Highly respected business and motorsport stalwart has died, age 84.

EMPIRE builder, philanthropist, realiser of motorsport dreams … a genuine Kiwi bloke respected by the motoring world’s elite.

Sir Colin Giltrap, who has passed away aged 84, will be remembered as much for being a grounded, principled, hugely-generous and astoundingly humble person as for his astounding success in becoming the centre figure of NZ’s motoring scene.

Sir Colin’s lifetime in the car industry started in the 1960s, when he co-founded Monaco Motors and culminated in being the leader of the country’s largest car retail player for volume and brands.

While in more recent years the reins were held by sons Richard and Michael Giltrap, fully after hie stepped down as Giltrap Group chairman last May, Sir Colin kept an active interest in the business, headquartered in a $40 million award-winning location in Auckland's Great North Rd.

His father had run a machinery business and Sir Colin had tinkered with cars in his spare time as a student. He made his first sale, a Morris Minor, as a teenager.

Giltrap Group grew progressively from the early 1970s, when he bought Matamata Motors and then a Mazda and Audi dealership in Great North Rd.

In 1977, he founded European Motor Distributors which bought the rights for Volkswagen and, later, Audi.

In the 1980s, BMW, Audi, VW, Nissan, Toyota, General Motors, Porsche, Jaguar, Mercedes Benz, Rolls Royce and Bentley were represented, the elite brands by Giltrap Prestige. By the 1990s, Aston Martin joined in, then Skoda. By the early 2000s, Giltrap had become this country’s only Lamborghini dealership. SEAT/Cupra, Polestar and Lotus are more recent involements.

From his early days, Sir Colin was giving back, particularly through motorsport - a passion from his early years, when he knew Bruce McLaren. He would later become a patron of the McLaren Trust.

Ultimately, the Giltrap name would become synonymous with being the major supporting element to launching New Zealand’s most promising drivers in international careers.

Brendon Hartley, a multiple World Endurance Champion and the first Kiwi to reach Formula One in its current era, Earl Bamber, Jonny Reid, Shane van Gisbergen, Mitch Evans, Hayden Paddon, Callum Hedge, Liam Lawson and Sir Colin’s grandson, Marco Giltrap, are among those who have worn, or still wear, the Giltrap logo on their race apparel.

All will testify they massively benefitted from his assistance, which was often more than monetary. Sir Colin had connections everywhere and people high in motoring and the sport respected his opinions.

In 2012, Giltrap was made a Knight Companion of the Order of New Zealand for his services to motorsport and his philanthropy.

He and wife, Lady Jennifer, also contributed to many sporting events and charities including the Canterbury Earthquake Appeal and the Starship Foundation. New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation, SPCA and Coastguard Northern Region.

Sir Colin stepped down as chairman of Giltrap Group last May. Later it was reported he had sustained injuries in an accident in London, England, which resulted in broken ribs, hospitalisation for a time and ongoing ill health.

A statement from Giltrap Group today read: “Sir Colin was a keen family and businessman, with an all-consuming life long passion for cars.

“He is well known for building enduring relationships, valuing people and for contributions to the automotive industry and in the world of motorsport, which is legendary.

“More information will be shared in time as arrangements to honour his life are made. In the meantime, the family respectfully asks for privacy.”

Sir Colin is survived by Lady Jennifer, their adult children and their families. MotoringNZ.com extends sincere condolences.