The Kuehn Motor Company was started by Charles Kuehn when he worked for a Ford garage in Spring Valley. He broke away in the mid-1950's to start selling cars on his own.

Charles Kuehn had five sons and the first one to enter the car business was Jon. Jon's father said he could be in the business if one of his brothers joined him -- and that brother was Tom. Jon said he had no hesitation entering the family business since he had grown up in it and it was very familiar.

Today Kuehn Motor Company has locations in Spring Valley, Rochester, Winona and Austin. Jon Kuehn attributes the company's expansion and longevity to the top notch service they offer their customers.

One of the number one services that the Kuehns toot their horns about is the company will clean a customer's car for free.

Other car companies will clean customers' cars, but Kuehn will continue to wash a customer's car even after they have purchased it.

All the Kuehn's locations have service centers and whenever a customer comes in for an oil change for their car, they can get their car washed free.

Jon Kuehn of Spring Valley said, "Often elderly ladies will come in and have their oil changed before they need it done just so they can get their car cleaned. We don't mind, that is what we are all about. Because we think so much of the customer's needs, we get generations of families coming back."

Longevity is what this company is all about. Kuehn spoke of an 82-year-old gentleman who recently purchased his 25th vehicle from Kuehn Motor Company. The gentleman was recalling when he bought a '61 Ford truck from the founder, Charles Kuehn.

"He remembered it like it was yesterday," said Kuehn.

Another service this family run business has, is their own leasing company.

Kuehn says that it is very unique for a car company to have their own leasing company.

"We lease new and used late model cars and trucks. We help save money for a customer having the leasing company in house. Often when someone leases a car through a large company and he or she signs an agreement, they are stuck in the lease. Sometimes a customer's situation will change when they lease a vehicle, we work with the customer.

Leasing is especially good for businesses,"

Kuehn said.

Businesses can write off the lease of a vehicle as an expense. Leasing, according to Kuehn, is beneficial because there is no risk to the value of the vehicle and the customer does not have to a pay a huge sales tax.

When a customer leases, the first payment is a security deposit. Customers with good credit are the one's who qualify for leasing.

"Leasing is often for four years. After four years, the customer that leased has the first option to purchase the vehicle and the amount the customer paid for leasing is deducted from the purchase," said Kuehn.

The car business is good right now with leasing and the interest rate being so low.

Kuehn Motor Company is a true family business with three sons of Charles Kuehn running different lots. The youngest son, Mark, was in the car business and left to open a restaurant in Oronoco called Tilly's. The restaurant is named after Grandma Tilly Kuehn who ran a bar in Theilman.

The business continues to grow. Jon Kuehn is expanding his car lot and putting up a new office. He and his brother Tom have been studying the Spring Valley area for the past 20 years and they have seen significant growth.

"People want to live in small towns. We have a discount store, new banks and a new library. There are also seven car dealerships in Spring Valley. This is a very beautiful area, the start of bluff country. When people take the drive to this area we have a lot to offer them, "said Kuehn.

All the brothers get along and they even take vacations together. They go duck hunting in North Dakota in the fall and fishing in Canada in the spring and get together for holidays. They are not the Partridge Family -- they have their squabbles like anyone else that runs a business.

"Now we have third generations of Kuehns in the business. We just all seem to be able to work together," said Kuehn.

Call Sheila Donnelly at 434-2233 or e-mail her at :mailto:newsroom@austindailyherald.com.