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 Milan
Schultheis wants all of his old South Florida customers to know that
he is back in town, has re-opened his automobile dealership at the
same Bird Road location and is offering the same quality vehicles and
service that made him a success in the 1970s.
Milan Schultheis has re-dashed opened his auto dealership on Bird
Road.
Schultheis' dealership -- Milan's Autos, 7401 Bird
Road -- was a high-flying new car sales operation from the early
seventies to the mid-eighties, selling such exotic makes as Maserrati,
Lotus and Peugeot. He pulled up stakes and leased the property to
Braman Honda in 1985, moved to San Francisco and opened another
automobile dealership there. But, he says Braman opted not to renew
the lease in 1998.
"When this came available, I decided to come
back," he said. "Now I am re-establishing myself in the
Miami automobile business as an independent dealer. I recognize the
fact that the market has changed a great deal, that there is a large
Latin population in Miami and it's a lot bigger. But, we just want to
serve everybody."
Asked why he continues in the automobile business, Schultheis thought
for a moment, then spoke quietly.
"I love it," he said with a smile. "I've always loved
automobiles. I have been a mechanic and a technician. I was trained in
Europe and I was a test driver for Mercedes Benz in 1964."
Schultheis, 62, was born in Czechoslovakia, but
escaped from the then-communist country in 1964. He lived in Sweden
for several years and was a test driver for Mercedes Benz before
immigrating to the United States in 1967.
"I always wanted to come to the United States
because it was the land of opportunity," he said. "So,
that's what I did."
Schultheis settled in Miami, learned English and put
his knowledge of German automobiles to work, landing a job with the
prominent import auto dealer Bill Ussery Motors in Coral Gables. He
soon decided to open his own automobile service operation and in 1971
established Milan's Motors, an independent garage specializing in the
care of Mercedes Benz vehicles. His reputation for quality service
grew and he began looking for new ventures. He bought the property on
Bird Road and became a new car dealer for Peugeot, Maserrati and Lotus
automobiles.
"We were the number one franchise for Peugeot
sales in the United States for three consecutive years," he
recalled.
Today, Schultheis is re-establishing his auto sales
and service businesses in the same locations where he began more than
two decades ago.
"I have a lot of friends in Miami, a lot of
customers," he said. "Many of them already know that we have
re-opened and they have stopped by and a lot of my former employees
have stopped by, also. They are all happy that I am back and doing
business again, serving the community."
Schultheis says the new Milan's Motors handles late
model, low mileage, pre-owned automobiles of mostly foreign make --
BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Lexus and Toyota.
"All of our cars are certified," he said.
"We have a service department at 7390 SW 41 Street and it is open
to the public. We specialize in German and Japanese cars."
For more information on Milan's Motors, please call
305-262-5555.
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