I would like to take a minute of your time to re-introduce myself. My name is Dave Immel, currently Sales Manager at Hub South Chrysler Jeep. The purpose of the letter is not to discuss today's auto industry, but rather recall what it once was. More specifically, what the American automobile dealership once was and who the men were that built them.

As a car nut and history buff, I enjoy reading the history of our industry. There are many books and videos available about the manufactures but outside of one book written about the American automobile dealership, I have found nothing. I have even gone as far as contacting the “big three”; the Benson Ford Research Center was the only one to respond to my request. They have research material available but no comprehensive history of the dealerships. Oddly enough, they did recommend one book; The Ford agency: a pictorial history by Henry L. Dominguez (Osceola, Wis.: Motorbooks International, c1981) that you can see was written here in Wisconsin.

This brings up another point, the history that Wisconsin has played in our industry. As I'm sure you can recall, many vehicle brands along with their suppliers were located here in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Automotive Museum, located in the old Kissel Car factory (1906 to 1931), Hartford Wisconsin is the only attempt to keep that history alive and again, makes little or no mention of the dealers that sold those vehicles.

I have been tossing this around in my mind for a couple of years and this all came to a head when I was at the ADAMM Ball this past February. I saw a man I thought looked a lot like Phil Tolkan (Phil Tolkan Pontiac). It made me recall “Bonnie the singing Pontiac”. When anyone thinks of Ernie Von Schledorn (The EVS Auto Group) they say “who do you know wants to buy a car?”. With Hub (Hub Chrysler Dodge Jeep), I am always asked “Is there a Hub tag on your car”, Tony Frascona (Frascona Buick) was known as “the singing car salesman” and Wally Rank (Rank & Son Buick) was known for his annual car show and large collection. These are all icons of dealer growth and success during the 1950's, 60's and 70's here in Wisconsin, and there are many more.

As with Phil Tolkan, what happens when no one is available to pick up the torch? What happens to everything that took so long to build? I look at my own organization, Hub North and West have now been sold and in my eyes, the future of Hub South is uncertain as well. Hub has a long history as a car dealer, in its heyday sponsoring national champion NASCAR teams and known for their outstanding service. But since Jim Lecher's retirement (owner of Hub South), I'm afraid the Hub name may soon retire with him.

There are national examples as well. Don Yenko Chevy in Pennsylvania comes to mind and the work they did with the 60's and 70's muscle cars, talking General Motors into equipping the small, light Camero with a large big block V8. All of this to say that I feel there is a way to preserve the legacy of these dealerships and the men that built them.

I know this letter is a bit lengthy, but I would like to explore the possibility of creating a foundation to build or create such a museum. I would like to explore any interest in this project and to what extent funding is available and from what sources.

Martin P. Winther formed Winther Motor and Truck Company in 1916, initially manufacturing a rear-drive Winther truck. Shortly after, the factory manufactured the 4-wheel-drive Winther-Marwin truck, and the Winther passenger car 1920-23. The truck cabs were open and fitted with low doors. Initial capacities were 2,3,4 and 6 tons and were priced from $2,750 to $4,600. Later vehicles extended the line and included trucks in the 1 to 7 ton range. As early as 1919 the company claimed that the Winthers vehicles were the dominating truck in the U.S. Navy. The smaller (1-2 ton) trucks were aimed at the agricultural market, while the heavier models were intended for use in the logging, fire fighting, and snowplowing industries. The latter made early use of rotary plows; one of the largest used two engines, the rear one over the rear axle to drive the truck and the front one for the plow, with the fully-enclosed cab between. In the 1920s, electric starters were added to most vehicles. In 1926, the company produced five vehicle styles ranging from 1 1/2 to 5/7 tons. In its last year the products were renamed Winther-Kenosha, and in the summer of 1927 the plant was sold to H.P. Olsen.