Thompson brings Buick under roof

The deal will be complete, including transfer of all vehicles, parts and other materials associated with Buick sales and service, on Jan. 30, according to Thompson co-owner Lynn Thompson.

Thompson declined to disclose the cost of the purchase, which will give Thompson five of the GM brands - Buick, Cadillac, GMC, Pontiac and Saab.

Thompson said the purchase was the result of a GM initiative called Project 2000.

“One of the goals of that is to get Buick, Pontiac and GMC all in one showroom,” he said.

Thompson said there are no plans to add any of the other three GM brands - Chevrolet, Hummer and Saturn - at his showroom.

James Mitchell, general sales manager with Vincel, said the company will continue to carry new Isuzu and Infiniti vehicles. He said the company will make up for the loss of its 42-year-old Buick line by expanding used car sales.

“We're excited about it,” Mitchell said. “We're lamenting over the memories of Buick, but we're also excited about going a new direction.”

This is the second automobile franchise deal in as many days. Lipscomb Auto Group on Jan. 19 acquired the Volkswagen line from Youngblood Volkswagen LLC.

Editor's Note: Read more about the Volkswagen move and other auto dealership changes in SBJ's Jan. 23 issue.