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Bartow Ford History
Bartow Ford Co was founded in April 1948, when Ernest M. Smith and his two brothers, Virgil and Paul H. Jr., purchased the Ford Franchise/Dealership in Bartow from Mrs. Alton Moore. Originally located on 495 and 510 East Main Street in Bartow, Bartow Ford Co was actively managed by Ernest Smith. During its first year of operation, Bartow Ford Co sold only used vehicles due to the shortage of new vehicles following World War II. Once 1949 models became available, Bartow Ford sold approximately 110 new cars and trucks in their first model year. Used cars sales from the same period equaled about 144 units, and Bartow Ford employed 15 full-time employees.
In December 1949, Ernest Smith moved operations to a newly constructed facility on 190 West Main Street in Bartow. The used car operation continued to operate on 510 East Main Street.
During the late 50’s it became evident that Bartow Ford Co again needed to expand. In the model year 1959, Bartow Ford sales totaled 1.5 million dollars and equaled 359 new units and 310 used, supporting the need for expansion.
By the early part of 1960, Bartow Ford Co was moving yet again, to a 3.5 acre facility on the Route 60 Bypass. With the move, Bartow Ford was the first and only company doing business on the bypass. Numerous expansions occurred during the 1960’s to include new parts and service facilities.
In 1965, Ernest Smith bought the remaining stock held by his two brothers and became the sole owner of Bartow Ford Co. During the late 70’s and early 80’s Bartow Ford continued to expand. In 1978, Mr. Smith acquired a lease/option agreement for an additional 6.7 acres, adjacent to the existing facility, and in 1986 he exercised his option to the purchase of the property.
With the addition of the 6.7 acres, Bartow Ford’s facility then equaled 10.2 acres. The square footage of the additional buildings more than quadrupled the previous facilities on W. Main Street. Finally, in 1989, Mr. Smith purchased Whit’s Building Supply property and building, which was located on the Southeast corner of Bartow Ford’s property.
This acquisition of the property made Bartow Ford a 14 acre facility. Eventually, Benny Robles, Sr., Denny Mullis and Bob Ambrose partnered together and began purchasing the dealership from Ernest Smith. The acquisition process started in 1991 and was completed in 2007.
In 2003, Bartow Ford moved to its current home, located at 2800 US Highway 98 North. The facility is located on 30 acres property, which houses all operations of Bartow Ford and includes a service and parts department, detail depot, collision center, rental vehicles, commercial service and a quick-lane. Bartow Ford has won the prestigious President’s Award 15 times and is also one of Ford Motor Company’s top 100 dealers in the United States.
Ford Motor Credit announced Bartow Ford Co as the number one volume dealer for commercial contracts in the state of Florida for 2010. This achievement has listed the dealer on the top 25 franchises of Ford Credit’s Business Preferred Network (BPN). Bartow Ford has held this status for the last decade.
With over 200 employees, Bartow Ford continues to excel in Sales and Service. In this challenging economy, Bartow Ford is still a leader because we continue to operate with trust, integrity and honesty.
Ernest Smith once said, “In order for Bartow Ford Co to succeed, our organization and its people have obligations which must be continually met. Our first and most important obligation is to provide total satisfaction to each customer. We are to conduct our business in such a manner that there is never any doubt about our ethics or moral standards.”
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Bartow Ford – New Ford and Used Cars, Trucks, and SUVs for Sale
Welcome to the Bartow Ford Dealer Website. Bartow Ford has been selling automobiles for over 61 years to the communities located in the Central Florida Region of Polk County including the cities of: Lakeland, Brandon, Davenport, Winter Haven, Plant City, Fort Meade, Lake Wales, Kissimmee, and the Tampa Bay area. Bartow Ford has a huge inventory of New Ford Vehicles for sale. See the line-up of 2011 & 2012 Ford Cars like the 2012 Ford Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, Fusion Hybrid, Mustang, Roush Mustang, Shelby GT500 Mustang, and the Taurus. The collection of truck including work truck at Bartow is Huge! See 2011 & 2012 Ford Trucks like the: 2011 Ford Ranger and F-150; but also Super Duty Trucks like the: F-250, F-350, F-450, F-650, and F-750. The 2011 & 2012 Ford SUV and Crossover inventory encompasses the: 2012 Ford Edge, Escape, Escape Hybrid, Expedition, Explorer, and the Flex. You can also Build a Ford Online using our Vehicle Configurator to pick the model, trim, options, and features. Finally get the MSRP Price.
