Auto Gallery opens customizing centre

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Auto Gallery's new customizing and luxury-vehicle centre on Portage Avenue.

Auto Gallery of Winnipeg is hosting a grand opening event tomorrow for its new customizing facility.

The event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. at the former Bill McMurray Auto Centre at 3680 Portage Avenue. Highlights will include a barbecue and radio personality Ace Burpee broadcasting live from the location.

Gord Pedersen and Dan Gagnon opened Auto Gallery 10 years ago at 3777 Portage, just a couple of blocks west. Since then it's become one of the largest-volume pre-owned auto dealers in Manitoba, earning five consecutive Consumer's Choice Awards and Top Choice Awards.

The partners also have a second location on Pembina Highway. They began to outgrow their customizing operation in Headingley, where they also safetied vehicles, Pedersen said.

"We were getting crowded in Headingley. We didn't have the space to expand. We also felt that the McMurray location would give us greater exposure."

Gagnon noted that Auto Gallery stocks a large number of lift kits, wheels and tires that are in high demand by vehicle owners who want to customize their cars and trucks. "Our customizing customers generally don't have to wait for parts to come in," he said.

The new location will also specialize in late-model luxury vehicles such as Mercedes products, BMWs and Land Rovers.

"This part of the city doesn't have a dealer specializingy in pre-owned luxury models," Gagnon said. "We've been selling (them) ... as fast as we can get them in."

Pedersen noted that Auto Gallery offers its customers the opportunity to finance customizing work on a vehicles at the same time that they purchase them.

"Often, after you purchase a vehicle, you don't have the money left to do any customizing," he said. "We can arrange for you to finance both the purchase of your vehicle and customizing at the same time."

Dilawri back for Movember

For the second year in a row, managers and staff of the Dilawri Group of companies are growing moustaches to raise money and awareness for men's health initiatives, especially prostate cancer.

"The majority of our management team and many of our group members are participating," said Glen Daman, the Dilawri Group's president. "We have more guys participating this year than last year and we are seeing some pretty good 'staches already."

Daman said the Dilawri Group's goal for Movember is $6,000. Last year, the group raised more than $2,000 for the cause.

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition November 9, 2012 E7