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Ken Garff Automotive Group has purchased Gene Harvey Chevrolet in American Fork, which will be operating under the new name of Ken Garff Chevrolet.
Gene Harvey, 93, founded the dealership in 1957 and retired in 1993. His son Ron, 58, has been running the company for the past 20 years, and also is retiring.
"I have no plans right now," said Ron Harvey. "I've been too busy to decide what I'm going to do next. It was time to go a different direction."
On Monday, the Salt Lake based-Ken Garff took over its newest dealership, located at 221 S. 500 East. Terry Ivie has been named new general manager of the Utah County store.
"Ken Garff Chevrolet is a great store to add to the company," said Brett Hopkins, CEO of Ken Garff Automotive Group. "We're very familiar with the area and are excited to be able to offer the Chevrolet brand in Utah."
The buyout will be the first Garff dealership in Utah selling new Chevrolets. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.
The Ken Garff Automotive Group is a leading new and used automotive dealership in the Intermountain West, with more than 5,000 new and certified pre-owned vehicles at more than 40 locations.
The now late-Ken Garff founded the automotive group in 1932 in downtown Salt Lake City. He had been working as an attendant and was outside helping a customer at a small Shell service station on 500 S. State St. when the station exploded. While Shell was reconstructing the building, according to the company's Website, Garff began selling used cars.
Today, the privately held company operates stores throughout Utah, Texas, Indiana, Iowa, Nevada and California, employing 3,200 people with annual sales totaling $1.5 billion.
The firm also sells manufacturer parts, operates car service centers and is involved in insurance, warranties and e-commerce businesses.
Garff's grandson John, 45, is CEO and president of the group's parent company, Garff Enterprises.
"This is exciting for our family and our company," said John Garff. "We're also grateful to Ron and Gene Harvey for the opportunity to continue their legacy in the Chevrolet business that they've operated for so many years. This also is our first opportunity to represent the brand in the Utah market."
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