History

Wells Motor Company has a history spanning over 80 years, and we are making history again!

Wells Motor Company is the oldest family owned, and operated Chrysler Group dealership in the southeast, serving the Heartland from Avon Park for four generations.

On January 14, 2010 a new chapter in our history was written as we became the exclusive Dodge, Chrysler, Ram, and Jeep dealership in Highlands County.

Where did it all begin?

Prominent Avon Park businessman, J. Lawler Wells, founded Wells Motor Co. in 1931. Wells opened a gas station at the corner of Main St. and Forest Ave. in 1928, later adding refrigerators and radios. In 1931, Wells Motor Co. was established as a Dodge and Plymouth dealership. J. Lawler Wells unfortunately met a sudden death in 1941 when he was crushed in a tractor accident. He was only 40 years old.

Wells Motor Co. continued in spite of the untimely death of J. Lawler in 1941. J. Lawler's brother, E. Ray Wells, who had been working at the dealership since 1931, took the reigns as owner running this very successful business until his death in 1993. Two of Ray’s sons, Stanley and Kenneth and two of his grandchildren, Scooter and Sarah Jane now run the business.

Stanley Wells began working for his father at the age of 12 pumping gas. At age 16 he started working in the shop until graduating high school. He then attended Nashville Auto Diesel College where upon completion came back to work in the shop as a service technician for about 2 years before going in the office to work. Stanley now serves as President of the company. Kenneth Wells, Service Director, began working in the shop as a service technician after completing schooling at Nashville Auto Diesel College over 50 years ago. In about 1963 he became the Service Manager and is now Service Director and Vice President of the company. Scooter is serving as Comptroller and has been working full time for Wells Motor Company since 1985. Sarah Jane is an Administrative Assistant and has been working for us since 1995.

In 1998 Wells Motor Company built a new state-of-the-art, bright and cheerful, customer friendly dealership complex on US 27 South between Avon Park and Sebring. The service center is equipped with cutting-edge computers and other advanced technologies to serve our customers with ease. Featured in the showroom and going through the children's playroom, is the Wells Express. The G-scale model train adds a whimsical touch and is the center of attention for the child in all of us.

With that being said, the family tradition of providing our customers with the quality service they deserve, has been consistent in the 80 years we have been in business. It's people serving people.