About Us
Our Name
Formerly known as Paul Cruickshank Automotive, we launched our new name, Total Auto Centre, in January 2017, when relocating our workshop to 460 New Street Brighton.
Our name, Total Auto Centre – Service that goes further, is reflective of our business.
Total Auto Centre Brighton provides premium motor vehicle service, repairs and maintenance at very competitive pricing, to all vehicle makes and models.
Why Total Auto
Paul Cruickshank brings 35 years automotive industry experience, including 25 years spent in elite motor racing, providing Total Auto Centre with expertise unparalleled to any other Bayside service centre.
Our team are qualified and specialise in all European, American, Japanese, Korean and Australian vehicles, using the latest in diagnostic tooling and specialist analysis.
Paul and our team will ensure your vehicle is serviced, repaired, maintained and safe for you and your family.
About Paul
Paul began his career working in top level motorsport, progressing up the ranks from a team mechanic to team owner of a V8 Supercar & Porsche race team.
As a young New Zealander, coming to Australia in 1986, Paul worked for the elite race teams of the period which include Dick Johnson & Gibson Motorsport. Paul worked closely with motor racing legends & champions including, Dick Johnson, John Bowe, Mark Skaife and Jim Richards.
During most of the 1990’s Paul worked in the UK, predominantly based at West Surrey Racing, working with the world’s best drivers of the era, Rubens Barichello, Pedro Delarosa & Craig Baird.
Paul has worked at most of the race tracks in the UK, Europe, Asia and North & South America.
In 2000 Paul assisted several prominent Melbourne businessman set up Prancing Horse Racing, a customer based race team supported by the Ford Motor Company and Ferrari. Prancing Horse Racing was the largest customer racing operation in Australia.
Post Prancing Horse racing Paul set up his own team, PCR (Paul Cruickshank Racing). Paul was the first person in Australia to establish a V8 Supercar development team and graduate the team into the main V8 supercar series, whilst running a successful Porsche Carrera cup team.
PCR drivers included Fabian Coulthard, John Bowe, Alex Davison, David Wall and Jonathon Webb, of the current racing crop. Paul achieved race and championship wins at Bathurst 1000, Australian Touring Car Championships, New Zealand Grand Prix, New Zealand Formula Ford Championship, Multiple Porsche wins, V8 Supercar podiums.
Paul’s career also includes 2 years heading up the Swire Group Diesel Research which analysed various technologies on vehicles, from road transport to tug boats in Hong Kong Harbour. During Paul’s tenure at The Swire Group he won a national environmental award, in one of the road transport divisions.
In 2011 Paul relocated to Melbourne and founded Paul Cruickshank Automotive Centre, now known as Total Auto Centre.
Paul’s vast experience in the automotive history provides Total Auto Centre Brighton, with expertise unparalleled to any other Bayside service centre.