About Us

History of the Johnson's Automotive Family

In 1916, Arthur C Johnson "Chris" formed a partnership with Ralph M O'Connell Auto Sales & Service. Five years later, they built a 70,000 sq ft building at 109 South Street; a facility to sell and service Cadillac, Oldsmobile & GMC cars and trucks that they named Berkshire Auto Co Inc. The building is now the entrance for the Colonial Theater and, above the doors in the glass, you can still see the name.

Chris' son, Arthur C Johnson Jr. "Art," joined Berkshire Auto Company in 1939. After his father's passing in 1958, he became Vice President of Berkshire Auto Co.

In 1964, Art sold his interest in Berkshire Auto Co to the O'Connell family and purchased a Lincoln-Mercury dealership from AJ Scarafoni located on North Street in Pittsfield. Art & his son Gary ran the dealership until Art's sudden passing in 1967.

Gary acquired the Ford franchise in 1980 and purchased a building across the street from the Lincoln-Mercury dealership. By then, the dealership included Budget Rent-A-Car. Shortly thereafter, in 1982, an opportunity arose to purchase the current location on East St.

A few years later, after a remodel of a small building at 694 East Street to create a showroom, Gary purchased a BMW franchise. Years later, he sold it to Thomas Flynn Sr. and in 1991, he acquired the Nissan franchise.

Presently, the Johnson Dealerships Inc employs over 40 full-time & several part-time people.

In 2016 the Johnson Family celebrated 100 years in the automobile business!

Gary's son, Chris, and daughter Tary continue as the fourth generation in the daily operation of the dealership and its legacy as the oldest family-owned dealership in Western Massachusetts!