PERSONALITY PROFILE
Auto
Pilots
Meet the dealers
who rev our engines.
BY HARRY KIRSBAUM
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGIE BAAN
A
lmost as long as there have
been cars, there have been
car dealers. And many of
those in the Metro Detroit area are Jewish.
In honor of the 2006 Auto Show, going on
this month (see Auto Show Lowdown for
details), we spoke to a few of the men —
and one woman — who get our motors
running.
Among them all, Mary Tamaroff, owner
ofTamaroff Automotive in Southfield,
could be considered the Big Daddy: He has
sold cars since 1952 when he worked at a
lot on the corner of Dexter and Glendale
in Detroit.
"There were more Jewish Buick dealers
than any other car," he says.
It took him five years to get approved for
a Buick franchise, and he had to buy prop-
erty on Telegraph Road in Southfield. He
opened the dealership in 1969, and was the
first dealer in the Detroit area to pick up
other brands, which was met with opposi-
tion by General Motors.
"Since I sold over 4,000 Buicks in one
year, I had more leverage than the average
guy," he says.
In 1971, he picked up Honda, which he
called a "struggle bunny." "The only thing
redeeming about the Honda at that time
was it was only $1,200," he says.
Intrigued? Read on to meet the rest.
Marvin Tamaroff
Chairman, "Famaroff Automotive in Southfield
How long have you been in the business?
\ c been a dealer since 1952.
How did you get started?
I worked for a Jewish dealer, Wilshire Motor Sales, on Dexter
and Glendale in Detroit.
What's your hot car this year?
The Buick Lucerne, which took the place of the LeSabre Park
Avenue.
What was your first car?
A 1939 Packard 4-door sedan in black.
What's your favorite car of all time?
A 1937 Cord.
TAMAROFF AUTOMOTIVE
28585 Telegraph Road
Southfield
(248) 353-1300; tamaroficom
2 • JANUARY 2oot. • JNPLATINUM