CW’s grandfather, Samuel Washington Birmingham, believed there might be something to the future of automobiles, so he helped send CW to Kansas City, Missouri at age nineteen to learn to become a mechanic at “Rahe Automobile and Tractor School”. CW, feeling that he had not learned enough in the initial training session, stayed for an extra session by cutting potatoes and washing dishes before graduating as a mechanic September 5, 1919. (He rarely ate potatoes again!)
CW returned to Pageland, SC to work in a garage. The owner gave CW a raise after his first week because he did more work by far than the proprietor’s other two mechanics. Soon afterwards, CW opened his own Service Station. Later, CW started his first Chevrolet dealership in Pageland on July 15, 1923.
Next, CW bought Ellison Chevrolet in Lancaster, SC with a partner, Mr. W. H. Cato, on March 29, 1927, named Burns & Cato, Inc. CW bought out Mr. Cato’s shares for $5,250 on February 5, 1930.
On May 1, 1931 CW bought Kershaw Chevrolet with his brother Jimmy R. Burns and Mr. W. H. Shaw, Jr.
On September 5, 1919
CW’s grandfather, Samuel Washington Birmingham, believed there might be something to the future of automobiles, so he helped send CW to Kansas City, Missouri at age nineteen to learn to become a mechanic at “Rahe Automobile and Tractor School”. CW, feeling that he had not learned enough in the initial training session, stayed for an extra session by cutting potatoes and washing dishes before graduating as a mechanic September 5, 1919. (He rarely ate potatoes again!)
In August 1949, CW lost two partners. One, Mr. T.D. Addison who worked at Lancaster Motor Company, and the other, Clyde Williams, who ran the movie theaters they were partnered in. A few months later CW’s daughter Billie married Tee McWhirter. Tee was experienced in the automobile industry from Union, SC and joined CW in Lancaster as a partner in 1950. Tee’s son Gary became dealer after Tee’s death July 8, 2012.
In 1959, CW realized there would be too much family for Lancaster Motor Company to absorb shortly after his twin sons graduated from college. Therefore, CW sent C. Weldon Burns, Jr. to Rock Hill, SC to open Burns Chevrolet in Rock Hill, SC. Weldon purchased the Chevrolet dealership in Rock Hill on July 17, 1959.
Weldon partnered with Claude W. Burns, III and D. Frank Polk, Jr. in Burns Chevrolet in Rock Hill on February 2, 1984. Weldon then opened Burns Chevrolet Oldsmobile in Gaffney, SC on March 1, 1984. In 1989, Weldon bought out Frank in Gaffney and C. Sam Burns partnered with Weldon in Gaffney.
Frank Polk went to Black Mountain on February 1, 1990 and bought the Chevrolet dealership there. Later, Frank would add a Ford dealership nearby, as well.
On December 31, 1993, Weldon and his three sons applied for the Ford dealership in Lancaster, SC and were appointed Ford dealers on February 17, 1994. Robert W. Burns bought out his dad and brothers in 2003 to have sole ownership of Burns Ford in Lancaster.
Claude W. Burns, III added Cadillac in Rock Hill on June 30, 2000. D. Frank Polk became the Buick GMC dealer in Gaffney, SC in 2005.
On October 27, 2010 Charles Samuel Burns became the dealer at Burns Chevrolet of Gaffney and sole owner until he made Charles (Charlie) S. Burns, Jr. a partner and dealer in 2020.
On January 27, 2017, Weldon’s sons Claude and Robert, along with Claude’s son James R. Burns, added a Ford dealership in York, SC.
On December 18, 2019 James R. Burns became the dealer of Burns Chevrolet Cadillac in Rock Hill.
On july 15, 1923
CW returned to Pageland, SC to work in a garage. The owner gave CW a raise after his first week because he did more work than the proprietor ’s other two mechanics by far. Soon afterwards, CW opened his own Service Station. Later, CW started his first Chevrolet dealership in Pageland on July 15, 1923.
On February 5, 1930
Next, CW bought Ellison Chevrolet in Lancaster, SC with a partner Mr. W. H. Cato, on March 29, 1927, Burns & Cato, Inc. CW bought out Mr. Cato’s shares for $5,250 on February 5, 1930.
On May 1, 1931
CW
bought Kershaw Chevrolet with his brother Jimmy R. Burns and Mr. W. H. Shaw, Jr.
In August 1949, CW lost two partners. One, Mr. T.D. Addison who worked at Lancaster Motor Company, and the other, Clyde Williams, who ran their movie theaters they were partnered in. A few months later CW’s daughter Billie married Tee McWhirter. Tee was experienced in the automobile industry from Union, SC and joined CW in Lancaster as a partner in 1950. Tee’s son Gary became dealer after Tee’s death July 8, 2012.
On July 17, 1959
In 1959, CW realized there would be too much family for Lancaster Motor Company to absorb shortly after his twin sons graduated from college. Therefore, CW sent C. Weldon Burns, Jr. to Rock Hill, SC to open Burns Chevrolet in Rock Hill. Weldon purchased the Chevrolet dealership in Rock Hill on July 17, 1959.
On march 1, 1984
Weldon opened Burns Chevrolet Oldsmobile in Gaffney, SC on March 1, 1984. He partnered with Claude W. Burns, III and D. Frank Polk, Jr. in Burns Chevrolet in Rock Hill on February 2, 1984. In 1989, Weldon bought out Frank in Gaffney and C. Sam Burns partnered with Weldon in Gaffney.
On february 1, 1990
Frank Polk went to Black Mountain in February 1, 1990 and bought the Chevrolet dealership there. Later, Frank would add a Ford dealership nearby, as well.
On December 31, 1993, Weldon and his three sons applied for the Ford dealership in Lancaster, SC and were appointed Ford dealers on February 17, 1994.
Frank Polk became the Buick GMC dealer in Gaffney, SC in 2005, and Claude Burns added Cadillac in Rock Hill June 30, 2000.
Gaffney Location
Burns Ford of York Ford York Dickerson
Within the past 10 years...
On January 27, 2017, Weldon’s sons Claude and Robert, along with Claude’s son James, added a Ford dealership in York, SC.
On December 18, 2019 James R. Burns became the dealer of Burns Chevrolet Cadillac in Rock Hill.
On October 27, 2020 Charlie S. Burns became the dealer at Burns Chevrolet of Gaffney.
