I remember buying at Fann in Scottsdale, Where were they located in Phoenix?
Anybody remember Fann Toyota in Phoenix?
- Thread starter Nifski
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Sounds like a good question for Murf.
...we will have to go to the wayback machine for this one
Fann Toyota was owned by two brothers (who were very different from one another and always were arguing - something straight out of Fractured fairytales for you Boomers out there) The original store was located at approx. 14th Street and Camelback Rd on the north side of the road. The Fanns then sold it to father-and-son Cecil and Larry Van Tuyl our original owners around 1995 and renamed it Camelback Toyota.
They hired that Murf guy the following year
Cecil passed about 5 years ago and when the son Larry, retired a couple years ago he sold to Berkshire Hathaway Automotive around 2014. our new boss, Warren Buffet, has done well by us ~
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Funny note, one of the Fann family members (Paul) used to work for us as our controller, back in the mid 1990s.
When I moved to Phoenix in 1978 remember four Toyota dealers in the valley. Tom Hood on 39th ave and Indian School Rd. Fann around 14th ave on Camelback Rd. Scott on McDowell Rd just a few blocks west of Scottsdale Rd. Big Two which was also a Oldsmobile back then, on Main in Mesa. Not 100 % sure of the address being in the east valley and living in the west valley.
Believe it was in the late seventies Tom Hood went thru a divorce which caused the sale to Larry Miller. Larry Miller Toyota moved to 55th ave and Glendale ave a few years later. Then moved to their present location just west of the 101 on Bell Rd.
Have the original paper work for my 70 FJ40 which came from Tom Hood. I'm the second owner and first owner's brother started a Toyota dealership in Safford in the mid sixties. It was short lived as the big three dealers in town went to the local banks and said they would pull their business if they financed Toyota vehicles.
In 78 when I moved to Phoenix was already a FJ40 owner for four years. Dealt with McCoy Motors on Switzer Canyon Dr in Flagstaff. They were a Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Cadillac and GMC dealer as well at that time. Today just Buick and GMC.
Believe it was in the late seventies Tom Hood went thru a divorce which caused the sale to Larry Miller. Larry Miller Toyota moved to 55th ave and Glendale ave a few years later. Then moved to their present location just west of the 101 on Bell Rd.
Have the original paper work for my 70 FJ40 which came from Tom Hood. I'm the second owner and first owner's brother started a Toyota dealership in Safford in the mid sixties. It was short lived as the big three dealers in town went to the local banks and said they would pull their business if they financed Toyota vehicles.
In 78 when I moved to Phoenix was already a FJ40 owner for four years. Dealt with McCoy Motors on Switzer Canyon Dr in Flagstaff. They were a Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Cadillac and GMC dealer as well at that time. Today just Buick and GMC.
So I'll add my own tidbit to this post. cecil van tuyl was originally from kansas city. when he was just getting started with his 1st store (prior to his growth to the largest auto group in the nation), my dad worked at Van Chevrolet for Cecil. His model worked well. he would take young gms under his wing, train them, and give them a dealership to run after they learned the ropes. They all seemed to do well, and his empire grew huge. The number of dealerships involved in the Berkshire deal was astonishing. the # eludes me right now. not bad for a guy who started in KC after buying 1 small Chevrolet dealership.......and that has nothing to do with Fann Toyota.directly anyway.
Fun thread
Berkshire purchased 78 dealerships from Van Tuyl for a rumored $3 billion or so. It included $750 million in real estate alone. Van Tuyl was the fifth largest auto dealership company in the country at the time.
As @jclarke450 said, not bad for a guy from Kansas (and Phoenix).
All I know is that @murf better work at CBT for the rest of his career.
As @jclarke450 said, not bad for a guy from Kansas (and Phoenix).
All I know is that @murf better work at CBT for the rest of his career.
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- #10
Another side note, Larry is now financing very large land development deals in Arizona, look up Wickenberg Ranch, A new golf course development next to Desert Mountain among many office and multi family deals.. 3 billion makes you a big player. His projects are all quality and spares no expense! he is a great guy.
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- #11
I am happy to sell the Fann sticker, it comes with an FJ40 project!
Question is does it have the original motor? Looks like a PO added a second spare tire carrier to the driver's side?
- Thread starter
- #14
Two spare tires, no motor. Cool blue Patina!
I grew up in Phoenix and lived 3 doors down from Floyd Fann. I went to grade school and high school with Paul,
Larry and Julie Fann.
For those of you on the November ROTM, my friend Steve has a 1985 FJ60 with the Fann sticker and he is the original owner, Steve lived next door to the Fanns.
Larry and Julie Fann.
For those of you on the November ROTM, my friend Steve has a 1985 FJ60 with the Fann sticker and he is the original owner, Steve lived next door to the Fanns.
These old stories are Fanntastic!
I know I'm funny, no need to tell me. Its my side job
I know I'm funny, no need to tell me. Its my side job
Hoping to see Steve's 60 at the show n shine tomorrow!
Does @jclarke450 realize that was their advertising slogan? "My Toyota is Fanntastic!"
Give that boy a Ladmo bag