THE well-known Purslow name will live on in the top-end motoring world of north Hampshire with the launch of a new Mercedes-Benz dealership.

Tim Purslow is the name of a second-hand dealership that has just opened in Nately Scures, between Basingstoke and Hook, based in attractive converted barns and stable buildings.

As the name suggests, Tim Purslow runs the business along with fellow director Rory Davidson. The solidly-built, stylish cars are sold from two showrooms, set in attractive four-and-a half-acre grounds.

Both have plenty of experience when it comes to Mercedes-Benz cars – between them clocking up around 30 years – having worked for Tim’s father, Tony, who sold the Tony Purslow Mercedes-Benz dealership in 2011.

That business is still going strong and includes the showroom in Houndmills, now trading under the Sandown name.

In fact, the Purslow family has been taking care of Mercedes-Benz owners throughout Hampshire and Surrey for more than 25 years.

“I’ve got a lot of history and experience working for my father’s business,” explained Tim. “And I’ve still got a passion for selling and repairing cars, and looking after people.

“I wanted to be an independent rather than a franchise dealer, offering the same standards as you would get at a main dealer, but maintaining that personal touch – it’s very important.”

Keeping the business a small size, with a feel of a “local village garage,” is important for the family man with two young children.

“We want to ensure that the cars we sell are all hand-picked and carefully chosen and that they have a great provenance to them in terms of their history and their specification, and that everything is presented beautifully,” explained Tim.

“And we want to be nice and manageable, where someone can bring their car in for a service and they’ll be able to speak to the technician who repairs it.

“I think in the modern franchise world that is quite often difficult, because there is a constant churn of customers coming through the workshop. Here, I think we’d like to be more relaxed and customer focused.”

The dealership, which has genuine Mercedes-Benz parts delivered daily, has a brand new up-to-date three-bay, three-ramped workshop, where cars are serviced at very competitive prices.

“Basically, we offer all of the trappings of a main dealer,” said Tim, who is clearly looking forward to the success of his new business venture.