Back in 1912, J.C. Lewis used $500 loaned by a friend and golfing buddy to buy a franchise to sell Ford motor cars. Now, his heirs are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the dealership that intially was located downtown on Bull Street across from the old Desoto Hotel.
J.C. Lewis Ford currently occupies a sprawling site at 9505 Abercorn St. among a series of other dealerships along Savannah’s automobile row.
J.C. Lewis, Jr., who took over the business following his father’s death, proved to be a brilliant businessman who opened additional Ford dealerships in Daytona Beach and Melbourne, Fla., added new brands to his Savannah dealership and invested in tractor sales, taxi cab businesses, television and radio stations, hotels, life insurance, yacht sales and real estate.
On Friday, Jim Farley, the head of worldwide marketing for Ford Motor Co., and Edsel Ford II, a member of Ford’s board of directors, visited the dealership to presented a plaque in honor of their 100th anniversary.