Here’s a look at three car dealerships sold by longtime owners in southwest Illinois
If the Mertz Ford dealership in Millstadt is sold, it would be the fourth time in recent years that area car dealerships with longtime owners have sold their businesses.
Here’s a roundup of the three previous sales involving the Weir, O.C. Joseph and Wagner dealerships in the metro-east:
Weir dealerships
The Weir car dealerships in Red Bud and New Athens were purchased by a Florida-based chain of dealerships in December.
The Ed Morse Automotive Group of Delray Beach, Florida, purchased Weir Chevrolet Buick GMC in Red Bud, Weir Ford in Red Bud, and Weir Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in New Athens. The purchase also includes the Weir Parts Center in Red Bud.
O.C. Joseph
The 107-year run for the Joseph family’s car dealership in Belleville ended with the sale of Oliver C. Joseph Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, the new owners announced in February 2021.
David Taylor Belleville Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram is the new name of the dealership at 3795 W. State Route 15.
The Joseph dealership began in 1914 in Belleville and had billed itself as the “oldest continually operating Chrysler Corporation Dealership in the world.”
In 2006, the dealership moved from downtown Belleville to a new building on a six-acre site on Illinois 15 near Frank Scott Parkway.
Wagner
The Wagner family, which traces its car dealership roots to 1912, sold its dealership on Illinois 15 in Belleville to its neighbor, Oliver C. Joseph Chrysler Dodge Jeep, in 2013.
Cardinal Buick GMC took over the dealership in 2017.
Former owner Rusty Wagner had relocated the dealership from 4400 North Belt West in Belleville to the new building at 3800 W. State Route 15 in 2007.
This story was originally published March 22, 2022 at 2:05 PM.
