Leslie Motors is preparing to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Harriston Ford dealership.
But for Ron and Gerry Leslie the story really began 50 years ago, the result of a fortunate mix of timing and opportunity.
In 1963, Gerry and Jean Robinson, the second owners in the dealership’s history, were planning to sell the operation. The Leslies were married that year and Ron, who had been farming in the Freelton area with his brother Murray, decided on a career change as the brothers had agreed to end their partnership.
In the Hamilton Spectator that weekend they found an advertisement from the Robinsons seeking to sell the business.
“That was the ironic part about it,” said Ron, noting he asked Gerry Robinson years later how many times the ad ran in the Spectator and Robinson said just one Friday and Saturday.
“And that was the day my brother and I decided to give up the partnership and that night I went and looked at the business opportunities and there it was.
“And if we hadn’t talked about splitting up the partnership until the next week I never would have been here – there’s no way – because I would never have called Ford Motor Company and asked for a car dealership; it just wouldn’t have entered my head.”
In 1903, Henry Ford started the Ford Motor Company, expanding into Canada in 1904. Just a decade later, in 1913, William McConnell opened his Ford dealership in Harriston under the name Wm. McConnell Garage.
It was located on Elora Street, in what is now the South Street Café. He also sold bicycles and groceries and soon bought a barn and property across the road at 73 Elora Street, where the dealership is still located.
“Billy”, as McConnell was known, must have had great insight about Henry Ford and his car business says Ron, noting McConnell thrived in the business, working alongside his daughter Jean.
Jean McConnell married Gerry Robinson in 1936, the same year Ron Leslie was born. The couple met when he came to Harriston to work at Canada Packers. He had been raised on a farm in Quebec and received a BA from Guelph University. In 1938, Billy passed away and Gerry and Jean bought the dealership from her mother, changing the name to Robinson Motors.
Gerry Robinson started a coal business along with the car dealership, coal being the most popular fuel at that time. A year later, the Second World War started, which brought new challenges for everyone.
There were no new cars, trucks or tractors built during the war. Ford dealers in those years sold tractors along with cars and trucks.
“Gerry managed to survive during the war years by servicing and selling used vehicles,” says Ron.
“He told me that after the war, cars and trucks and tractors were in short supply. Business was good because customers needed new vehicles. He was able to move the old building to the back of the property and build a new five-bay garage with a showroom, which he opened in 1951.”
Robinson continued to sell tractors until 1965, when Ford decided to discontinue selling farm equipment from car dealerships and sold them from tractor-only operations.
After seeing the dealership advertised for sale in 1963, Ron worked out a deal with the Robinsons, but was told by Ford he would need experience in the business before he could be approved as a dealer.
A year later, after winding up the farming operation in Freelton, Ron joined Guelph dealership Carl Small Motors and began to gain experience with Ford, while Gerry took a job at a bank in Hamilton.
After working for 18 months in Guelph, Ron inquired again about the Harriston dealership and was advised it was available. Years later, the Leslies learned that Ford had wanted to shut the dealership down, but Carl Small convinced them to let Ron take it over.
The Leslies took over on Nov. 1, 1966. Ron, Gerry (who was expecting the couple’s second child, Lynda) and their son Mark, came to Harriston and the name of the dealership became Leslie Motors.
Ron remembers the first few days at the business, when many people came in to see the new, young Ford dealer. At that time, the dealership had gas pumps, and he sold a lot of fuel the first few days.
Ron said he feels it helped that he had a farm background, because he could talk to the farmers who made up about 60 per cent of his customer base.
Farmers in those days would deliver their hogs to the local co-operative in their F150s and many would stop at Leslie Motors and buy a new pickup. Ron believes that it is one of the reasons the dealership still sells so many pickups.
Gerry Robinson stayed on for six months, which helped the Leslies retain his existing customers. Robinson continued to come in nearly every day for many years, offering advice, Ron recalls.
The years passed quickly as the business grew and in 1971, the Leslies were able to put a down payment on a house on John Street. In October 1971 their third child, Don, was born. In 1973, the couple bought a farm at the edge of town, and started a small cow-calf operation. Their daughter Lisa was born in 1973, making their family complete.
Around this time, the dealership struggled through what Ron recalls as the most difficult period during his years in business. The mid-1970s were a time of high interest rates and high inflation – insurmountable obstacles for many potential new car buyers.
