William Durant of General Motors and Louis Chevrolet combined forces to build the Chevrolet car in 1911. It became the best selling American car in history. When Dinah Shore sang, "See the USA in Your Chevrolet," in her 1960 television show, the song spoke for many American families.
Years ago, the car dealership and, perhaps, the bank, was a small town's best business. Classy, colorful and exciting, the automobile dealership had the biggest ads in the newspaper and brightest billboards on the Little League home run fences.
Service stations, parts supply and mechanics served the industry. Employers and employees yearned to buy an American car to see the USA. That car would be purchased locally. It was hard to imagine doing the same in a Honda, Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, Hundai or Volkswagen.
The Laniers, Linden and Chevrolet were synonymous for 58 years when the franchise ended in 2010.
"There were too many franchises," said a local car historian. "When a customer wanted a new car, he had only to drive within 75 to 100 miles to find five or more dealerships. Then, each would bid against the other for the low price to sell that customer."