Old Olds Store Now Bob-Boyd Lincoln Mercury

An old Oldsmobile store is the newly renovated home of Bob-Boyd Lincoln Mercury, a 33-year-old Columbus, OH dealership that takes its name from its co-owners first names.

Bob Dawes and Boyd Fackler spent about $500,000 renovating the east-side facility. It's five miles from a smaller building the dealership previously occupied.

Since moving, the 65-employee store has doubled floor traffic and boosted sales 25% on new vehicles and 15% on used, says Fackler.

Pointing to an adjacent building next to the new dealership, Dawes says, “One day, we'd like to put another franchise in over there.”

In Lancaster, OH, 25 miles southeast, Dawes and Fackler own Ford-Mazda and Dodge stores.

Many other Lincoln Mercury dealers are expanding and renovating their facilities, Lincoln Mercury Div. President Darryl B. Hazel tells Ward's.

That includes one of Bob-Boyd's two same-brand Columbus competitors, Ron Rush Lincoln Mercury on the north end of town.

Elsewhere it includes Jerry Reynolds in Garland, TX; Fred Beans in Wynnewood, PA; Joe Holman in Pembroke Pines, FL; and Bob Maxey in Detroit.

“We are going to become increasing youth-market driven,” declares Hazel at ceremonies marking Bob-Boyd's new place.

He says Lincoln will introduce an entry-level car priced below $30,000. As yet unnamed, it reportedly will be based on the Mazda6 platform.

Also on tap is a Mercury SUV derived from the Ford Escape platform, targeted for a 2004 debut, to be followed in 2006 by a small Mercury sedan, he says.