Our story · 1930 – todayFrom the Perth Hunt stables to a brand-new Volkswagen showroom
How a £300 loan, a Beetle on a garage roof and almost a century of family ownership became Camerons Volkswagen – and how, after the fire of October 2023, we built a new home for Volkswagen in Perth.
Camerons Volkswagen, Perth · 14 October 2026 · 6 minute read
In 1930, a 28-year-old Ian H. Cameron borrowed £300 and opened a garage at Bridgend, Perth, in what had been the old Perth Hunt stables. There were no car franchises to be had in those days, so the business did what Perth needed: servicing, repairs and the sale of hard-to-find used cars.
Almost a century later, the Cameron family still owns the business. Camerons Volkswagen is part of the family-owned Cameron Motor Group, alongside Perth Audi and Strathmore Volvo on Dunkeld Road – and we are recognised as one of the UK’s longest-serving Volkswagen retailers.
Our year treeNearly a century on the road
- 1930A £300 startIan H. Cameron, aged 28, opens for business at Bridgend, Perth, in the former Perth Hunt stables – servicing, repairing and selling used cars.
- 1939 – 1945The war yearsThe business closes for the duration of the Second World War, reopening when peace returns.
- 1953Volkswagen arrivesA new dealership opens in Scone and the Volkswagen contract is signed. The line-up is just one car – the Beetle – and many in Perth still remember the Beetle displayed on the roof.
- 1958Volvo joins the familyA little-known Swedish make, the Volvo Amazon, arrives in Perth. Today the group is recognised as one of the UK’s longest-serving Volkswagen and Volvo retailers.
- 1970The next generationDouglas Cameron takes over the running of the business.
- 1972 – 1973Moving to Dunkeld RoadNew premises are built on Dunkeld Road, the Bridgend site closes, and an Audi contract is signed.
- 1984A home for Volkswagen on Dunkeld RoadVolkswagen moves into purpose-built premises on Dunkeld Road, Perth.
- 1995Perth AudiA dedicated Perth Audi showroom opens alongside.
- 2014A modern Volkswagen showroomThe Volkswagen site is redeveloped into a modern showroom and workshop.
- 2018 – 2020Investing in PerthMulti-million-pound investments see Perth Audi refurbished and a new Strathmore Volvo showroom completed in September 2020.
- October 2023The fireIn the early hours of 12 October 2023, fire breaks out in the Volkswagen workshop and parts department on Dunkeld Road.
- 2023 – 2025Open for business throughoutCamerons Volkswagen keeps trading from a temporary showroom across Dunkeld Road. The original building is demolished in summer 2024 and construction of a new showroom begins in June 2025.
- 2026A brand-new Volkswagen showroomA new £6m Volkswagen showroom opens on Dunkeld Road, built around the customer – ready to welcome Volkswagen drivers from Perth and across Scotland.
12 October 2023The night of the fire
Shortly after 1am on Thursday 12 October 2023, fire broke out at our Volkswagen dealership on Dunkeld Road. Four Scottish Fire and Rescue Service appliances attended and the road was closed while crews worked through the night. Police later confirmed the fire was not being treated as suspicious.
The workshop and parts department were lost. For a family business that had served Perth for more than 90 years, it was a hard morning – but the message from the team was clear from day one.
“We’ll be back to business as soon as possible.”George Malcolm, group managing director, speaking to The Courier, October 2023
Never closed for longKeeping Perth on the move
While the old site was made safe and then demolished, Camerons Volkswagen moved into a temporary showroom across Dunkeld Road. New and used car sales, servicing and parts carried on, and our customers stayed with us. We will always be grateful for that loyalty.
A brand-new home for Volkswagen in Perth
Today, Camerons Volkswagen welcomes customers to a brand-new £6m Volkswagen showroom on Dunkeld Road. Designed around the customer rather than the car, it features six indoor handover bays where you can collect your new or used Volkswagen in comfort, relaxed lounge areas and a regularly changing display of the latest Volkswagens – from the electric ID. family to Golf, T-Roc, Tiguan and Tayron.
Whether you live in Perth, Perthshire, Dundee, Fife, Stirling or anywhere else in Scotland, we would love to show you around.
- Six handover baysCollect your new or used Volkswagen indoors.
- Customer loungesRelaxed spaces to wait, talk and test the latest tech.
- The full rangeElectric ID. models, Golf, T-Roc, Tiguan, Tayron and more.
Still family, still localThe Cameron family, still at the wheel
Cameron Motor Group is still owned by the Cameron family, with chairman Douglas Cameron and director Jamie Cameron leading a team of more than 160 people across our Volkswagen, Audi and Volvo businesses in Perth. Through the Cameron Group Charitable Trust, we help individuals and good causes across the local community.
In the pressOur story in the news
Read the original reports – with photographs – from the publications that covered our story. All photographs remain the copyright of the credited publications.
Firefighters tackle blaze at Perth car dealershipThe Courier · Photographs: Kenny Smith / DC ThomsonRead on The Courier
Perth car dealership to move to temporary premises after fireThe Courier · Photographs: Kenny Smith / DC ThomsonRead on The Courier
Perth Volkswagen dealership reopens with £6m showroom after fireAM Online · AM OnlineRead on AM Online
Cameron opens £6m Volkswagen dealership in Perth after 2023 fireMotor Trader · Motor TraderRead on Motor Trader
Firefighters tackle blaze at car dealership overnight in PerthSTV News · STV NewsRead on STV News
Pandemic put brakes on growth for Perth’s Cameron Motor GroupThe Courier · The CourierRead on The Courier
From the family albumDo you remember the Beetle on the roof?
We are building an archive of Camerons memories – the Bridgend garage, the Scone showroom with its rooftop Beetle and the early days on Dunkeld Road. If you have old photographs of Camerons, or bought your first Volkswagen from us, we would love to hear from you. Every photograph we share will be credited to you.
Share your Camerons memories Camerons Volkswagen facts
- Founded: 1930 by Ian H. Cameron at Bridgend, Perth.
- Volkswagen since: 1953 – one of the UK’s longest-serving Volkswagen retailers.
- Ownership: Family-owned by the Cameron family, part of Cameron Motor Group.
- Showroom: Brand-new £6m Volkswagen showroom, opened 2026, after the October 2023 fire.
- Address: 166 Dunkeld Road, Perth PH1 5AS. Telephone 01738 636036.
- Serving: Perth, Perthshire, Dundee, Angus, Fife, Stirling and customers across Scotland.
FAQsAbout Camerons – FAQs
When was Camerons Volkswagen founded?
The business was founded in 1930 by Ian H. Cameron in Perth, and became a Volkswagen retailer in 1953.
Is Camerons Volkswagen family owned?
Yes. Cameron Motor Group is still owned by the Cameron family.
What happened in the fire at Camerons Volkswagen?
In the early hours of 12 October 2023 a fire damaged the workshop and parts department on Dunkeld Road. The business kept trading from a temporary showroom while a new one was built.
Is the new Camerons Volkswagen showroom open?
Yes. The new £6m Volkswagen showroom on Dunkeld Road, Perth opened in 2026.
Come and see our new showroom
Visit Camerons Volkswagen at 166 Dunkeld Road, Perth – we’d love to welcome you.
Sources: The Courier (DC Thomson), AM Online, Motor Trader, STV News and Cameron Motor Group records. Press photographs are the copyright of their respective publications and are linked, not reproduced.
