Last Friday, Car Pro Show dealer Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine, Texas, held a Championship Trophy Parade to celebrate its recent award as the #1 Chevy dealership in the world. The parade and trophy presentation took place on Friday March 08, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM at the dealership located at 1101 HWY 114 W Grapevine, TX (Hwy 114 and William D. Tate for the main new car showroom).
I felt lucky to be invited to attend the ceremony and mingle amongst such a group of winners, who fought SO hard to get the #1 trophy back where it belongs. Classic won the award for many years, but narrowly lost it for the last nine years to dealerships in Detroit and New York. The team started working to regain the award as soon as the calendar turned to 2023.
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I got to spend time at the event with the legendary Tom Durant, the owner of the Classic Family of dealerships, and he said: "Despite the economic challenges faced by many businesses in 2023, the resilience of our team, commitment to our customers, and unwavering pursuit of excellence have led to this world-renowned recognition. This parade and championship trophy presentation not only celebrates the dealership's achievement; it honors the hard work and dedication of every team member and loyalty of every customer who made us the best in the world."
2023 was a year that tested the automotive industry with supply chain disruptions and market shifts. Classic Chevrolet's adaptability and commitment to quality service have allowed it to thrive. The dealership's journey to the top has been marked by a strong focus on customer satisfaction, industry-leading pricing for buyers, a robust advertising message, and a dedicated team, setting it apart in a highly competitive market.
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The Vice-President of Chevy Global, Scott Bell, was in attendance to personally present the #1 trophy to Classic Chevrolet's ownership and management team. Leading the Chevy brand on a global scale, Bell's presence underscores the monumental achievement of the dealership. From my experience of winning many awards during my tenure as a Dealer, I can tell you that for Mr. Bell to take time out of his schedule to fly to DFW to this event was a really big deal.
Also in attendance was Mr. Don Wagner, the Regional Director of the South Central Region for Chevrolet, but he was there for a different award for Classic. He presented the dealership with the Chevy Dealer of the Year Award at an all-employee luncheon. This is the highest customer satisfaction honor offered by General Motors. The award was initiated 22-years ago, and Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine has won it every year for 22-years, a feat only 2 other Chevy dealers in America have achieved.
On a personal note, it was a joy for me to spend time with Mr. Tom Durant and his gracious and lovely bride Susan. Together, they formed the Tom and Susan Durant Foundation. Each year the dealership employees raise money through various activities, then that amount is matched personally by Mr. and Mrs. Durant. In the last 13-years, this 501c3 foundation has contributed over 5.5 million dollars to 35 different non-profits in North Texas.
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It was also great to see my friend of 30-plus years, General Manager Mike Ward and his wife Lisa. Mike and I were very friendly competitors when I owned Prestige Ford and he was the Managing Partner at Town East Ford. Relationships like this are rare. Mike even came to my Grand Opening when I built the dealership. It was nice to see Bently Durant also, he is one of Mr. and Mrs. Durant’s Sons, and serves as Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel for the Classic dealerships. I got to see Peter Reese, the Car Pro contact so many of you have met. I somehow missed my friend Brad Robyler, the General Manager of Classic Fleet and Commercial over on Highway 121 at the Stone Myers exit. Everyone in attendance at the luncheon, the parade, and the ceremonies were super excited about the awards presented to the dealership.
I talked about this event on the air last Saturday a couple of times, you can listen to the audio here:
Congratulations to the Durant family, and the entire team at Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine. Well done gals and guys, I am happy to be a small part of your incredible success!
-Jerry Reynolds, The Car Pro