Our company had it’s beginnings in the early fifties with our founder’s interest in unique automobiles. Madison Smith took pride in buying cars of value that often were overlooked by the mainstream dealers and public. Early on it may have been Packards or Chryslers, and in the late fifties the opportunity to sell new cars came with the Borgward brand and British Leyland cars. The British cars were dropped in the early sixties in favor of Italian and German vehicles as he added Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz.

With the growth in business and his desire to operate separate facilities and staff for the lines, the company expanded into new facilities on Lafayette Street in Nashville. ‘The Car Store’ became the dealership for Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Lancia, Renault, and Peugeot. Andrew Ewing Jr., Bill Andree and Wayne Barnett purchased the operation in 1977.

A few years later Fiat, Alfa Romeo, and Renault were either sold or merged with other franchises in the market. Peugeot (Superb Motors) was retained by Madison and began operation on Lafayette Street in the early 80s. In 1984 the Mercedes-Benz franchise was moved to adjoining property to the Peugeot store in a new exclusive Mercedes-Benz facility.