A History of Auto Auction Pioneers

September 9, 2010

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The NAAA

• As the NAAA celebrates its 62nd Anniversary and salutes a number of member auctions, information about the early beginnings of the auction industry is hard to come by.

• Only a patient and diligent search of industry publications and websites reveals some insight into the accomplishments and achievements of a few early pioneers.

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The NAAA cont.

• Few industry outsiders realize the size, scope and strategic importance the wholesale motor vehicle auction industry plays in fueling the U.S. auto industry and ultimately the national economy

• In 2009 alone, National Auto Auction Association (NAAA) North American member auctions moved almost 14.7 million vehicles through their lanes at a sales rate of 61%. Over 8.9 million vehicles were sold at an average sale price of $9,026, representing a combined gross value of $80.9 billion.

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J.M. Rawls – Rawls Auto Auction, Leesville, SC

• J.M. "Martin" Rawls is recognized as holding the first wholesale auto auction.

• Rawls was a farmer at heart and owner of Rawls Auto Sales, a used-car outlet in Leesville, South Carolina.

• After attending a cattle auction in Columbia, he wondered if cars could also be sold the same way

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J.M. Rawls – Rawls Auto Auction, Leesville, SC cont.

• In March of 1938, Rawls and his partner, S.L. "Monty" Montgomery, decided to give it a try.

• They built an auction booth in the garage at Rawls Auto Sales and hired Col. R.H. Sapp as their auctioneer.

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J. Frank Brasher – Brasher’s Salt Lake Auto Auction

• Frank Brasher founded Salt Lake Auto Auction in 1949

• Over the years, Brasher pioneered a number of customer-focused innovations and built a loyal following among dealers from Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Colorado, California, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Canada

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J. Frank Brasher – Brasher’s Salt Lake Auto Auction cont

• The Salt Lake Auto Auction was the first to offer full reconditioning and dealer floor planning, which Frank introduced in the 1950s.

• Transport service by an auction-owned fleet began in the 1960s

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Salt Lake Auto Auction

• Salt Lake Auto Auction was also among the first in the country to host sales for Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler in the 1960s.

• Today, the spacious, modern facility encompasses 70-acres, including a 17,000 square foot main office and storage for over 7,500 vehicles

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Frank J. Brasher

• Frank J. Brasher served as NAAA President in 1973 and was inducted into the NAAA Hall of Fame in 1987. A son, Larry F. Brasher, also served as NAAA President in 1989 and was inducted into the NAAA Hall of Fame in 2005

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Irving Mondore – Central New York Auto Auction

• The CNY Auto Auction is a tribute to Irving Mondore, a former dairy farmer and used car salesman who founded the Syracuse Auto Auction in 1954.

• The fledgling auction struggled at first.– However, a major turning point occurred in 1962, when Mondore

changed the auction to an evening sale

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Irving Mondore – Central New York Auto Auction cont.

• His daring idea was met with immediate success and crowds suddenly doubled in size.

• A new multi-lane facility was soon constructed, but it was Mondore's emphasis on superior customer service with indifference to dealer size that was the prime contributor to the auction’s success.

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