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Oldest Harley-Davidson dealership in U.S. acquired by auto dealer

Powersports Business has learned that Ricart Automotive, a used and new car dealership based in Columbus, Ohio, has acquired A.D. Farrow Co. Harley-Davidson, America’s oldest Harley dealership.

A.D. Farrow Co. Harley-Davidson was named a Powersports Business Power 50 dealership in 2013, 2014 and 2016 as one of of the top 50 dealerships in North America.

The two sales operations will join forces as Ricart Automotive will assume majority ownership of A.D. Farrow Co.’s three Columbus franchises. This will be Ricart’s first expansion away from the Ricart Automotive Mega Mall in Columbus in 10 years.

“We’re beyond thrilled to be growing the Ricart brand with A.D. Farrow Co. Harley-Davidson. Harley is one of the oldest and strongest brands in our country, and the Ricart family has been avid Harley-Davidson riders for years,” said Rick Ricart, president of Ricart Automotive Group. “We’re excited to get to know the A.D. Farrow employees and their families and to take on the next chapter of this historic brand.”

Harley-Davidson’s plans to diversify its product line by developing more electric scooters, bikes and vehicles will meet the new demands of an urban customer. Together Ricart Automotive and A.D. Farrow Co. Harley-Davidson will grow their automotive services, further expanding into the lifestyle electric vehicle ownership market as well as the traditional Harley-Davidson products.

“I have known and admired the Ricart organization all my life. The family has been Harley riders for years, and I couldn’t imagine better stewards of this legacy business in the decades to come,” said Bob Althoff, owner of A.D. Farrow Co. Harley-Davidson, who has led A.D. Farrow for the last 17 years. “Their passion for motorcycles and the people who ride them convince me that they will dominate the Harley-Davidson dealer ranks as they have the Ford ranks.”

Ricart Automotive is a new and used car dealership situated on the 67-acre Ricart Mega Mall in southeast Columbus, Ohio. Ricart primarily focuses on saving the customer valuable time and money and is the catalyst for Ford’s newest Express Checkout program. Ricart offers a one-stop shopping experience for new and used Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Mitsubishi, and Nissan cars and is dedicated to serving customers better.

A.D. Farrow Co., America’s oldest Harley dealer, was founded in 1912 by Alfred D. Farrow and his wife Lilly Farrow, who were among the first pioneers helping to establish Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Nine years later, Alfred passed away and Lilly began running the dealership as the first and only female motorcycle dealer in the United States for the first half of the 20th century. Farrow’s shop originated in Nelsonville, Ohio and eventually moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1924. The dealership currently operates three locations in Pataskala, Sunbury and downtown Columbus. As stewards of America’s oldest Harley dealer, the company recognizes the motivations that led A.D. Farrow to start the company 107 years ago: the love of motorcycles, the people who rode them and the places they would see on those machines.

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