In the Northern Neck’s automotive world, it was a changing of the guard, a passing of the torch. Or in this case, the passing of the wrench.

After 49 years in business, Billy Burgess last month sold Burgess Motor Company, in the village that bears his name, to Randy Dunn, who moved his well established automotive business from Kilmarnock.

“We’re delighted to be here in Burgess, it’s a great community and a great business location,” Randy said.

“Billy has served this business extremely well over the years and it’s our goal to carry on that great tradition.”

Burgess Motor Company has become Randy’s Dunn-Rite Auto Center, but much about the place will be familiar to long time customers, including much of the staff. Besides Randy, the staff includes Chris Davis, formerly of D&A Auto in Kilmarnock. He’s joined by Mac Carter, Shawn Sutton, Matt Moubary, Brian Dunn and Daniel Dunn.

“It’s been a hectic few weeks since we opened and business has been great. We’re excited about the potential for growth and will spend the next few months installing some new equipment,” Randy said.

In fact, the acquisition of Burgess Motor Company marks a significant consolidation of the Dunn-Rite automotive family in Burgess. Directly across Jessie DuPont Highway is Dunn-Rite Auto Sales, operated by Randy’s wife M’Lissa.

“I’m thrilled to have Randy here in Burgess,” M’Lissa said.

M’Lissa, son Randy Jr., and Johnny Reed, sell late model used cars, and have seen their business thrive since opening earlier this year.

It’s a remarkable achievement for a business to last for 48 years. It’s all the more remarkable when it lasts 48 years in the same location, under the same family ownership. That’s the case of Burgess Motor Company, which marked that milestone December 5.

“My father, Lawrence, opened this business in 1956 with three employees, counting me, and I only worked part-time,” said Billy Burgess, the present owner of Burgess Motors.

Billy only worked part-time because, at the time, he was 14 years old. He would come in and work after school and on weekends. There was a lot of work to do, because Burgess Motor Company was open seven days a week, usually until 10:00 p.m. weeknights and 11:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Despite the passage of nearly five decades, Billy recalls the day they opened like it was yesterday.

“I remember pumping the first tank of gas. We were a Sinclair station and gasoline was .17 a gallon. Henry Hammock pulled up in his 1949 Plymouth and bought five gallons, for .85. He was our first customer,” Billy recalled.

Burgess Motor Company is located on 23 acres on Jessie DuPont Memorial Highway in Burgess. When it opened, there wasn’t much nearby. A few years later the Dairy Freeze opened, followed by Bobby’s Marine, just down the road.

Billy graduated from high school in 1961 and, aside from 21 days in the U.S. Army (he was discharged because of swollen feet), he’s been serving motorists in the Northern Neck ever since.

The business opened with three service bays and two more were added in 1969. Another bay was added in 1973, with two more added in 1988. Today, the business has nine fully equipped service bays and a paint room.

Billy took over the business when his father retired in 1984 and has been on the job ever since. Along the way, he’s seen lots of changes, especially when it comes to cars.

“The biggest change is computerization. Today, computers control or affect almost all of a vehicle’s systems,” he said.

Billy has worked on all types of cars over the last 47 years, but picks the “muscle” cars of the mid to late 1960s as his favorites.

“The GTO, the Road Runner and the Chevy Super Sports were fun cars,” Billy recalled.

Some of the local people who brought their cars to Burgess Motors back in the 50s still come in today, a fact for which Billy is grateful.

“That’s been one of the most gratifying parts of the business, meeting people and being able to satisfy them when it comes to caring for their cars,” Billy said.

Billy credits his success to providing personal service to each and every customer.

“Having a good relationship with God, your fellow man and being honest is the best advice I can give for someone in my business,” Billy said.

That advice has served him well for the last 47 years, and today you’re likely to find Billy in one of the service bays, staying closely involved in the work on his customer’s vehicles.

“I still like working on cars. I guess I like it just as well as I did when I started 47 years ago,” he said.

© Northern Neck Buyers Guide