Lots of people enjoy working in automotive. For many, working in our industry becomes their entire professional career.

For Art Casey, however, the drive is even deeper. The car business is in his blood, literally. Art’s father owned and operated one of the most highly successful Chevrolet franchises in the region.

“By the time I was in Ferguson High,” Art recalls, “I was working after school and every summer at the dealership.  My dad placed me in different departments so I could learn how each contributes to the entire operation.  I worked in parts, in service, in accounting.

“Deep down, at an early age I knew there was nothing else I wanted to do as a career.  I loved the car business that much.”

After graduating high school, Casey went to college for a year-and-a-half.  Nothing in his textbooks or the classroom changed his powerful ambition to work in the dealership.

“I returned home and went to work full time for my father in 1967.  I knew this was what I wanted to do, and have always felt fortunate to have found my path when I was so young.”

At the “ripe age of 22,” the younger Casey generation was ready to step into management in 1969.  He became General Manager of the family business.

“Obviously today’s computers have streamlined the process, but selling cars is basically the same as when I started,” Casey explains.  “You’ve still got to take care of your customers and their vehicles.  You’ve still got to be responsible and fair to customers and staff.  You’ve still got to love the work to be successful.”

Casey has always been an aggressive marketer.  He was one of the first dealers to mount a heavy advertising campaign on TV.  What is more, he created a spokesperson brand that tens of thousands of long-time residents still remember.  They were hosted by Susan Gaily, who became one of the most recognizable people in Hampton Roads.  And when people saw Gaily, they immediately projected a positive image of Casey Chevrolet.

“Our sales were rock’ and rollin’.  We sold more than 300 Chevys a month, which was an amazing amount in those days,” adds Casey.

“Almost all dealerships were stand-alones in those days,” Casey says.  “A dealer would represent his manufacturer forever, and few dealers considered expanding beyond that relationship.

In 1971, Casey Chevrolet moved to its current location. 

Then Casey purchased his father’s company in 1973. He become the youngest Chevy dealer in Eastern Virginia.

“I was eager to grow into other franchises,” Casey notes.
In 1974, Casey opened Casey Cycle City.  In 1976, he became just the second Honda dealer on the Peninsula.  He added Subaru in 1978.

Casey purchased VW, BMW, Mazda and Porsche from Kashouty Motors in 1984.  The next year, Casey bought McAllen Buick, and in 1986 acquired AMC and Jeep from Newman.

During the ‘80s, Casey was president of the Peninsula Automobile Dealers Association, which ultimately merged with Tidewater dealers to create HRADA. He also has been one of the community’s notable go-to business leaders through the decades. When civic or charitable organizations need support, they often could count on Casey’s support.

“We did some reshuffling in 1992 and sold Porsche. But we weren’t necessarily ready to contract,” continues Casey. “In fact we were always looking for the next franchise.”

Toyota was added to the Casey roster in 1995, and Kia was added in 2006.

Asked about today’s automotive environment, Casey speaks from a wide historical perspective.

“I’ve been through plenty of up- and down-economic cycles,” reflects Casey. “I’ve dealt with 21 percent interest on floor plan rates. I distinctly remember how gas rationing lines created total lack of consumer confidence, all-but eliminating any sales initiative.

“However, I’ve never seen our industry drop as rapidly in such as short period as today. But I’ve learned that the automotive business will return. And as it does, our industry will be the one to lead our nation back to prosperous times.

“Today’s conditions do have a silver lining,” he continues. “There will be an enormous pent-up demand for new vehicles, which we’ll all benefit from when credit loosens.

“Even more important, once we get through this downturn, we’ll all be better operators from having gone through it.”

Casey sums up his career simply:

“The car business definitely is still in my blood.  It’s been a fun ride, and I enjoy it as much as when I started.”