Fred Beans Automotive Group Today Operates Eight Ford Dealerships
Photo Caption - From left to right: Fred Beans Automotive COO Chris Gilbert with Andrew Frick and Fred Beans Automotive Group Vice President Beth Beans Gilbert and Fred Beans
Doylestown, Pa. - Fred Beans, founder and president of Fred Beans Automotive Group, purchased his first dealership in 1975 - a Ford dealership in Doylestown. Fifty years later, that dealership remains the heart of the Fred Beans organization. This is where Beans has his office and walks the floor, greeting customers and handing out his personal cell.
To recognize the success of Beans and his automotive group in achieving 50 years in business, Ford Motor Company executives, led by Ford Blue and Model e President Andrew Frick, recently visited Fred Beans Ford of Doylestown to present a special anniversary plaque.
“Fred’s blood runs Ford blue,” said Frick, who commended Beans for being in the minority of first-generation business owners to make it. He also acknowledged that Beans did not just make it, he solidified his place among the best of the best Ford dealers. Three years ago, Frick helped induct Beans into the 2022 Class of the Ford Motor Company’s Top Volume Dealer Hall of Fame. At that time, Beans was acknowledged for embodying the spirit of being a Ford Hall of Fame Dealer: being loved by customers, respected by employees, and engaged with surrounding communities.
Beans responded to his most recent honor by reflecting on his initial venture into owning and operating his first Ford store. He received official approval from Ford on April 17, 1975 and has remained grateful for the opportunity and determined to make the best of it.
“I came here with a vision of building a good dealership,” Beans said. “Some of my ideas included treating customers as friends, because friends do business with friends.”
That philosophy has helped Fred Beans Automotive Group grow over the years to now include 30 dealerships - eight of which are Ford stores with locations in Doylestown, Pa.; Exton, Pa.; Langhorne, Pa.; Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Newtown, Pa.; Washington, N.J.; and West Chester, Pa.
“Everything I own and everything I have ever accomplished…has come as a result of starting with Ford, and I think that is why I am so loyal to Ford,” Beans added.
Following the 50th anniversary plaque presentation, Frick accompanied Beans to tour Fred Beans Automotive Group’s Parts Distribution Center (PDC), which has repeatedly been the leading provider of Ford Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) automotive parts nationally.
Frick also made time in the day to field questions from all eight Fred Beans Ford general managers.
Photo Caption - From left to right: Andrew Frick, Fred Beans Parts Director of Operations Harry Van Houten and Fred Beans
Photo Caption: Andrew Frick and Fred Beans