By David May
editor@mineralwellsindex.com
Russell Whatley III said the article in Friday’s Index concerning Chrysler’s Corporation’s decision to end its relationship with his family’s car dealership wasn’t an obituary.
“I have had people tell me, ‘Oh, I’m sorry you are going out of business,’” said Whatley on Monday.
While he says some things remain up in the air, one thing that is certain is that his family’s car dealership will remain open. Russell Whatley Motor Company was was among nearly 800 dealerships nationwide informed Thursday that it was being dropped by Chrysler Corp. as part of its bankruptcy restructuring plan.
The downtown Mineral Wells dealership has been in business 90 years – claiming to be the oldest car dealership in Texas – and Whatley says it will continue to be the oldest.
“We are staying open,” Whatley said Monday. “We are going to offer full sales, service and parts. There will be no layoffs.”
He said the company plans to discount its current inventory of new Chrysler vehicles and then, at least in the short term, build up its used car inventory while it investigates other avenues.
“We are pursuing other lines,” said Whatley. “We’ve already had some contact us.”
He said he is not sure if Whatley Motors will continue to provide Chrysler warranty service after June 9. He also said he is unsure if he will appeal to Chrysler to keep their relationship with the auto manufacturer that dates back to 1963.
He said in its termination notification, Chrysler claimed that Mineral Wells and Palo Pinto County were not “economically viable.”
“That doesn’t make any sense,” he said. “We are not a cost. The factory doesn’t own anything. We don’t owe any money. No dealership is a cost.”
He said the business started by his grandfather in 1919 believes Mineral Wells and the county is economically viable and said the company remains committed to the city.
“This is of no fault of ours,” Whatley stated. “I don’t want people to confuse a national problem with a local problem. Mineral Wells is a strong community and we will survive.”
He said this isn’t the first troubled times the dealership has been through and it probably won’t the last time.
“We’ve been through recessions, two worlds wars, the proverbial hail storm last year,” said Whatley. “Mineral Wells has been through a lot of booms and busts, but the one constant has been Whatley Motor Company. We are going to stay open. We will find a way.”
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