Dunlap - 58 years of service
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| Dunlap Motors is a family run business with the third generation of
Dunlap's in the business. We are a new and used car sales and service oriented
company. Our tradition to service, which started before the first franchise to sell new
autos, continues into our second half century. Dunlap Motors now employees 30 people in the areas of sales, service and front office. We have grown into Buchanan Counties largest dealership staffed with certified General Motors technicians and a certified body shop. Times have changed, styles have changed, but not the service at Dunlap Motors. We still provide courteous, reliable service on the vehicles we sell. Stop in and check out the cars and trucks. This is the history of our development. Please take a few minutes and enjoy a little bit of nostalgia and share our history as provided by the Independence Bulletin-Journal. -------------------------------- Don Dunlap Sr. had a service business, Dunlap Garage, operating at several locations around town. In 1930, these were moved to a location in a small wooden building behind the Ace Hardware building next to Brady Gates bicycle repair. In about 1945, the next move was made into the Kippen building which originally was a black smith shop - where Shaw's Plumbing and Heating is now located. At that time, Frank Shaw's father had his business next to Dunlap Garage one door south. The next building south was a bowling alley - where Peace Lutheran Church is today. Next was an implement shop where the Laundromat presently is located. In 1946, the present bowling alley became the home of Dunlap Garage. In 1951, Don Dunlap Sr. finally settled down to one location when he moved across the street and built the present building. In 1947 Don Sr. and Ila Dunlap acquired a Pontiac franchise which started them on a new way to serve the community, sales and service. In 1954, with the addition of the Oldsmobile franchise, they became Dunlap Pontiac Olds. In 1990 Dunlap added Chevrolet, Buick and Geo to their sales line. In 1995 Aurora joined the sales line. The name of the company has reverted to Dunlap Motors because of all the additional lines being handled. One of the areas of the most significant growth is in the new lines of cars added in 1990. A new innovation for Dunlap at that time was the addition of Chevy trucks to their inventory. "It was a big thing here," said Fred Smock, Sales Manager. In 1992 Dunlap acquired the lot on the corner of First Street and Fifth Ave to give a larger display area for customers to easily look at cars and trucks on hand. |