"Keep
a customer happy with service, and he'll come back time and time again."
Quote: Weldon McFarlane 1967
Zeemac Vehicle Lease Ltd. was formed over 40 years ago to meet the specialized leasing and long term rental needs of small fleet businesses.
It was the thought of one man by the name of Weldon McFarlane over 4 decades ago, who mortgaged everything he owned to bet he could go it alone in the highly competitive automotive sales, leasing and service industry with a staff of less than a dozen. By 1959, the company had 144 employees on its payroll. Zephyr's main locations 130 West Broadway, 5605 West Boulevard in Kerrisdale, 8th Ave. & McBride in New Westminster and November 20th, 1959 Zephyr invaded the North Shore at 1585 Marine Drive, sold 1,800 cars in 1958. Zephyr Motors Ltd. was initially an exclusive British Ford dealership selling Anglia, Prefect, Consul, Zephyr, Zodiac and Thames trucks. The original site was in Kerrisdale at 40th and West Boulevard.
In 1958, the location at 130 West Broadway was opened; followed by a new building on Marine Drive in North Vancouver and renovated premises at 8th & McBride in New Westminster in 1959.
When Ford discontinued the importing of British built vehicles in 1960, the company became a Lincoln Mercury franchise under the name Zephyr Motors (1960) Ltd. and consolidated its activities at 130 West Broadway. 1960 was also the year of the formation of Zephyr Motors Lease which was in the forefront of offering full maintenance leases.
300 West Broadway was acquired in 1966 by consolidating the former Bow Mac used car lot along with 3 small stores. Significant remodeling over the years have resulted in the buildings that stood at these two locations for the next 30 years. 1968 once again saw Zephyr on the leading edge of technology by being one of the first automotive dealerships in North America to develop an in-house computer software system.
In 1978 the company was granted an exclusive Ford Truck franchise, and commenced the operation of Zephyr Ford Truck Center Ltd. at 6150 Lougheed Highway in Burnaby. This operation was subsequently moved to 1500 Lougheed Highway in Coquitlam in 1985.
The assets of the former Musgrove Ford Sales were purchased in February 1986, and a new Ford franchise, Stadium Motors Ltd., became part of the Zephyr Group. The Ford franchise was relinquished in July 1990, and the Stadium business amalgamated into Zephyr on Broadway.
In August, 1994, Zephyr relocated their Service & Parts departments to 488 West 7th Avenue (the former Stadium site). ZML (Zephyr Motor Lease - now Zeemac Vehicle Lease) relocated to 2293 Douglas Road, Burnaby on 1.9 acres, in a 9,000 sq. ft. building (which is where we reside today).
In December 1994 the Sales department, located at 300 West Broadway and the Administrative offices were relocated to West 7th encompassing all aspects of the operation under one roof.
In February 1995 the old Westin Bakery site at Lougheed and Boundary was purchased. The site is 3.5 acres and extensive renovations to lot and building completed by the end of the same year, having another franchise Zephyr on Boundary.
In the spring of 1996, Zephyr Ford Truckland (located at 1500 Lougheed Highway in Coquitlam) relocated to the Boundary site making it the main franchise.In the spring of 1997, the satellite operation (Zephyr on Cambie) also relocated to the same site having all operations under one roof (with the exception of Zephyr Motor Lease).
In 1998, history was made once again... Mr. Ian McFarlane sold the franchise and all its operations back to Ford but continuing ownership of the leasing company, Zephyr Motors Lease changing its name to Zeemac Vehicle Lease Ltd. (and to the present day, still owned and operated by the McFarlane family).
So... After 40 years, and well over 40,000 trucks, vans, cars, sport utility vehicles sold, leased and rented, you can be assured that we know the automotive industry. Our truck specialists (with a combined experience of over 200 years)- heck... its in our blood, provides total service at competitive prices with one objective in mind - saving you time & money and being your transportation solution agent for life!!