Ed Martin Auto Group History
The Ed Martin Automotive group was founded in 1955 by Ed Martin Sr. Ed began life as the first child born in the Indiana University Coleman hospital in Indianapolis, IN. His entrance into this world shows that his life was destined to be anything but typical.
Ed graduated from Manual High School as a football star and continued his football career at Butler University in Indianapolis. Ed's parents, Clarence and Nelly Martin were both attorneys; his mother was the first woman to pass the bar in Allen County, Indiana; his father was a Supreme Court Justice for the State of Indiana. In 1946, in Indianapolis, Ed, at the tender age of sixteen, purchased his first automobile with money he earned from delivering groceries and selling ice in his neighborhood. He sold his first car from his parent's front yard. His parents, being both professional and very proud people did not allow Ed to continue selling cars from their front yard. Ed approached the neighborhood "filling" station owner and negotiated a deal to sell his cars from the station. As sales grew, it became apparent he had to open his own used car lot, from which he continued selling and wholesaling used cars. In 1955, Ed Martin purchased his first new car dealership, an Oldsmobile dealership in Shelbyville, Indiana. In 1960 in Indianapolis, Ed Martin became the youngest Ford Automotive dealer in the entire United States. Over the following years, the Ed Martin Automotive Group has evolved into one of the top privately owned corporations in Indianapolis and top eighty corporations in Indiana.
Ed Martin passed away May 19, 2005. His daughter, Kathy Martin Harrison and her husband Mark Harrison currently own the dealerships, continuing Ed's Legacy. Mark Harrison is the President of The Ed Martin Automotive Group. Ed’s family has grown his vision and today The Ed Martin Automotive Group is comprised of 12 franchises in 9 locations:
Ed graduated from Manual High School as a football star and continued his football career at Butler University in Indianapolis. Ed's parents, Clarence and Nelly Martin were both attorneys; his mother was the first woman to pass the bar in Allen County, Indiana; his father was a Supreme Court Justice for the State of Indiana. In 1946, in Indianapolis, Ed, at the tender age of sixteen, purchased his first automobile with money he earned from delivering groceries and selling ice in his neighborhood. He sold his first car from his parent's front yard. His parents, being both professional and very proud people did not allow Ed to continue selling cars from their front yard. Ed approached the neighborhood "filling" station owner and negotiated a deal to sell his cars from the station. As sales grew, it became apparent he had to open his own used car lot, from which he continued selling and wholesaling used cars. In 1955, Ed Martin purchased his first new car dealership, an Oldsmobile dealership in Shelbyville, Indiana. In 1960 in Indianapolis, Ed Martin became the youngest Ford Automotive dealer in the entire United States. Over the following years, the Ed Martin Automotive Group has evolved into one of the top privately owned corporations in Indianapolis and top eighty corporations in Indiana.
Ed Martin passed away May 19, 2005. His daughter, Kathy Martin Harrison and her husband Mark Harrison currently own the dealerships, continuing Ed's Legacy. Mark Harrison is the President of The Ed Martin Automotive Group. Ed’s family has grown his vision and today The Ed Martin Automotive Group is comprised of 12 franchises in 9 locations:
- Ed Martin Honda
- Ed Martin Nissan
- Ed Martin Nissan of Fishers
- Ed Martin Nissan of Anderson
- Ed Martin Acura
- Ed Martin Buick GMC
- Ed Martin Chevrolet Cadillac
- Ed Martin Toyota
- Ed Martin Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
1948
Ed Martin opens his first used car lot
in Indianapolis at 916 Ft. Wayne Ave.
1955
Ed Martin becomes a new Oldsmobile
dealer in Shelbyville, Indiana.
1960
Ed Martin becomes a new Ford dealer
(the youngest in the country) and moves to
Indianapolis on East Washington Street.
1966
Ed Martin builds a new state-of-the-art
dealership on Shadeland Avenue
and moves the Ford dealership.
1971
Ed Martin answers an ad in the Automotive News
publication and becomes Indianapolis’ first Honda
dealership. It operated in a tiny corner of the
Ford dealership.
1978
Ed Martin purchases Saxon Oldsmobile
Cadillac in Anderson, Indiana.
1982
Ed Martin builds a brand new Honda dealership
next door to the Ford dealership and moves
Honda due to rapid growth and popularity of Honda.
1983
Ed Martin purchases Kool Oldsmobile on the
east side of Indianapolis. Ed returns the Ford
franchise to Ford and moves Oldsmobile into
what was the Ford dealership.
1986
Ed Martin becomes a new Acura dealer
and builds a new Acura dealership
on the north side of Indianapolis.
1989
Ed Martin purchases Coral Pontiac GMC
and movie it in with Acura. The
dealership becomes Pontiac GMC Acura.
Ed Martin purchases GMC for the
Anderson Oldsmobile Cadillac dealership.
It becomes Ed Martin Oldsmobile GMC.
1991
Ed Martin acquires Toyota for the
Anderson dealership. It operates as Ed Martin
Oldsmobile Cadillac GMC Toyota until
Oldsmobile’s demise in 2004.
1991
Ed Martin purchases Giganti Nissan.
It operates with the Oldsmobile dealership
until the Oldsmobile line was dropped
by GMC in 2004.
2002
Honda and Nissan swap facilities.
2004
Pontiac GMC moves to its current location
on Michigan Road on the northwest side of
Indianapolis, leaving Acura as a standalone brand.
2006
The Ed Martin Automotive Group purchases Dickerson
Buick and moves it to the Pontiac GMC dealership.
It became Ed Martin Buick Pontiac GMC until
GM dropped the Pontiac brand in 2009.
2007
Ed Martin Cadillac GMC Toyota purchases
Weidner Chevrolet in Anderson and sells the GMC
franchise to become Ed Martin Chevrolet Cadillac Toyota.
2008
Ed Martin Toyota builds a state-of-the-art
dealership in Anderson and becomes
a standalone Toyota dealership.
2011
Ed Martin Automotive Group acquires
Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and builds a new
state-of-the-art dealership in Anderson.
2012
Ed Martin Chevrolet Cadillac builds a
new state-of-the-art Chevrolet Cadillac
in Anderson completing the Ed Martin
Auto Mall in Anderson, Indiana.
2013
Ed Martin Nissan of Anderson
opens for business.
2014
Ed Martin Automotive group acquires
Butler Nissan. Ed Martin Nissan of Fishers
opens October 2014.
2018
Ed Martin Toyota builds moves to
Noblesville at 141st St. & S.R. 37.
