Pollard Brothers Motors not closing

MONTROSE — As GM dealers in Colorado awaited news concerning their contracts with General Motors, a local Chrysler (Jeep) franchisee said he is not closing his doors.

Chrysler announced Thursday that, if its bankruptcy plan proceeds as planned, it will shed contracts with 789 dealerships, including Pollard Brothers, which sells new Jeeps.

Rich Pollard said, however, that won't kill his entire business or cause the closure of Pollard Brothers, as Friday's headlines stated.

He said if Chrysler's bankruptcy plan proceeds as scheduled, he will lose his Jeep franchise.

"But it hasn't happened yet. I am still the Jeep dealer in Montrose. I own this place. They don't own anything here."

Pollard said he will stay in business, selling used cars if in fact he loses his Jeep franchise. He will retain his mechanic, too.

"We have a lot of loyal customers. We have been here for 26 years," he said, reiterating reports his dealership was closing weren't accurate.

"As of right now, everything is the same as it was 25 years ago. I'm the Jeep dealer," he said.

Hellman Motors in Delta shouldn't close, either. It's on the list to lose its Chrysler franchise, but also sells other makes of vehicles.

Hellman representatives could not be reached for comment Friday.

General Motors is also looking to cut ties with 42 percent of its dealerships by next year. There was no word Friday afternoon as to whether GM will cancel contracts with any West Slope dealers.

"We'll stay in business," Kent Wollert of Wollert GMC in Montrose said.

"If that happens to us — which we're not aware of yet — if we lose our GMC franchise, then we're going to be a super strong used car store. We're going to take care of our customer base like we always have."

GMC can decline to renew the Wollert franchise, but it can't actually shutter the dealership. "As far as our dealership, we will remain open," Wollert said.

He said Wollert would invest the same amount of money into used vehicles as it currently invests in new cars.