In 1925, the Jazz Age in America was in full swing with the publication of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby, the first recordings of Louis Armstrong's Hot Five in Chicago, and the introduction of the Charleston dance. Across the country, there was a burgeoning sense of freedom, modernity and mobility, made possible—in part—by the popularity of automobiles.
Car ownership had increased rapidly in the early 1920s and automobiles were no longer the novelty that they had been when the first horseless carriages appeared on roads in the 1890s. By 1925, there were some 17.5 million cars registered in the United States.
Ford and Chevrolet were in a heated battle for the attention and dollars of buyers across the socioeconomic scale, with the Ford Model T going up against the Chevrolet Superior Series K, which was introduced in 1925.
The Superior Series K offered a more powerful 26-horsepower engine and smoother ride than the Ford Model T. It also featured five body styles, modern breaks and state-of-the-art Duco lacquer paint. These improvements would soon allow Chevrolet to overtake Ford and become the world’s largest manufacturer of auto¬mobiles equipped with three-speed trans¬missions.
Auto Retail Leaders for Five Generations
For 50-year-old John Francis Porter of Wilmington, Del., it was the perfect time to enter the burgeoning auto retail market. Previously a Cadillac executive and partner at luxury automaker Peerless Motor Car Co., Porter acquired two dealerships in 1925: Wilmington (Del.) Auto Sales and Newark (Del.) Auto Sales. Both dealerships carried Buick and Chevrolet.
John Porter’s second son, William H., who took over the dealerships upon his father’s death in 1952, founded W.H. Porter Inc. that same year and quickly became one of the Delaware Valley’s leading dealerships. In a nod to its roots as a Chevrolet dealership, W.H. Porter Inc. became known as Porter Chevrolet.
The 1950s represented a period of extended growth, with the Porter family acquiring more dealerships throughout Delaware, Florida, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In 1962, the next generation—Richard Porter III—joined the family business. In 1989, he established Porter Management Corp. to manage 10 dealerships throughout the country.
Richard’s son, Cory began his career in 1986 at Porter Chevrolet in Newark. Like his father, he added dealerships—purchasing Porter Nissan in 2000 as well as Porter Ford and Porter Infiniti in 2008.
“I think about all that we’ve made it through,” Cory says, “the Great Depression, several wars, the oil embargo, recessions, the pandemic. There’s a sense of pride that we survived this long and through so many difficult periods of time.”
Today, Cory is president of Porter Automotive Group and his son Tim, who joined the company in 2010, is vice president.
“I feel very privileged to be the fifth generation and having great employees,” says Tim. “We have had several people that have worked here for over 40 years. My grandfather hired our CFO in 1984. I wasn’t even born yet!”
Deep Roots in the Community
For the Porter family, it’s not just selling someone a car. It’s about ensuring every mile that a customer travels in a new Chevrolet, Hyundai or Ford is as enjoyable as the first mile.
“A lot has changed since Porter Chevrolet opened its doors in 1925,” says Tim. “But one thing hasn't—our commitment to provide exceptional customer service every chance we get.”
Porter Chevrolet and its 150 employees also remain dedicated to the well-being and growth of Newark and its residents through charitable donations, volunteer efforts and hosting community events. The dealership has partnered with various local organizations over the years, including the Boys & Girls Club of Delaware, the Food Bank of Delaware, Autism Delaware and Nemours Children’s Hospital, and other groups that provide essential services and support.
To celebrate 100 years in business, Porter Chevrolet is incorporating the milestone into its marketing and advertising, including special banners and posters throughout the dealership.
“We are very lucky to have a business in its 100th year,” Tim says. “We have always taken care of our people, and they take care of us.”
