HANFORD, Calif. (KMPH) -
When this 1953 Ford was the newest car on the lot, Tommy Trader sold them at the Hanford Ford dealership. Shawn Aughe is the newest salesman at the dealership.
He says, "Tommy is a legend around here."
He's sold cars off this exact lot since the dealership moved here in 1965. He's sold '57 Ford Fairlanes. 1967 and '68 Mustangs when they were new, not classics.
"We were hoppin' and poppin'. We sold a lot of cars," Tommy reminisces.
And 60 years after he started here, he's still selling cars.
"I don't know anything but the car business," he admits.
Aughe is inspired by his reputation.
"He's got generations upon generations coming back to see him," he says.
And at his 80th birthday party in the Hanford dealership, a handwritten note from Ford's president and CEO touched the veteran salesman who sold Fords to his neighbors for decades.
Trader says, "I'll hang around and if they run me off from selling maybe they'll let me dealer trade or something."
