Pub. 54 2013-2014 Issue 3

24 T om Durant’s Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine swept the Chevrolet National Sales crown for an unprec- edented eighth consecutive year. The Classic sales team delivered 683 new Chevrolets in the month of December to reach 4,734 for the year 2013, which was 414 more new units than Classic sold in calendar year 2012, a 9.6% year to year increase. What made this accomplishment even more remarkable was the fact that major highway construction surrounding the dealership for all of 2013 had made it almost impossible to reach the dealer- ship. The DFW connector was built right through the dealership property with giant pillars dotting the lot and a flyover shading much of the inventory. The incredible staff at Classic Chevrolet never took their eye off of the national lead- ership goal in spite of blocked road exits, ever changing detours and shutdowns of the main roadways on key sales weekends. It took a sprint in the homestretch, but there are now eight national champion- ship trophies displayed in the showroom at Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine, Texas. Texas dealers owned the national Chev- rolet sales rankings with 12 of the top 39 dealerships being from the Lone Star State. Munday Chevrolet in Houston took sixth place nationally, with Lone Star Chevrolet in Jersey Village taking the seventh spot. Tom and Susan Durant, the owners of Classic Chevrolet, are as well known for their community service as for their sales leadership. The heat of the national sales race in 2013 never took away from the dealership’s mis- sion of outreach to Texas communities in need. From the $10,000 raised by Classic Chevrolet employees and matched dollar for dollar by Tom and Susan to aid the vic- tims of the devastating explosion in West to the seven local organizations supported by the “Classic Employees Charity Fund” which raised over a quarter of a million dollars in 2013, including a matching gift from Tom and Susan Durant, the Classic team provides essential transportation to their customers and funding for programs that help literally thousands of Texans. Classic executives Erv Randle and Ken Thompson say it best. Erv speaking for the dealership staff relates, “Tom and Su- san have steadfastly matched every penny that our employees have raised for charity for years. Their support of our efforts is nothing short of inspiring. We sincerely appreciate the Durant family for what they let us do.” KenThompson of theThompson Group at Classic explains, “Our employees fully embrace the example that Tom and Susan Durant have set in regards to giv- ing back to the community. I believe that everyone here feels a moral obligation to help in a tangible way.” Whether on the showroomfloor or in the heart of the community, this family owned and operated business and its dedicated employees and partners like 1246 other franchised new car and truck dealers in 284 Texas cities and towns make a difference every day for Texas and Texans.  Tom and Susan Durant and The Classic Chevrolet Family Still Number One