Bradford car giant JCT600 now has 50 dealerships after buying a prestige Sheffield motoring business in an eight-figure deal described by boss John Tordoff as its biggest-ever takeover.

Family-owned JCT600 has acquired the £200m turnover Gilder Group, including nine of its car and commercial vehicle dealerships, two parts depots and a body shop.

The deal, worth an undisclosed eight-figure sum, strengthens JCT600’s presence in South Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, and takes its business to a total of 50 dealerships.

It also increases JCT600’s workforce from 1,350 to more than 1,800 with all jobs being retained.

JCT600 chief executive, John Tordoff, commented: “This acquisition is another leap forward for us as a group, strengthening our coverage geographically and adding some more strong dealerships to the group.

“We are growing our workforce by a third, adding more than 30 per cent to our revenues and taking on nine new dealerships, making this the biggest deal JCT600 has ever done.

“In 2009, we acquired York and Hull Audi from Gilder Group and so we know from that experience that we are buying a business with fantastic staff, loyal customers and high standards of care,” he added.

The businesses started trading as part of JCT600 from last Friday, and the deal will boost JCT600’s annual turnover to more than £850m.

The Gilder Group was a pioneer in car retailing first formed in 1938 by William Gilder in Sheffield, and was the first Volkswagen dealership to open in the UK in 1953.

JCT600 was established in 1946 and was grown by chairman Jack Tordoff into one of Yorkshire’s largest private companies. In recent years current chief executive John Tordoff has led a number of acquisitions further expanding the group, and it has now grown to represent 21 vehicle brands.

A team from Yorkshire law firm Gordons, led by head of corporate, James Fawcett, advised JCT600. Mr Fawcett said: “We are delighted to have supported JCT600 through this hugely important deal."