The history of the first automobile dealership in Texas is not tied to a single, neatly documented transaction but rather to a gradual evolution from the livery stable and bicycle shop into specialized auto showrooms. The earliest claims to a formal dealership or agency emerged in the major urban centers around the turn of the twentieth century.
The Earliest Sales in San Antonio
San Antonio claims two of the most significant early entries into the automotive retail business, both in 1899.
Staacke Brothers
The Staacke Brothers livery service, a long established carriage and wagon business, is known to have taken delivery of one of Texas’s first motorized vehicles, an electric Studebaker, in 1899. This represented an initial step into motor vehicle sales and maintenance, a natural extension for a company that had previously dominated the horse drawn transportation market. While they did not exclusively sell automobiles at first, their acceptance of the new technology was a foundational shift in local commerce.
L.F. Birdsong and the Oldsmobile
In 1902, L.F. Birdsong, originally a partner in a bicycle and camera shop, is cited as the city’s first dedicated car dealer.Birdsong began offering the Curved Dash Oldsmobile, one of the nation’s first mass produced cars, at his location on East Houston Street. This shift from selling bicycles to selling automobiles highlights the rapid commercial adoption of the technology in a major city like San Antonio.
The Oldest Continuously Operating Dealership
While the San Antonio businesses were the first to sell cars, the title of Texas’s oldest continuously operating automobile dealership is widely claimed by the Sames Auto Group in Laredo.
The Sames Motor Company
The Sames story begins with William J. Sames, who, with his partner J.R. Moore, established a wholesale trading company in Laredo. In 1910, they added a sideline selling Ford automobiles, making them one of the earliest official Ford agents in the state. According to company history, Sames won the full dealership rights from his partner in a coin toss, leading to the formation of Sames Motor Company.
The dealership’s initial success was fueled by the popularity of the Ford Model T, the affordable vehicle that truly democratized driving in America and required a vast network of dealers to distribute. Having operated continuously since 1910, the Sames Auto Group has earned the distinction of being the oldest continuously family owned and operated dealership in Texas, now run by the fifth generation of the family.
The Evolution of the Dealer
These early enterprises illustrate the transition of the American retail landscape. The first “dealerships” were not the sprawling showrooms we know today but were often:
- Converted Livery Stables: Utilizing the infrastructure and mechanical knowledge already in place to maintain carriages and wagons.
- Hardware or Bicycle Shops: Retailers who were willing to stock and service the new, somewhat fragile mechanical marvels.
It was not until the mass production capabilities of companies like Ford took hold that the specialized car dealership became the standard business model, establishing the foundation for Texas’s deep and enduring automotive culture.
