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September 3, 2012
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Two Brothers ,)),4 *&)6 21, / !&1&,+ By Jeffrey Bellant
Rush - Dated Material
Through more than eight decades and four generations, one family has been meeting the automotive needs of folks in Archbold, Ohio. Clarence and John Nofzinger opened the doors of a salvage operation, Archbold Auto Wrecking, in 1924. They added an Oakland franchise in 1926 and changed the business’ name to Nofzinger Bros. Pontiac sales and service were added to the store in 1928. Ed Baus and Dale Short, sons-in-law of the original owners, bought the company in the 1950s. They renamed it Nofzinger Motors Sales Inc., remaining partners until Dale’s death in 1967. Ed Baus sold the store to his son Larry and daughterin-law Eileen in 1986. The couple added GMC trucks
to the mix and moved to a new location in 1995. But in 1998, most of the assets of the company, along with its Nofzinger name, were sold. Larry Baus and his son Aaron opened a new store, Car 1, at the original location in March 1999. In 2001, Larry’s other son, Chad, joined his brother as coowners of the business. Larry Baus still works part-time. His dad Ed also stays involved. “It’s been a treat,” Chad said, “especially having my grandpa still around. I just turned 40 this year and I’m still blessed to see my grandpa walk in the door and spend time with him, asking him about the way things used to be.” The store carries 40 units, mostly two- and three-yearold off-lease vehicles. Chad said obtaining used vehicles remains a challenge for a business that markets to new-car customers. “We have three new-car dealerships in town that we compete against,” he said. “Obviously, with how hard it is to find off-lease stuff, we’re struggling a little bit more to find those.” Chad said the dealership sells about 20 units per month, at an average retail price ranging from $16,000 to $18,000. On top of paying top dollar for their inventory, the brothers average about $500 for recon per vehicle. “Recon costs have changed
Photos Courtesy of Car 1 GENERATION NEXT: Above, Chad Baus (left) and his brother, Aaron, lead the next generation of his family in the used car business at their Car 1 store. Below, Ed Baus, the brothers’ grandfather (right) poses with Dale Short. The family has been involved in the auto business since 1924.
for us,” Chad said. “Because of the off-lease (inventory) situation, we’ve had to buy a lot more from other dealers. “Unfortunately, other dealers don’t necessarily have the same standards we do for a front-row-ready car. We’re aiming for a new-car customer.” Chad said he’s already got a potential fifth generation started. “My 11-year-old son, Daniel, has just started vacuuming out some of our cars in the back for a couple of hours during a couple of days each week,” Chad said.
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