Lipscomb buys Youngblood's Volkswagen

Lipscomb Auto Group acquired the Volkswagen dealership from Youngblood Nissan-Chrysler-Kia on Jan. 19, and sales of the brand began at Lipscomb's 3145 S. Campbell Ave. lot that day. Parts and service on Volkswagen vehicles are expected to be available Jan. 23.

Company President Gary Lipscomb said the purchase, which was proposed to him by Youngblood co-owner John Youngblood, fits well in the company's marketing plan. The dealership also sells Suzuki, Mitsubishi, Porsche and used cars.

“We're very appreciative of John (Youngblood) offering us the chance to buy it,” Lipscomb said. “I think it will work well for us.”

Youngblood said Volkswagen sales had been lower than expected. The purchase price was undisclosed.

Meanwhile, Vincel Buick Inc., which has carried Buick vehicles in Springfield for 42 years, is working on a deal to sell its Buick franchise to Thompson Pontiac-GMC-Cadillac-Saab, according to sources from both companies. While the sale had not closed at press time, it is expected to be complete by early February, said Vincel General Sales Manager James Mitchell.

Once the sale is final, Thompson would carry five of the eight General Motors brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Pontiac, Saab and Saturn.

The sale, according to Vincel's Mitchell, is part of an effort by GM to consolidate all of its vehicle lines under one dealership in the same city.

“They wanted to phase out the individual dealers and be able to offer a larger selection of GM products. We were willing to accommodate that as long as it didn't hurt us,” Mitchell said, adding that the dealership plans to make up for the loss of the Buick sales by expanding its used car dealership.

The deal would not complete a full consolidation, though, as new Chevy vehicles are sold at Reliable and Saturns are sold at Jay Wolfe Saturn. There is no Hummer dealer in Springfield.

Lynn Thompson, co-owner of Thompson Pontiac-GMC-Cadillac-Saab at 1555 E. Independence, declined to comment on an impending sale, citing confidentiality agreements that would accompany any such transaction.

A GM spokesperson did not return calls by press time.

Don Wessel Honda recently dropped Oldsmobile from its dealership, though that change was a result of GM officially eliminating the line Oct. 31.

Jon Wessel, general manager, said Oldsmobile sales made up only about 10 percent of new car sales for the company.

The dealership will continue to service Oldsmobile and GM products and plans to make up for the loss by expanding its other offerings - mostly its new Honda vehicles. A $1.5 million renovation and expansion is under way at its 3520 S. Campbell Ave. lot.

The changes at Vincel and Wessel come on the heels of a string of car dealership moves and expansions.

May Motor Co., Youngblood Nissan Chrysler Kia, Auto World, Lipscomb Auto Group and Elite Mercedes all have moved or expanded in the past 12 months.