Cantwell Auto Mart offers certified pre-owned vehicles ranging from cars to jeeps. The business is located at 2151 N. Highway 77 Bypass. E. Robert Cantwell III pictured above is the president and CEO of the business. (Photo by Gloria Bigger-Cantu) E. Robert Cantwell III, who has experienced several years of transportation transformations, has redefined his business by providing dependable and practical solutions for his customers. He considers the financial situation as a “window of opportunity” focusing on continuous customer service available at Cantwell Auto Mart.

“Since 1985 I have been affiliated with Chrysler dealerships and Chrysler has gone bankrupt twice and had four different owners.” Cantwell said. “We resigned our franchise because the financial world has no confidence in Chrysler.”

“These events caused us to redefine ourselves into a customer first business,” said Cantwell, who has been working in the automobile dealership business for 36 years.

With these circumstances in mind, he accepts the national financial situation as “a window of opportunity.” He resigned the Chrysler dealership franchise agreement in early December citing its inability to secure a floor plan from GMAC.

Cantwell, President and CEO of Cantwell Auto Mart, will be offering certified pre-owned vehicles with warranties to his customers at the same location 2151 N. U.S. Highway 77 Bypass. As an independent dealer, Cantwell can buy any preowned vehicle now. He also owns the Cantwell Kia Auto Mart in Corpus Christi.

Currently, Cantwell has 60 units and the business will continue operating the parts and service department

A unique service Cantwell will be offering to commuters is the availability of loaner vehicles. This service provides commuters with the use of an automobile or sports utility vehicles that are one to two years old and under 15,000 miles. The vehicles have full warranties and average about 25 miles per gallon. He noted that many commuters travel 25 to 60 miles to work. Commuters can pick up the loaner vehicles and leave their vehicles at the business.

Cantwell Auto Mart also sells used diesel trucks, mostly Dodges and Chevrolets, that have eight to 10 years’ usage.

“We are a dual purpose society and 50 percent of Kleberg County have a second job such as ranching and farming,” Cantwell said.

The business will also specialize in pre-owned jeeps that are customized for off road travel such as hunting, fishing or going to the beach. Storage space will also be provided for the jeeps.

Cantwell said he will provide financing for the purchase of vehicles and will also buy “cars for cash” up to $6,000 and under.

“We do quite a bit of counseling to get an idea of what the customer wants and the primary use of the vehicle.” Cantwell said. “ This affects getting a customer for life and we also get referrals by satisfying their needs.”

He cited that there is a growing trend for parents to purchase a used vehicle for their college age children. He recalled that his parents provided him an eight-yearold Ford Station wagon when he attended Texas A&M College in Bryan in the sixties. At first he was hesitant about taking the station wagon to college with him because of what his friends would say. No one said anything because he was the only one that could provide transportation for them.

“That station wagon had 72,000 miles,” recalled Cantwell who was raised in Corpus Christi.

He opened his first Kingsville business, Cantwell-Fielder Quality Chrysler, in April 1997. The business was located on Yoakum and Sixth Street. Cantwell purchased and remodeled his present location at 2151 N. U.S. Highway 77 Bypass in Jan. 2000.

Cantwell, who can be considered a trailblazer in the automobile business, believes selling certified pre-owned vehicles with a warranties provide buyers with savings and services.

“We think that by doing this down here,” he said. “We are trying to fill a void.”