Chevrolet dealership at i.g. Burton enters 90th year

There was a lot happening in 1933. It was one of the worst years of the Great Depression.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was inaugurated as president for the first time. Congress passed the New Deal in a special 100-day session to address Depression-era economics. Prohibition was ended with the passing of the 21st Amendment.

Locally, it was the year that i.g. Burton became a Chevrolet dealer.

“Chevrolet is an important part of who we are,” said Charlie Burton, fifth-generation owner and president of i.g. Burton and Company Inc. “My grandfather, whom our dealerships are named after, used to say that Chevrolet put the bricks in the building. Chevy meant a lot to him, and it means a lot to our company today. I’m proud to say that we sell more Chevrolets than any other dealer on Delmarva. It’s a great brand and has been for a long time.”

While the company is entering its 90th year as a Chevy dealer, Charlie was recently presented an award from Chevrolet for 25 years as the dealer in Milford. “Think about how many things have changed with vehicles in the last 25 years, let alone 90 years. It’s incredible. And, we’re about to see a lot more changes in a relatively short period of time. Electric vehicles are predicted to be 20 percent of all sales in 2025. By the year 2040, they’re predicted to be nearly 100 percent. It’s an exciting time to be in the car business,” he said.

The Burtons first started selling automobiles in 1908 out of their family store that was located in Millsboro at the time. Theodore Burton and his son Fred decided it was time to try something new.

“At that time, everyone used a horse and buggy for transportation. There were no paved roads in Sussex County. So it was a big gamble on their part to sell them. That same year is when my grandfather, i.g. Burton, was born. He was the one who truly put our company on the path to where it is today,” said Burton.

That company, i.g. Burton & Co. Inc., is one of the oldest auto dealers in the United States. In addition to Chevrolet, i.g. Burton offers Buick, GMC, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat and BMW. It is also the oldest Blue Bird bus dealer in the country, and has dealerships in Milford, Seaford, Lewes, and Smyrna, and in Berlin, Md. 

To learn more, go to igburton.com.