Serving the Corridor since 1952!

H.B. McGrath

It was 1952 when H.B. McGrath first opened his Buick dealership in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Then, in 1957, H.B. McGrath sold the Buick store and relocated to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to open his next dealership, McGrath Pontiac.

Over the years, the family-owned business grew and continued to flourish. In 1974, Bruce McGrath became the dealer and constructed the current Pontiac dealership. In 1979, Pat McGrath joined the company, followed shortly thereafter by Mike McGrath.

""We're in the people business first, the car business second".

- H.B. McGrath

The McGrath Family of Dealerships was formed in 1991 with the partnership of Mike McGrath Auto Center, Pat McGrath Oldsmobile-GMC-ISUZU and Pat McGrath Chevrolet. In 2022, a total of 13 vehicle name brands, 3 Used Car Superstores, 3 Harley-Davidson dealers and 1 Powersports dealer will make up the auto group's holdings spread across 12 locations in 7 communities. The company has grown into the largest family owned automotive company in Iowa.

Contact

McGrath Auto

1548 Collins Rd NE
Directions Cedar Rapids, IA 52402

  • Sales: (319) 383-7862
  • Service: (319) 383-7846
  • Parts: (319) 383-7846

Related Links

Hours

  • Monday 7:00am - 8:00pm
  • Tuesday 7:00am - 6:00pm
  • Wednesday 7:00am - 6:00pm
  • Thursday 7:00am - 8:00pm
  • Friday 7:00am - 6:00pm
  • Saturday 7:30am - 5:00pm
  • Sunday Closed

McGrath Family of Dealerships History Timeline

1952

  • H.B. McGrath purchases a Buick dealership in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

1957

  • H.B. McGrath purchases Culver Motors, the Pontiac dealership in Cedar Rapids.

1966

  • Bruce McGrath goes to work for H.B. as Sales Manager.

1974

  • H.B. McGrath builds the new Pontiac dealership on Center Point Road.

1975

  • Bruce purchases the Pontiac dealership from H.B. - Bruce McGrath Pontiac.

1980

  • Pat McGrath begins employment at the Pontiac dealership.

1983

  • Mike McGrath begins employment at the Pontiac dealership.

1987

  • Pat purchases the Oldsmobile-GMC dealership in Iowa City.

1990

  • Mike becomes the Pontiac dealer - Mike McGrath Auto Center.

1991

  • The McGrath Automotive Group is incorporated.
  • Rapids Chevrolet Company is purchased in January.
  • Pat McGrath Chevyland is built and opens on December 16th.

1996

  • Pat sells Iowa City Oldsmobile-GMC dealership in March.

2002

  • The McGrath dealerships celebrate their 50th anniversary.

2006

  • Westdale Used Car Superstore opens in July under Pat's management.
  • Lindsay McGrath begins full time employment at Pat McGrath Chevyland.

2007

  • McGrath expands interest into motorcycles/ATVs and forms McGrath Motorsports a.k.a. McGrath Powersports.
  • Mike McGrath manages McGrath Powersports and Pat assumes management of Mike McGrath Auto Center.

2008

  • McGrath Powersports opens new site in July across from Mike McGrath Auto Center.

2009

  • Gavin McGrath begins full time employment at Pat McGrath Chevyland.
  • The Pontiac franchise is closed and the Mazda franchise is sold.
  • The name Mike McGrath Auto Center is changed to Pat McGrath Dodge Country.

2010

  • Murphy McGrath begins his full time employment at Pat McGrath Chevyland.
  • Gavin McGrath and Murphy McGrath are named managers of the newly-opened site in September - called Marion Used Car Superstore.
  • Jaymie McGrath begins full time employment at McGrath Automotive Group.

2011

  • The company purchases former Pierson's Flower Shop on Center Point Road to expand the inventory of McGrath Powersports.
  • Gavin McGrath is named GSM at Pat McGrath Dodge Country.
  • Griffin McGrath begins full time employment at Pat McGrath Chevyland.
  • Murphy McGrath directs the operations of the newly purchased and renovated Coralville Used Car Superstore.
  • McGrath Automotive Group purchases the Buick, GMC, Cadillac & Kia dealership located in Hiawatha. The dealership had been owned the previous 5 years by Lithia Motors, based in Oregon, who had purchased it from Allen Motor Company, Cedar Rapids.
  • Lindsay McGrath is named the General Manager of BGCK, which opens 12/12/2011.
  • Murphy McGrath and Jaymie McGrath assume management positions at BGCK.

2012

  • Griffin McGrath is named the Service Manager at McGrath Powersports
  • McGrath Automotive Group celebrates 60th anniversary in May.
  • Gavin McGrath is named General Sales Manager at Pat McGrath Chevyland.

2013

  • The company expands its interest in motorcycles and forms McGrath Motorcycles, LLC. A Harley-Davidson business is purchased in Coralville and renamed McGrath Hawkeye Harley-Davidson, managed by Mike McGrath.
  • McGrath Wellness Program kicks off and plans for making a workout facility are initiated.
  • Murphy McGrath is named General Manager of Pat McGrath Dodge Country.

