars, speedway cars and the great outdoors.

Often described as a “good kiwi bloke”, Richard is known for his integrity and the effort he puts into the vehicles he sells to customers. “I feel very lucky to have the customers I have,” he says. “It means such a lot when they come to me for their next upgrade.”

He fully acknowledges he couldn’t maintain his passion for the business and its long hours without the support of his partner and family. Also his staff who all work hard to make buying from Richard Bateman motors a pleasurable experience.

Thirty years has gone by in a flash for Richard Bateman Motors Ltd and Richard is looking forward to a few more years yet.