A COWLEY car dealer who was a familiar face among the area’s motor traders since the 1960s has died.

Clive Smith, who owned Clive Smith Oxford Ltd, at 379 Cowley Road, died aged 65 after eight weeks of illness.

He was born in Princes Street, East Oxford, son of Ted and Gladys Smith, fruiterers who worked in Headington.

He left St Margaret’s Road School in Oxford and became a second hand car salesman in 1962, at what was then Greenings, next door at number 381.

He married Joan in 1966 and started buying and selling cars on his own.

He rented 379 Cowley Road from established dealers Crappers in 1972 and bought the plot in 1981.

Over the years the site has grown to five units including the Majestic wine warehouse and three small firms all connected to the motor trade.

Mr Smith retired in 1995 and sold the Fiat franchise he had run since 1990, but continued to own the site.

His son Timothy has run the business since then.

Mr Smith’s love of boats took him to Benson every day, where he was restoring a classic river launch.

He leaves wife Joan, two sons Paul and Timothy, daughter-in-law Jo and granddaughter Maya, six months.