Paul Miller Ford: Then & Now

2018 marks the 65th anniversary of Paul Miller Ford. From groundbreaking Ford vehicles to three generations of Miller family leadership, we have a lot of history to reminisce about as we celebrate this exciting milestone. To start, let’s take a look back at where we’ve come from.

The Beginning

Ford trucks made a bold impression in the ‘50s, sparked by the 1948 debut of the original F-150. And in 1953, Paul E. Miller bought a Ford dealership on Main Street in Lexington, Kentucky. The timing was ideal, offering convenient access to the popular F-Series, which was in its second edition by 1953. But it wasn’t just a historic time for trucks—the ‘50s also built a groundbreaking era for sports cars. Making its first appearance in 1955, the Thunderbird was one of the original luxury cars. The Thunderbird’s two-door coupe style ultimately inspired one of Ford’s most iconic vehicles to date: the Mustang.

The business has grown quite a bit since our days on Main Street. In 1965, Mr. Miller moved his dealership to East New Circle Road. More than 50 years later, the high-traffic location is still thriving. Today, the campus includes three dealerships across 27 acres of land, a body shop, an upfitting service and more.

While SUVs are incredibly popular today, they were rare in the ‘60s and mainly associated with military transport. Ford changed it all by creating one of the earliest civilian off-roaders: the 1966 Bronco. Today, Ford offers six different models of SUVs, and the long-awaited 2020 Bronco will make it seven.

The Second Generation

The ‘70s brought big changes, both in the management at Paul Miller Ford and the Ford lineup itself. In 1976, we welcomed the leadership of John Paul Miller, who followed in his father’s footsteps. The Ford Fiesta debuted in that same year (at the time, it was Ford’s smallest vehicle ever). Even in its original form, the Fiesta featured a convenient hatchback trunk that is still popular today. The evolution of the Fiesta led to today’s Fiesta ST performance vehicle, which delivers an exhilarating 197 horsepower.

SUVs were the name of the game in the ‘90s. We saw the 1990 debut of the Ford Explorer, and as it evolved, the Explorer became the first four-door Ford SUV. The ‘90s also saw the debut of the Ford Expedition. Initially seating nine passengers, the Expedition made a bold impression in 1997 as Ford’s most-spacious SUV. Though it was first manufactured in Michigan, the current model is built right here in Kentucky.

The Third Generation

The new millennium offered big opportunities for Ford Motor Company and Paul Miller Ford alike. It started in 2000 with the Ford Escape, which is still one of the most popular vehicles on the road today. Next, we saw the 2006 debut of the Ford Edge. And with new vehicle debuts came new leadership, too. In 2006, JP Miller, Jr. became the CEO of Paul Miller Motor Company, signifying the third generation of Miller leadership. The Miller family keeps close ties with the Ford Dealer Council, which serves as the voice of Ford dealers nationwide. Inspired by the work of his grandfather, JP became a Ford Dealer Council member in 2015 and will become the Chairman in 2019. Leading by the example of his grandfather and father, JP helps foster a business that is devoted to developing meaningful customer relationships and giving back to the community.

The Road Ahead

But what does the future hold? There’s a lot to look forward to. Last year, Ford was the best-selling vehicle brand in America and we plan to repeat that success for years to come. With an impressive lineup of vehicles and ever-evolving technology, things look promising for the road ahead. With the much-anticipated launch of the 2019 Ranger and the 2020 Bronco, we can’t wait to see what’s in store (and online **wink emoji**). Likewise, Paul Miller Ford continues to evolve and is committed to streamlining the vehicle buying process, investing in the latest technology and always putting our customers first.

Ready to discover the Paul Miller Ford legacy firsthand and see the impressive vehicle lineup for yourself? Stop in and see us, browse our inventory or follow Paul Miller Ford on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.