Mr Connors ran a business in Mackay for five years and the couple moved back to Albury with the purchase of the franchise for the Autobarn store on the corner of Young and Dean streets.

Now having traded for 10 months they are opening a new spare parts section with access via Dean Street.

They aim to create the city’s go-to parts store for both retail and trade customers and showcase parts for cars from the 1960s through to those which have just rolled off the showroom floor.

Autobarn has traded from the present location for 10 years with a shopfront on Young Street.

“The area we are opening has been used for storage and offices for years but we want to give customers better access to spare parts and create a space for them to feel more at home,” Ms Downing said.

“The Dean Street entrance will allow us to show customers the huge range of spare parts we offer.

“As franchisees we own the business so we are passionate about customer service, it’s the way to build good rapport with people.’’

The new Dean Street entrance and spare parts area will open to coincide with the visit of V8 Supercar drivers, Craig Lowndes and Jamie Whincup on Wednesday from 6.30pm.

The couple said the business was a good fit for their skills, Mark has previously been a mechanic and fitter and turner while Sharee has worked in warehousing, quality control and manufacturing.

“We were looking for an opportunity in a growing area so Albury-Wodonga was ideal for us,’’ Mr Connors said.

“It took us a long time to find the right franchise and Autobarn has given us a lot of support to help make this work.

“Our aim now is to ramp up the spare parts side of our business, Autobarn has always sold spare parts but a lot of our stock has previously been stored out the back.

“By opening up the new area we will be able to show customers the thousands of parts we carry.

“We inherited a heap of old stock from a store closing down in another state so we have a lot of parts for older cars as well.

“A customer came in asking for a part for an FJ Holden the other day and I have to admit I was even a bit surprised when I went looking and found exactly what he was after.

“We have a passion for older cars and our staff know everyone in the motor industry so we know where to get hard-to-find parts.’’

He said prior to their ownership the business had catered primarily to retail customers but he hoped to expand that focus to include trade customers.

“We are keen to get a share of the trade sales in Albury Wodonga,” he said.

“Also people are keeping their cars longer and there are more people servicing their own cars so I think there is a growing market for spare parts.”