History of Watkin Motors

Watkin Motors was established as a dealership in 1915 and is the longest serving Ford Dealership in Canada. Joe Watkin was the original owner and laid the foundation for a promising future. Watkin and his three staff specialized in cars, trucks and tractor sales and would do whatever it took to put the deal together. It wasn’t uncommon for sales staff to deliver a new vehicle to the customer at his ranch or farm, returning with two or three cows used as the down-payment.

The founder of Watkin Motors, Joe Watkin, and the original building belonging to Canada’s Oldest Ford Dealership.

In October of 1925, Watkin Motors celebrated the arrival of the 1st Ford Touring Sedan to make the journey across Canada from Atlantic to Pacific. Three generations of Blankley’s have run Watkin Motors. It all began in 1931 when 14 year old Jack Blankley secured a job at the Vernon Garage. Like all Blankley’s, Jack learned the auto industry from the ground up – sweeping floors, pumping gas and repairing tires. He earned $28.00 per day, but $7.50 of that went to his room & board. Jack stayed with the Vernon Garage for 30 years gaining experience as partsman, parts manager, salesman and sales manager. In 1962 Jack moved on to purchase Watkin Motors, his son Don, better known as Budd, joined the business in 1966 and brother Bruce, the current Dealer Principal in 1976.

In December of 2002, Watkin Motors opened the doors to our revolutionary state of the art new facility. The new building is the first of its kind in Western Canada, boasting over 28 000Sq. feet of interior space including a bright new showroom, expanded service area, automated parts system and the most up to date technology available. The Grand Opening of the new building was held in April 2003 and more than 1000 people celebrated with the Blankley Family. Looking forward, Budd’s son, Ross is now the General Sales Manager and Bruce’s son, Scott is the Marjak Fleet & Lease Manager. Watkin Motors is one of Vernon’s largest employers, with a genuine family atmosphere as a large number of employees have been a part of the family for years. Friendly faces you can trust and most certainly recognize when you walk thru our doors!