Ford Commercial Vehicle Dealer
If you're looking for a Commercial Truck in Florida, we are Ford Motor Company's #2 volume Super Duty Truck dealer in the country and #1 Commercial Ford Truck, (not Fleet) dealer in Florida! Visit our Ford Commercial Truck Department or contact one of our 12 commercial vehicle experts. See our large collection of Commercial Ford Trucks for Sale including Super Duty Trucks like the: F-250, F-350, F-450, F-650, and F-750. These trucks are Built Ford Tough and feature the Power Stroke Diesel engine. View information on the All New 2012 Super Duty truck: XL, XLT, Lariat, and King Ranch variations. Bartow Ford is also one of the leaders in the Commercial Vehicle segment. See the all new Ford Transit Connect, Econoline Cargo Van or E-Series Wagon.
Used Cars - Tampa Used Car Dealership
The Bartow Ford Used Car Inventory houses many used cars, trucks, SUVs, and more. Not only are there Ford vehicles for sale, but also automobiles from many other manufacturers. Browse our Cheap Used Car inventory for great deals on pre-owned cars that have our dealership’s seal of approval. Used commercial inventory can be difficult to find but we have a massive selection of Pre-owned Ford Commercial Trucks and Vans. This inventory includes Ford F-250 Super Duty Lariat, F-350 Super Duty XLT or King Ranch, F-450 Super Duty Trucks, Econoline Wagons or Econline Cargo Vans as well as the nimble Transit Connect.
Ford Parts, Service Center and Body Shop
The Bartow Ford Service Center and Body Shop is staffed with Ford Trained Technicians and a helpful Service Team who know how important it is to keep your Ford Car , Truck, Van or SUV running smoothly. For your convenience you can Schedule a Service Appointment online or utilize our drive up Quick Lane Service to reduce your wait time during minor service procedures. Ford Quick Lane Service is perfect for fleet vehicles and will perform accurate and fast Fleet Services with little company downtime. Our Body Shop is expert at Ford Collision Repair and uses genuine Ford OEM Parts and Ford Engineered Approved Equipment. In the event of an accident it’s important to have repair work done quickly to get you back on the road. Just Schedule a Collision Center Appointment and we will take care of the rest. If you are looking for a hard to find Ford Part or special Ford Accessories we can help you in your search. You can Request a Part online or talk to someone on our Parts Team. Saving money is always important. Make sure to check out our Service Specials and Parts Specials and take advantage of these great deals . If you ever have questions about service schedules, specific Ford Accessories or other parts and service topics feel free to Ask a Tech, we are here to help.
Ford Lease Deals, Special Financing and Incentives
Once you have selected your Ford Dream Car, Truck, Van or SUV make sure to visit our Finance Center to learn about Ford leasing or financing plans, Finance Specials, rebates and special incentives. Additional information about buying vs leasing a new Ford can be found on our Buy vs Lease page. You can apply before you buy to determine what your approval amount will be by using our Apply for Financing feature. Ford stands behind each and every vehicle to roll off of the assembly line and offers one of the best warranties in the industry. The Ford Warranty Assurance Plan provides protection for New Ford and Pre-Owned Ford Vehicles alike.
Bartow Ford- Serving Tampa Bay and Central Florida
We hope that you will stop by and visit us at 2800 US Hwy 98N, Bartow, Florida. It has been our pleasure to serve and support the community in the Central Florida Region of Polk County, including Lakeland, Brandon, Davenport, Winter Haven, Plant City, Fort Meade, Lake Wales, Kissimmee, Bartow and the Tampa Bay area for 62 years with quality Ford vehicles. For a map and hours of operation visit our Hours and Directions page.