Cappellino dealership acquires Culligan Pontiac GMC

Cappellino Towne Buick Saab Hummer has acquired the Pontiac GMC franchise from Jim Culligan in Williamsville.

The acquisition places more new GM brands in one location than any other area auto dealer, according to a Cappellino press release.

Cappellino Buick Pontiac GMC and Cappellino Hummer Saab will maintain operations at the existing location at 5411 Transit Road, just north of Maple Road.

A number of employees from Culligan will join Cappellino's Transit Road dealership, including managers, salespeople and factory trained and certified technicians, to assure continuity of service for Pontiac GMC customers.

"While the addition of these brands is in keeping with GM's strategy to place Buick, Pontiac and GMC under one roof, our growing dealership presents some distinct advantages for car buyers in Western New York," said Steve Cappellino, president of the newly expanded company. "Pontiac and GMC customers are assured of the same great service to which they are accustomed, while having more choices of new and used vehicles, in one state-of-the-art dealership conveniently located less than two miles away from the Culligan facility."

Cappellino Buick Pontiac GMC offers complete sales and service for the full line of new Pontiac models, including the Vibe, G6 sedan, and G6 GT convertible, as well as GMC trucks, including the GMC Envoy and Acadia SUV. The Culligan acquisition is Cappellino's fourth in less than seven years. The family of dealerships added Hummer of Buffalo in 2001, Niagara Nissan on South Transit Road in Lockport in 2003 and Saab in 2006.

The original Towne Buick was established in Buffalo by Frank Cappellino at the corner of Delaware and Hertel avenues in 1969. Towne Buick relocated to Transit Road in Williamsville 18 years ago. In 1990, Frank Cappellino passed the presidency of the company to his son Steve, who was later joined by brother Gary as vice president. Today, in addition to new GM brands, the dealerships offer a $2 million-plus inventory of pre-owned vehicles, featuring both domestic models and imports, including GM-certified vehicles.

Culligan Pontiac GMC traces its roots to 1932 when Cas Culligan founded Culligan Motors as a Pontiac dealership. His nephew, Jim Culligan, took over the dealership, operating as Jim Culligan Pontiac, GMC, Volvo on Main Street in Williamsville.

For more information, contact Donna Vullo at donnavullo@msn.com or at 864-5433.