Ed Martin

The Ed Martin Automotive group was founded in 1955 by Ed Martin Sr. At sixteen, Ed purchased his first automobile with the money he earned from delivering groceries and selling ice in his neighborhood. He sold his first car from his parents front yard. His parents, being both professional and very proud people, did not allow Ed to continue selling cars from their front yard. Ed approached the neighborhood filling station owner and negotiated a deal to sell his cars from the station. As sales grew, it became apparent he had to open his own used car lot, from which he continued selling and wholesaling used cars. In 1955, Ed Martin purchased his first new car dealership, an Oldsmobile dealership in Shelbyville, Indiana. In 1960 in Indianapolis, Ed Martin became the youngest Ford Automotive dealer in the entire United States. Over the following years, the Ed Martin Automotive Group has evolved into one of the premier privately owned corporations in Indianapolis and in Indiana. Ed Martin passed away May 19, 2005. His daughter, Kathy Martin Harrison and her husband Mark Harrison currently own the dealerships, continuing Eds Legacy. Mark Harrison is the President of The Ed Martin Automotive Group. Eds family has grown his vision and today The Ed Martin Automotive Group is comprised of 13 franchises in 11 locations.