What's the oldest Buick dealership in the world? (According to the BCA) It's been continuously run by decendants of the same family since the day the doors were opened for business. People always remember this dealer because the earlier owners (first grandpa and then his father) always sat in a rocking chair in the front window of the business during the day. He's a wonderful "Guy" and he's been a friend of my father-in-law for many years. His wife showed my wife and I around the Batavia show last week. He entered several Buicks in the show and is just finishing up the wood sides of his latest restoration - a Buick "woody" wagon. I'll be seeing the car later this summer and I'll try to get some pics. Here's a pic of him and his wife at Batavia with one of their cars - who is he and what's the dealership? PS - the winner gets a Gold Star - just like the ones my kids bring home on their papers... :laugh:
His name is Guy Bennett, and I fixed a flat tire on his Dad's Buick at the first BCA national meet in Flint MI in 1971 :beer :beer :beer :beer :beer :beer PS His wife's name is Anita, and their Dealership is in Wayland NY It was Bennett Buick, but I think they added another marque
Allen's Buick in Cedar rapids, IA has been a dealer since 1915, and is still in buisness. An article about them was in the Bugle several months back.
Sorry for the delay - went camping with the kids! There just weren't any computer connections at the campsite... :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Joe: You're correct - Guy Bennett of Bennetts Buick in Wayland, NY. Great family, always been very helpful. He got me interested in the Buick Club of America. You should see the cars he has in his "back room" - just awesome. According to the BCA, it's the oldest continuously run Buick dealership in the world. It's never been out of the control of the same family since inception. Mark: What month was the article in the Bugle? I'd like to read it - I must have missed it when it came in the mail. Maybe the info I got in Batavia was not correct? -Paul
That is so cool! I admire the Bennett family for their continued support of selling Buicks. I wish them continued success and hope their Buick franchise keeps on going.
The whole family is into Buicks! I knew Guy and his father from the dealership, but I never met his wife, Anita. When my wife and I showed up in Batavia, she gave us an escorted tour to introduce us to some of the BCA board members and then showed us around outside. When we finally caught up with Guy later in the day, he excused himself from a conversation just to come over and say hello. He actually remembered a telephone conversation that I had with him 4 years ago concerning my inlaws gas tank on their new Century! They are really wonderful people.
Eleven years later since this thread was started: But, they did not start selling Buicks until 1922, this is what they say on their website: Back in 2009 Zimmerman Bros. in Pittsfield, IL claims to be the oldest Buick dealer in the world :Comp: And according to this article from 2012, Garber Buick in Saginaw, MI started selling Buicks in 1907 :Comp:
Hi everyone! I know this is an old thread but I came across it as I was trying to figure out if we are the oldest Buick dealership in the Nation now. I've worked for Weld County Garage Buick GMC for 19 years and have been the marketing director here for the past 8 years. As long as I've worked here I've always been told we're the oldest Buick dealership west of the Mississippi. Just doing a google search to see if this is still true. Weld County Garage started business in 1898 as a blacksmith in downtown Greeley, CO and we became a Buick dealership in 1908. Read more of our history here if you're interested. https://www.weldcountygarage.com/about-us/ I'll do some more searching but if anyone is aware of a Buick dealership older than us who is still in business please let me know!
That's very interesting. My name is Guy and middle name is Bennett. Reynolds Buick started in 1915. And was told by Pete Reynolds at that time they HAD to teach each new vehicle purchaser how to drive the car.
Above your post you could read that Garber Buick is around since 1907, they are still going strong today: The oldest family-owned Buick dealership in the United States. Saginaw, MI — Garber Buick is the nation’s oldest and first Buick dealership in the country. The year was 1907 and Guy S. Garber saw the automobile as the vehicle to the future. Growing up in the Lansing area, his reputation as a salesman brought him to the attention of William C. Durant, founder of General Motors. At his urging, Guy Garber became a factory representative for Buick Motor Division. During his first six months he established one dealership, in Battle Creek. His success there brought him to take on a greater challenge, coming to Saginaw in 1910 representing Buick. Guy Garber’s long and productive affiliation with GM lasted nearly 60 years, through the great depression and two world wars. After his passing in 1965, his son, Richard Garber, Sr., became president and owner until his own death in 1972. He was succeeded by Norman F. Geyer, son-in-law to Guy. He successfully guided the Buick store for eight years, until he passed the torch to Richard J. Garber Jr., in 1980. He was the third generation to take the helm of the company in its 73rd year of operation, and at the time was the youngest Buick dealer for a dealership of its size in the nation. Since that time the organization has grown to 16 dealerships located in four states, Michigan, Florida, Illinois and New York. Garber Automotive also includes 25 Used Car Retail Lots and a Finance Company that finances automobile purchases. In total the Garber Automotive Group employs over 1600 employees with the headquarters based in Saginaw, MI.