“It was 15 to 18 per cent inflation. This means that you had to have a job that paid you 15 to 18 per cent more in one year,” Ron recalls.
“At the same time if you wanted to buy something and you went to the bank, it was 22 per cent.”
A special interest rate offer from Ford, 14 per cent on F150s, helped keep business coming through the doors, but Ron remembers how difficult it was to make a dollar in that economy.
In 1982, seeking to give back to the community, Ron ran successfully for a spot on the local council. He ran successfully for mayor of Harriston in 1985 and held the post for nine years.
During that period, Gerry moved into sales and helped to run the business while continuing to do the books.
In addition to his stint in local politics, Ron has also been involved in numerous local community service organizations and activities, including the Harriston Kinsmen and K-40 clubs, Harriston-Minto Agricultural Society and Harriston Historical Society.
“I think that became a hobby of mind somehow, some people garden … I enjoy giving back to the town, too. The town’s been good to me,” said Ron, noting his wife’s support and work ethic allowed him to pursue such activities while running a business.
“We worked well together.”
Earlier this year, Ron received a lifetime achievement award from the Minto Chamber of Commerce.
“The whole family believes in giving back to the community; in volunteering wherever needed,” Ron states.
Leslie Motors is the epitome of a family business.
Ron and Gerry’s oldest son Mark started washing cars part-time when he was 14 and today is a co-dealer in the business, along with his wife Lisa and brother Don. Lynda, joined the service department in 1991 and continues to work in the business.
When Don expressed interest in becoming a co-dealer in 1999, To satisfy Ford’s requirements, the family bought a second dealership in Walkerton, which Don now operates.
Lisa Leslie, the youngest in the family worked briefly in the business, but moved into the media field and is now a producer-director with CTV News Windsor. She lives in London, but still joins the family business for some of their local charity drives.
A number of Ron and Gerry’s grandchildren now work part-tiime in the business as well.
In 2008, Leslie Motors purchased another dealership in Wingham, creating what Ron calls “a perfect triangle” for sharing inventory and expertise.
Ron and Gerry believe that even family members should start at the bottom and learn all the jobs in order to understand the entire operation.
While conceding it wouldn’t work for every family, “It does for ours for some reason,” says Ron.
Leslie Motors has expanded its Harriston dealership building twice in the past and is now adding two additional bays and re-modeling the sales and service area.
Ron notes they have thought about moving the Harriston business to property outside of town many times, but he still likes being downtown, where people can walk uptown and support other businesses. He also finds some practical advantages to the century-old location.
“I actually sold a car one night I was here and a guy just happened to walk by and say ‘How you doing?’ You just wouldn’t get that if I was out of town.
“We love small town, too, that’s part of it – the atmosphere, knowing so many people when you walk up the street.”
100th celebration
On Aug. 24 Leslie Motors is hosting a celebration of the dealership’s 100th anniversary. Fittingly, the date is also Ron and Gerry’s 50th wedding anniversary.
Among the highlights of the dealership’s anniversary event will be a car show featuring 1985 and older Ford vehicles.
Ford of Canada president Dianne Craig will attend the opening ceremonies for the car show. Harriston’s main street will be closed from Arthur to Mill Street and the vehicles will be parked along the street for viewing.
Anyone with an ’85 or older Ford is welcome to participate by bringing their vehicle. The local Kinsmen and K-40 clubs will be putting on a beef barbecue with entertainment that evening at the Harriston-Minto Community Centre.
Harriston Heritage Days
To celebrate Leslie Motors’ connection to their community’s history, the Minto Chamber of Commerce, Harriston Historical Society and other local businesses and organizations have joined in and the party has grown into a weekend-long event called Harriston Heritage Days, from Aug. 23 to 25.
Events at Heritage Days include a “Touch a Truck” showcase hosted by Harriston Motors and the Minto Fire Department, live music at Tannery Park, memorabilia displays, breakfast at the Harriston Legion and historical walking tours hosted by the Grey Wellington Theatre Guild.
Both Friday evening and Sunday afternoon the Ontario West Coast Garden Railway Club will run a live steam train show at Harriston Motors.
For information on the old Ford show, or for tickets to the beef barbecue call Leslie Motors at 1-800-997-2310. For a full schedule of Heritage Day events visit www.heritagedays.ca.
