1938 - Kelly Dye of Cisne, Illinois started his automobile career as a salesperson for Hoffee Motors in Fairfield, Illinois
1939 - Kelly Dye became the dealer for Nash and Packard Automobiles in Flora, Illinois
1940 - Kelly Dye became the dealer for Buick and GMC Trucks in Flora, Illinois
1941 - New car assembly lines were replaced with production to support World War II 1945 - Kelly Dye becomes the Ford Tractor and Implement dealer in Cisne, Illinois. He also opens the Studebaker Automobile franchise in Flora, Illinois
1951 - Kelly Dye and his family move to Louisville, Illinois to open the Desoto Plymouth Franchise
1956 - Kelly Dye drops Desoto Plymouth to become the Ford Lincoln Mercury dealer in Louisville, Illinois
1959 - Kelly Dye passes away leaving his family the Ford Lincoln Mercury dealership in Louisville, Illinois. Genevieve, his wife, along with Max and Jerry, his two sons, run the dealership until 1964
1964 - Max Dye moved to Salem, Illinois to open the Oldsmobile Pontiac dealership
1966 - Max Dye adds GMC Trucks to the existing line of Oldsmobile and Pontiac vehicles
1976 - Max Dye builds a new facility on the west side of Salem, Illinois near Interstate 57
1982 - Mike Dye, son of Max, enters the family business
1989 - Max Dye, Inc. suffers a great loss when the facility burns down. It was considered a total loss
1990 - Max and Mike Dye rebuilt the Pontiac Oldsmobile GMC Truck dealership at the same location on US Route 50, West of I-57 in Salem, Illinois
1990 - Max and Mike Dye acquire the Chrysler, Plymouth & Dodge franchises
1997 - Max and Mike Dye acquire the Jeep franchise. This brings the total number of vehicle lines to seven. Oldsmobile, Pontiac, GMC Truck, Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge and Jeep
1999 - Chrysler Corporation makes the decision to discontinue Plymouth models
2004 - Oldsmobile division is discontinued from the General Motors lineup as an attempt by GM to consolidate lines and reduce expenses.
2010 - Pontiac Division is discontinued from the General Motors lineup. A casualty of the 2008 National financial collapse.
2015 - Kenny Detmer, son-in-law of Mike Dye, enters the business.
Today - Max and Mike Dye continue to operate the GMC Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Ram Truck Franchises; providing Excellent Service to Customers!
AdChoices