Motors group Colin Appleyard has celebrated the 35th anniversary of its first Suzuki car showroom opening in Keighley.

The move followed the success of Colin Appleyard’s Suzuki motorcycles business when he was asked by the Japanese manufacturer to launch Suzuki cars in the UK in 1979.

The car showroom was formally opened by Maurice Knight, the then sales director of Suzuki Cars, when eight new cars were delivered specially for the occasion and all were sold on the night.

The company remains Suzuki’s top performing dealership and also has branches in Shipley, Huddersfield and Ashton-under-Lyne. In 2013 it sold a record 1,600 new Suzuki cars and 4x4s, and this year will mark Colin Appleyard’s 30,000th new car sale.

Colin, who has worked in the automotive business for 63 years, continues to recognise new business opportunities and last year the firm acquired the Nissan dealership from the Co-operative in Keighley.

Last he received an MBE in the New Year’s Honours List for services to motorcycle sport.

His son Robin is now managing director, responsible for day-to-day running of the family business, but Colin remains actively involved.