The original North Brothers, Raymond and Ernest opened a Mobil service station together on Fort Street in Lincoln Park, Michigan in 1928. They were awarded a Desoto/Plymouth franchise in June of 1936 - the same year that Gulf Oil replaced Mobil - and they began selling new cars and trucks. Their success in selling new vehicles resulted in Ford Motor Company offering them a very desirable and exclusive new car franchise in 1941. In the early years, they sold Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles as well as being Lincoln/Mercury distributors for southeast Michigan.
During the war years, the North's converted their auto dealership into a precision machine shop and manufactured airplane parts for the war effort. Following the war, they la
unched several more expansion projects. Newcomers to Lincoln Park had no trouble locating North Brothers, especially at night. Atop the main building was a huge neon sign that was one of the city's early landmarks.
They became a Ford dealer exclusively in 1945. In may of 1949, they acquired a second Ford franchise and opened up a dealership called Ray North Ford on Woodward avenue in Ferndale, Michigan. The two dealerships operated simultaneously for nine years.
Raymond's son, James E. North, joined the business in October of 1954. He began his career by working in every department and was promoted to President in 1968. Prior to joining the company, he served in the army for two years during the Korean Conflict immediately after completing his business degree at MSU.
In April of 1958, the company purchased Ralph Ellsworth Ford on Ford Road in Garden City, Michigan and renamed it North Brothers G.C. All three dealerships operated for several months until August of 1958 when the Ray North Ford location was sold. Additionally, the company acquired an Edsel franchise from Ford Motor Company in July of 1957, which was located in Lincoln Park and operated until December of 1958.
The Lincoln Park dealershi
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