Our History
Three generations of Dobbs family members including James a Kirby Dobbs, James Kirby Dobbs Jr., John Hull Dobbs, and John Collier Dobbs have been leaders in the industry in selling and servicing cars.
1921
In 1921, James K. Dobbs, alongside business partner Horace Hull, took out a loan and opened his first Ford auto dealership. Dobbs and Hull quickly became the first national dealership chain with over 60 locations.
1942
In 1942, as the country reacted to the attack on Pearl Harbor, the government quickly began freezing new car inventories and converting factories for the war effort. With a sizable loan, Hull-Dobbs Enterprises bought over 3,000 new and used cars and stored them. After the war, they were one of only a few companies that had cars to sell to returning GIs.
1951
In 1951, Dobbs Fleet Leasing was created alongside the family’s dealership business. Providing nationwide fleet management to companies with fleets up to 500 vehicles, Dobbs Fleet Leasing further established Dobbs as a committed partner to business customers and original manufacturers.
1971
1998
By 1998, the Dobbs family had been in the automotive dealership business for more than 80 years and the Dobbs Automotive Group was the third-largest retailer in the nation.
Dobbs Family Automotive is owned by Dobbs Equity Partners.
Now in its third generation of savvy investors, Dobbs Equity Partners has learned from its past to benefit your company’s future.