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An Abilene car dealer is in the process of purchasing another local dealership.

Tim Holm, president of Holm Automotive Center, 2005 N. Buckeye, said he has entered into a purchasing agreement with Lease Duckwall, president of Green Ford Sales Inc., 2104 N. Buckeye. The two business owners confirmed the agreement Thursday afternoon.

“We had a fairly long series of talks,” Duckwall said.

Finalization of the transaction will take about 60 to 90 days, Holm said, with plans to tentatively take over Green Ford in April. The agreement has to be approved separately by Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, Mich., and Chrysler Group LLC, Auburn Hills, Mich.

The purchase will allow the local General Motors dealer to offer Ford, Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Ram Trucks to his lineup.

The purchase does not include the Green Team Ford-Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep operation in Clay Center or AAA Auto Outlet, 2205 N. Buckeye, Duckwall said, adding he has no plans to leave here.

At one time it was extremely rare for a GM dealer to be able to sell Fords and vice-versa, Holm said. Today those relationships are more common.

“There are fewer dealers but those who are there try to offer more products and services in their dealerships,” Holm said.

When those relationships make sense dealers are allowed to pursue them, he said.

Having additional lines should be good for his operation and provide customers with many choices, he said. Car manufacturers from overseas are not interested in establishing a dealership in a community the size of Abilene, he said.

Domestic car manufacturers have scored very highly in recent years in quality and value and that assured Holm to go ahead and acquire the dealership.

“They make a great product and if the approval process goes as expected we’ll be proud to represent them,” Holm said. “It is never easy to take over another dealership, but the proximity is good and the area is good and they have a good group of associates there.”

Duckwall said it was not an easy decision because his family has been associated with Green Ford since 1964.

“It’s not an easy business to be in,” Duckwall said. “He (Holm) runs a good store.”

Although the Green Ford name has been a competitor for many years, Holm said he had a healthy respect for the neighboring business.

“It’s a real honor to be associated with the dealership,” he said.

Duckwall shared the same respect and he wanted his dealership to be put in good hands.

“The automotive business has been evolving. I felt it was personally, for me, time to look forward to other things in life,” Duckwall said. “We’ve been here for 48 years and I wanted to make sure the business gets in the hands of someone who is highly competent and make sure it stays here for years.”

Holm said he was appreciative of the community’s support for many years.

“It is a reflection of the community and how people have supported us in many ways, and we were happy to be able to able to take advantage of this opportunity,” Holm said.

The GM dealer said it was a result of a supportive community and loyal clients who put him in a position to acquire Green Ford Sales. Holm said his staff has also been a tremendous asset as he first began to look into the acquisition.

“We have a great staff to work with in this industry and we’re looking forward to the opportunity to offer more products and services,” Holm said.

Duckwall also thanked the customers and his staff. The Abilene dealership employs about 40 people.

“We have a very good group of people, they do their jobs well and they will continue to serve the people of Abilene,” Duckwall said.

The Green Ford Sales dealership will continue to operate business as usual until the transition is completed.

Holm has entered into an agreement to lease the current facilities at Green Ford Sales with an option to purchase the property.

Financial details were not disclosed. Once the transaction is approved by Ford and Chrysler officials, Holm expects the Green Ford name in Abilene to change.

Long-time history

Holm Automotive Center was established in 1983, first operating downtown in the former Ronald Rice Motors building.

Tim Holm’s father, George, had purchased the dealership from Mel Racy in 1983. The Holms had a successful dealership in Ellsworth, so it seemed natural to purchase another General Motors dealership in a larger town. George Holm had grown up in Dwight, Kan. George and Tim worked together in the dealership and in 1993, Tim purchased the business from his father.

In August 1994, the dealership relocated to its current site with a 20,000-square foot facility on a lot north of the ALCO Discount Store.

Green Ford Sales has been associated with the Abilene business scene since 1963 and was named after the late Pat Green. He had moved to Abilene from Larned in 1963. The first Green Ford building was located on the same street as the former Ronald Rice Motors complex downtown where the LifeHouse Church is now located.

Needing more room, Green relocated to a building on Northeast Fourteenth where Smith Heating and Air is located.

Eventually he relocated the business to its current location, which at one time was known as Abilene Motors, a Chrysler dealer. When Green started in 1963, he only had the Ford line, but later added Lincoln and Mercury products to give him a full line.

Read more: Abilene Reflector-Chronicle - Holm Automotive set to buy Green Ford

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