Our History

The name LONG-LEWIS™ dates back to 1887 and first appeared on a hardware store in Bessemer, Alabama.

In 1915, Henry Ford began granting Ford franchises to dealers, and one of the first granted was to the LONG-LEWIS™ Hardware Company. Its owner, William J. Long, showed interest in the "horseless carriages" about four years earlier when he purchased his first Model T from a man who won the car in a raffle. Although a train destroyed Mr. Long's Ford after it stalled on a railroad track, he was still convinced that the "automobile" was the vehicle of the future.

Fords were shipped to LONG-LEWIS™ in boxcars, and the train stopped in Birmingham to unload the new automobiles. The wheels were put on at the railhead, and they were then driven to the hardware store in Bessemer. In 1921, a two-story addition was added to the hardware building to house the "Ford Division" of LONG-LEWIS™ Hardware Company. In 1929, a second hardware store was opened in downtown Birmingham.

In 1965, the Ford Division moved from the hardware store in downtown Bessemer to a separate location on the Bessemer Super Highway.

In 1982, the Bessemer site of LONG-LEWIS™ Hardware Company closed for good. Vaughn Burrell, the long-time General Manager, bought out William Long in 1986 to become the sole owner of LONG-LEWIS™.

In 1996, Vaughn Burrell agreed to a partnership with long-time valued employee, Todd Ouellette, in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. After a successful 5-year partnership, Todd bought out Mr. Burrell at the Muscle Shoals location and started expanding the LONG-LEWIS™ Automotive Group into communities such as Florence and Prattville.

In 1999, Mr. Burrell moved LONG-LEWIS™ Ford Lincoln from Bessemer to its new facility in Hoover, Alabama.

In 2020, the Burrell family sold the Birmingham dealership to Todd. This was a very special and long-awaited transaction. Todd invited longtime friend and business colleague Allen Vines in as a Partner and to serve as Dealer Principal for Hoover. Allen and Todd both started their automotive careers together in the early 80s at LONG-LEWIS™ in Birmingham. Todd's son, Christopher Ouellette, and Vaughn Burrell's grandson, Joe Burrell, were also invited in as Partners.

In 2022, LONG-LEWIS™ Automotive Group acquired Ernest McCarty Ford in Alabaster and the associated stand-alone Quick Lane® in Calera, now LONG-LEWIS™ of Alabaster.

In 2023, LONG-LEWIS™ Automotive Group purchased its 1st Chevrolet dealership in Tuscumbia, now LONG-LEWIS™ Chevrolet of the Shoals.

In 202,4, LONG-LEWIS™ Automotive Group purchased Eckenrod Ford Lincoln in Cullman, now LONG-LEWIS™ Ford Lincoln of Cullman.