FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Before he opened Norfolk Motor Car Company in 1938 on Granby Street selling Cadillacs and Oldsmobiles, Walter Wilkins Sr. developed a strong following as a mechanic.
Seventy-six years later his grandson is returning the family business to its roots.
After officially selling his Kia franchise at 6970 North Military Highway in Norfolk to First Team Auto, Walter Wilkins II will now focus his company, Bay Automotive, on collision repair, vehicle repair and maintenance. “Our dealership has always had an excellent reputation for service after the sale, whether it was new or used cars,” says Wilkins. “All of our techs are trained and certified and we invest heavily in keeping our equipment state of the art. We have some very talented people on our teams, and we look forward to expanding in these areas.”
Wilkins already has one stand-alone repair facility called Bay Old Dominion at 42nd Street and Colley Avenue in Norfolk. The second will be just down North Military Highway from the new car lot that First Team will occupy. “Our plan over the next five years is to have the Bay Automotive name expand to several convenient locations that do collision repair and every mechanical service from oil changes to engine replacements on all makes and models.”
Walter Wilkins knows a bit about vehicle repair himself. “ I worked on my race cars when I was driving a formula car in the Volkswagen Gold Cup Series, particularly after I crashed at Daytona,” says Wilkins, who was the top rookie on the circuit in 1974. In 1981 he bought out his father’s interest in the family enterprise, changed the name from Wilkins to Bay Chevrolet, then added Kia in 2000 and Saab in 2003. His affiliations with Chevy and Saab, both owned by GM, ended earlier this decade, although his stores will continue to be Saab Certified Repair and Parts centers.
“The independent repair business is an $80-billion industry and is favored by many consumers who like having a personal relationship with their mechanic and feel they receive excellent value there,” says Wilkins. “And for our family, keeping cars on the road has always been our passion.”
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