Obituary: Car dealer Bob McMillan had 'petrol in his veins'

One of the country’s leading motor vehicle identities, Bob McMillan, has died, aged 74.

Robert Ivory McMillan was best known for Team McMillan, which became BMW's biggest dealership and cemented the brand as the leader in luxury vehicles. Team McMillan also marketed the Mini after its relaunch by BMW.

Mr McMillan sold his half of the business to co-owner Collins Asset Management in 2014. 

Son Andrew McMillan also left the business after its sale and bought a warehousing and logistics company, Profreight. Another son, Scott, lives in Canada with his family,while daughter Anna lives in Sydney with her children.

After successful treatment for the removal of a tumour, Mr McMillan had an unexpected recurrence at Easter and died at home surrounded by family including six grandchildren.

"He was a car dealer and died on the first of the month after finishing off April," Andrew says. 

On his retirement, Bob McMillan said he had had “petrol running through my veins” for 52 years.

“I believe it is the right time for me to be getting out of the driver’s seat and enjoy retirement with my wife Kerry,” he said.

“I have a long bucket list and want to start ticking these off and put some different kilometres on the clock with some well overdue overseas travel.”

Andrew McMillan says his father fulfilled a lot on his bucket list and was hoping to get to the North Pole this year to complement a trip to Antarctica a few years ago.

"They had some good quality travel in recent years with friends and had booked to see the Tesla factory this year," he says.

In 2012, Mr McMillan became the country’s first exclusive Rolls-Royce dealer. It was a dream that went back to 2003 when Mr McMillan first initiated a move.

But the company told him the country was too small and, instead, he should work with a Sydney-based Rolls-Royce dealership.

“I was clearly disappointed but I accepted it,” Mr McMillan said at the time.

However, he prepared a business plan just in case Rolls-Royce changed its mind.

It finally did so after a number continued to be imported privately and, as the company later admitted, without an official dealership it could not “control” the brand in New Zealand.

His early career began in the 1960s with the Ford Motor Company, before returning to take over his father’s Rover franchise, where he picked up a Ford franchise and operated out of Greenlane.

He acquired Johnson BMW in 1985 to start his association with the German brand.

Mr McMillan was active in charities and community organisations. He was instrumental in the implementation of the Team McMillan Art Bonnet fundraisers and was a trustee of the South Auckland Health Foundation.

"He was an extremely private man in that regard," Andrew says, "and we have only just uncovered the depth of his philanthropic giving. His chosen charities are much the richer for his involvement."

 A memorial service will be held at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell, on Friday, May 5.