Zupps founder Eric ‘John’ Zupp dies at 93 after battle with cancer
A Queensland car dealership mogul, who founded Zupps, has passed away aged 93, after a long and quiet battle with cancer.
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Queensland car dealership mogul Eric ‘John’ Zupp OAM has passed away after a long and quiet battle with cancer.
Mr Zupp died peacefully at 93 years of age at his Sanctuary Cove home on Thursday, August 22, 2024 in the company of his beloved wife of 60 years, Wendy, and his daughters Toni and Terri.
A statement released on behalf of the Zupp family and Zupp Property Group said Mr Zupp will be “fondly remembered”.
“John will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by his family, friends and a multitude of colleagues who worked with and for him over many decades,” the statement read.
A respected identity in the Queensland motoring industry, Mr Zupp was formerly Queensland’s most successful and innovative motor vehicle dealer, with ‘Big John’ Zupp and ‘Any Old Iron’ being familiar to generations of radio and television audiences.
The Zupps brand has long association with Ipswich, with the city where the first dealership, a Volkswagen dealership, was opened in 1948, while the iconic yellow elephant symbol that became one of the most recognised logos in the Australian motor industry was the result of an elephant race at the Ipswich Show in 1960.
Zupps grew over the years with 21 car and truck sites across Queensland, with dealerships located at Aspley, Mt Gravatt, Rocklea, Caboolture and Burleigh on the Gold Coast, while employing over 800 people.
In 2006, Mr Zupp was presented with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the motor trades industry, and to the community through support for a range of social welfare organisations.
Mr Zupp sold the car business to what is now Eagers Automotive Ltd in 2007.
After selling the business, he launched Zupp Property Group which owns and develops motor vehicle dealerships, offices, with the Interciti office park at Ormeau also developed by the group.
Mr Zupp and his wife Wendy bought their home at Sanctuary Cove in December 2018.
He is survived by Wendy, their daughters Toni Mills and Terri McGuire, four grandchildren, and one great grandchild.
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