UNTOLD SECRETS OF AUTO BUYING
I want you to know a little about my back round, I have over 50 years in the auto business. You could say I was born into the business. My father and Grandfather started L&M Motors in 1938 in Marion, Indiana. (long way from Pinellas County). In the 1960's my Grandfather past away then the name was changed to Munson's Pontiac. Ever since the dealership opened in 1938 they were a New Car Dealership.
I was born in 1953 so you might say I have been in the auto business since I was born. Ever since I was 7 years old my father would take me to work on weekends I did things like Park the cars and trucks on the lot. Somtimes I would entertain customers with getting them coffee......Yes, my job was to sweep the showroom floor. Ever since I can remember ...on my Christmas vactions, I would help Dad doing inventory of the parts department. My father was "old style" where we did everything from hand from digging the car lifts in the service department to plumbing, building the offices in the showroom to laying cement floors. Once I even saw my dad put in a new windshield in a used car by using a sledge hammer and a 2 X 4, he would hit it in the middle of the windshield and it would go right in place. I worked in every department in the automobile dealership while growing up. I did have some benifits, when I turned sixteen my first car was a 1969 Pontiac GTO, beautiful burgundy with a black vinyl top. I was in the 9th grade..... I guess I was really lucky, but I did have to work for it. I am very thankfull for my childhood. We not only sold new Pontiac's but we sold used cars and trucks like Ford, GMC, Chevrolet & Dodge. Heck....there was just a trickle of imports like Datsun, yet to be called Nissan or even Toyota's or Honda's. Corrolla, Camry, Altima, Accord was not even created at that time.
We had a full service dealership with a Service Department, Body Shop and a Tire & Mag Wheel Department selling Dayton Tires and Dunlop Tires. I can remember my summer vacation's about when I was 10 years old...... I started in the service department doing the oil changes, and the ever important responsabilities of emtying the trash.
Then working my way up the line to Mechanic and then to a Parts Manager, soon after that I became the Body Shop Manager. In 1975 I became a Service Manager for the next 2 years. Then in 1977 I was full time with my Brother Dale up front selling new and used cars and trucks, back when every form and finance contract was hand writen. Then in 1979 thanks to the high interest rates of 20% we lost our dealership and my Brother Dale and I moved to Florida.
I was born in 1953 so you might say I have been in the auto business since I was born. Ever since I was 7 years old my father would take me to work on weekends I did things like Park the cars and trucks on the lot. Somtimes I would entertain customers with getting them coffee......Yes, my job was to sweep the showroom floor. Ever since I can remember ...on my Christmas vactions, I would help Dad doing inventory of the parts department. My father was "old style" where we did everything from hand from digging the car lifts in the service department to plumbing, building the offices in the showroom to laying cement floors. Once I even saw my dad put in a new windshield in a used car by using a sledge hammer and a 2 X 4, he would hit it in the middle of the windshield and it would go right in place. I worked in every department in the automobile dealership while growing up. I did have some benifits, when I turned sixteen my first car was a 1969 Pontiac GTO, beautiful burgundy with a black vinyl top. I was in the 9th grade..... I guess I was really lucky, but I did have to work for it. I am very thankfull for my childhood. We not only sold new Pontiac's but we sold used cars and trucks like Ford, GMC, Chevrolet & Dodge. Heck....there was just a trickle of imports like Datsun, yet to be called Nissan or even Toyota's or Honda's. Corrolla, Camry, Altima, Accord was not even created at that time.
We had a full service dealership with a Service Department, Body Shop and a Tire & Mag Wheel Department selling Dayton Tires and Dunlop Tires. I can remember my summer vacation's about when I was 10 years old...... I started in the service department doing the oil changes, and the ever important responsabilities of emtying the trash.
Then working my way up the line to Mechanic and then to a Parts Manager, soon after that I became the Body Shop Manager. In 1975 I became a Service Manager for the next 2 years. Then in 1977 I was full time with my Brother Dale up front selling new and used cars and trucks, back when every form and finance contract was hand writen. Then in 1979 thanks to the high interest rates of 20% we lost our dealership and my Brother Dale and I moved to Florida.