2014

  • Tucker McGrath joins McGrath Automotive Group, later assumes Finance Manager position and then Business Director at Pat McGrath Chevyland.
  • The company rolls out a new branding scheme and adopt the moniker McGrath Family of Dealerships.
  • Gavin McGrath is named General Manager at Pat McGrath Chevyland.
  • Company purchases Modern Piping facility to conjoin Collision Centers North & South. Upper level of building will be designed as the new fitness center.
  • Company purchases and breaks ground for building a new Harley-Davidson dealership in Coralville.
  • Jaymie McGrath transfers to Westdale Used Car Superstore to become the Business Director.
  • Company purchases land in Dubuque with plans to build a 4th Used Car Superstore in 2015.

2015

  • In January, the upper level of the Collision Center, McGrath Body Shop Fitness Center opens to employees.
  • Company acquires additional land in Dubuque next to the proposed Dubuque Used Car Superstore. The land acquisition will be the location of McGrath Volkswagen.
  • On February 2nd, the newly purchased and remodeled building for the Collision Center opens for business.
  • Former Dodge Collision Center is remodeled to add truck service to Dodge Country.
  • Service sales department is added to Business Development Center and Jaymie McGrath is named manager of department.
  • In April the company acquires the franchise of Cedar Rapids Volkswagen. The McGrath University training center is remodeled to house the Cedar Rapids Volkswagen sales force.
  • Tucker McGrath is promoted to McGrath Buick GMC Cadillac Used Car Sales Manager.
  • During the month of June, Pat McGrath makes presentation to all employees regarding, "Building a Legacy Company".
  • The Business Development Center moves from the ground floor of McGrath Buick GMC Cadillac to the newly remodeled building across from Pat McGrath Chevyland.
  • On June 29th, Hawkeye Harley-Davidson opens their newly-constructed 46,000 sq.ft. building in Coralville. Their previous location on Commerce St. in Coralville was sold.
  • A newly constructed Volkswagen dealership along with a Used Car Superstore in Dubuque opens for business September 14th.
  • The McGrath Family of Dealerships acquires the Dubuque Harley-Davison location and takes over its operations on September 28th.

2016

  • On September 6th, Davenport Used Car Superstore is opened.
  • On September 30th, McGrath acquires Hyundai franchise and McGrath Volkswagen of Dubuque becomes McGrath Volkswagen Hyundai.
  • In December, the McGrath Kia dealership front fascia and showroom receive remodeling.

2017

  • In August McGrath Auto acquires Zimmerman Auto Group, located at 4001 1st Ave SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, therefore adding a Ford, BMW, Hyundai and Mitsubishi franchise becoming McGrath Ford Hyundai BMW.

2018

  • In April, construction begins on Iowa's Used Car Superstore, located at 1510 Collins Rd NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This location is an extension of Pat McGrath Chevyland and is the used vehicle sales facility for that dealership.
  • On June 1st, John Vasquez is named General Sales Manager of McGrath Ford Hyundai BMW. John previously served as General Sales Manager of McGrath Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram Fiat.
  • On June 22nd, the McGrath Family of Dealerships acquires Bird Chevrolet, located at 3255 University Ave, Dubuque, Iowa, and becomes McGrath Chevrolet of Dubuque. Josh Orthel is promoted to General Manager and will oversee operations at that location.
  • In December, the McGrath Family of Dealerships acquires Quad Cities Harley-Davidson, located at 5320 Corporate Park Dr. Davenport, Iowa, becoming the third Harley-Davidson location under the McGrath name.

2019

  • Iowa's Used Car Supercenter, used car department of McGrath Chevyland moves into a new location at 1510 Collins Rd NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Creating a facility to offer and sell more used vehicles than any location in Iowa
  • Jeff Cole, joins the McGrath team as the Director of Service.

2020

  • Buick GMC Cadillac moves into a brand-new location at 1600 51st St NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In addition, McGrath Ford Hyundai Genesis made the move up to 1040 N Center Point Rd, in beautiful Hiawatha taking over the old BGC location and moving alongside McGrath Kia.
  • Roadmaster Marketing is established, becoming McGrath's in-house marketing team. Set up in the Business Development Center, Roadmaster Marketing took over print and digital advertising as well as website and social media management. Cory Hosch and Brad Mackey were its founders, acting as the Director of Marketing and the Creative Director, respectively.

2022

  • McGrath Family of Dealerships celebrates its 70th anniversary.
  • McGrath Family of Dealerships aquires Toyota of Iowa City located at 1445 Highway 1 W Iowa City, IA with Murphy McGrath as the General Manager. The aquisition of Toyota of Iowa City brings the number of brands to 13.
  • Orrin Smith retires as the VP of Sales after 38 years with McGrath.

2023

  • Josh Orthel is promoted to Director of Sales after serving as Sale Manager for Westdale Used Car Superstore, and General Manager for Coralville Used Car Superstore, McGrath Ford Hyundai Kia, and McGrath Chevrolet of Dubuque.
  • McGrath VW of Marion undergoes an internal remodel creating a better customer experience for service department customers and modernizing the sales showroom to meet the current VW lineup.

2024

  • Work begins on the new Hyundai building just north of the current McGrath Ford Hyundai building in Hiawatha.