JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
Located near the heart of South Pittsburg on South Cedar Avenue is a family owned dealership who specializes in selling several of the biggest names in the automobile industry.
Moss Motor Company first opened in 1957 as a used car dealership, where Conrad Clay “Tooter” Moss Jr. sold various used vehicles to clientele from around the area and beyond. Over the course of four decades the dealership grew and expanded, being awarded to sell several big names in the automobile industry , while also expanding its location to accommodate for the ever growing inventory of vehicles. The brands sold include Chevrolet, Ram, Dodge, Jeep, as well as its biggest seller, Ford.
Currently, the dealership is owned and operated under Tooter’s sons Steve and Billy Moss, as well as longtime business partner Dale Swafford. According to Swafford, in 1965 the business was first awarded the GNC truck franchise before eventually being awarded other major motor companies over the decades, including Ford in July of 1975, the Chrysler brand of vehicles in 1981, and eventually the Jeep lineup in 1994. For a brief time , the business also sold Subaru vehicles from 1968 to 1972.
Tooter established the business with a passion for the motor industry in his heart , growing up over the years with an admiration of all forms of cars and trucks alike. According to Steve, the dealership’s original location was where the waiting room beside the town’s football field is today, with the business eventually growing and relocating to its current location in 1970. Three generations of family have ran and continue to operate the business with similar passion as Tooter did, especially after his passing back in 2015.
“We want to keep taking care of our customers. And we’ve got three generations here, and hopefully we’ll carry on as a family business,” said Steve.
Today the dealership continues to thrive on selling new and used vehicles to the general public, from selling cars to local residents to clients from as far away as Alaska. The business also provides full service repairs to those with damaged cars or truck s, a unique standout that helps attract business to the dealership. It also allows for residents and travelers coming through the area to drop by for hands-on repairs and clean ups, saving them a trip straight to a whole separate repair shop altogether. Basic services such as oil changes and tire repairs are also available when stopping by.
The dealership is divided into two separate facilities, which are directly across the street from each other. The main facility, where the repair shop stands, is where all new cars and trucks are on display for potential customers to purchase. Whereas all used vehicles are sold in the other lot. Billy explained how the pre-owned based facility was built in 1995 to make way for all Jeeps and Chryslers to be stored.
Billy explained how both the financial crisis of 2008 , as well as the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 greatly affected the business in negative ways, causing lower sales and less employees onsite to work. However, during the Pandemic, used car sales skyrocketed in numbers , helping the business stay afloat during a time where many businesses were also negatively affected by the pandemic .
“We didn’t have anything to sell during COVID. Used cars went sky high, but new cars you couldn’t get. And we were as low as six cars on the New lot,” noted Billy .
Despite the challenges and shifts within the economy, Moss Motor Company continues to be Marion County’s staple dealership, one which has this past month celebrated their 50th anniversary of being in business within the county . And while Tooter may not be around any longer , his family takes pride to move forward the business which he started 50 years ago. A business they hope will continue for another 50 more. A dinner was also hosted on Thursday, August 7, where all in attendance celebrated five decades of business for the facility, in addition to coming together to look towards its future within the industry.