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By DAVE NICHOLSON
The Tampa Tribune
PLANT CITY - The Tampa area’s oldest dealership is the new owner of the local Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep franchise.
The Ferman Automotive Group, founded 111 years ago, recently bought Plant City Motors and changed the name to Ferman Chrysler Jeep Dodge of Plant City. Ferman was lured by Plant City’s growth, said Frank North, spokesman for Ferman Automotive.
“That gives us a presence in East Hillsborough,” said North, adding that the company continues to look for dealerships as it expands.
The purchase price of the franchise at 1722 S. Collins St. was not disclosed.
The Plant City dealership traces its roots to 1943, when B.M. Smith Sr. opened a used car lot. In 1958, his son, B.M. “Mac” Smith Jr. joined the company and it became an America Motors dealership.
The dealership, then on Haines Street, now known as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, moved to the spot at Collins Street and Park Road in 1964, later adding Jeep and for a while Renault brands. In the late 1980s, Chrysler bought American Motors.
The dealership was operated for years by Mac Smith and his daughter Marion Smith until 2001, when they sold the franchise. Smith said this week that his family continues to own the property where the dealership stands.
The dealership will continue to operate from that location, North said.
“We’re real excited to be in Plant City,” he added.
Ferman Motor Car Co. was founded in 1895 and owned the first automobile dealership in Tampa, an Oldsmobile franchise. Ferman has purchased a number of dealerships in recent years in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, offering vehicles made by a number of manufacturers, including Chevrolet, Acura, Volvo, Nissan, Harley-Davidson and others.
Reporter Dave Nicholson can be reached at (813) 865-4432 or dnicholson@tampatrib.com.
Just a word to the wise.. DO NOT BUY FROM FERMAN!! I was lucky enough to purchase a LEMON from them… Took 3 months and several phone calls, complaints and the threat of calling a lawyer before anything was done.. They have the WORST Customer Service.
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Posted by Sara Smith, Pasco County on 09/27 at 10:37 PM
Who really cares about another car dealership, like this is really breaking news, besides it’s just going to supply all the meth-heads in Plant City someplace to rob for their habit.