Every new vehicle from every manufacturer at the Folsom Auto Mall comes with roadside assistance. We're talking Ford, Toyota, Kia, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Buick, GMC, Hyundai, Chevrolet and Nissan. All at the mall, all with roadside assistance, because no car brand wants to see their new baby stranded on the side of the road.
Each brand features different benefits but may include:
• Towing
• Battery jump starts
• Flat tire replacements
• Emergency fuel deliveries
• Lockout services
• On-site repairs
• Trip interruption coverage
• Winching
• 24/7 availability and more
Today towing services, fuel deliveries and battery jump starts usually come standard with all new vehicles, but that has not always been true.
The First Tow Truck
In 1916, a mechanic named Ernest Holmes set out to make the world’s first tow truck. He grabbed his 1913 Cadillac and tried using a crane and pulley. Ernie spent over 3 years tinkering with his tow truck prototype. But finally, in 1919 Mr. Holmes proudly unveiled the first working tow truck – The Holmes 485. A 4-speed manual steam-powered vehicle with a 6-cylinder internal combustion engine.
The 485 worked great for a while but the biggest drawback was that it towed the car on the road, making potholes and debris a real problem. So, the flatbed tow truck was created to carry the entire weight of the vehicle. Today hydraulics are used to raise and lower the bed and one tow truck can transport several cars at one time. But it all started with the Holmes-485. Check your garage because if you have one it could be worth $250,000 today.
The Birth of Roadside Assistance
If a car broke down like they did a lot in 1915 it had to be repaired on the road. The first providers of this emergency road service was a group of motorcyclists. Five men working for the Auto Club of St. Louis started what was known as the “First Aid Corp”. They drove around St. Louis looking for broken-down motorists. They would make engine and tire repairs for members and non-members of the auto club – for FREE! On that very first Sunday, they assisted 24 motorists and helped 171 in just one month.
Everyone loved the guys on motorcycles and they were super popular. The club got letters every day thanking them for their service. One letter changed everything. It was from the manager of the St. Louis branch of Studebaker Corp, Carl Simons, after his inner tube was repaired by one of the motorcycle mechanics. Mr. Simmons immediately instituted a policy that everyone who bought a Studebaker would be persuaded to become a member of the St. Louis Auto Club.
In Conclusion...
Studebakers are long gone but today every Ford, Toyota, Kia, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Buick, GMC, Hyundai, Chevrolet and Nissan at the Folsom Auto Mall has roadside assistance. And it’s all thanks to five good guys on motorcycles and Ernest Holmes.
Visit a Folsom Auto Mall location for more information on the roadside assistance offered by the brands at the Folsom Auto Mall.
Each brand features different benefits but may include:
• Towing
• Battery jump starts
• Flat tire replacements
• Emergency fuel deliveries
• Lockout services
• On-site repairs
• Trip interruption coverage
• Winching
• 24/7 availability and more
Today towing services, fuel deliveries and battery jump starts usually come standard with all new vehicles, but that has not always been true.
The First Tow Truck
In 1916, a mechanic named Ernest Holmes set out to make the world’s first tow truck. He grabbed his 1913 Cadillac and tried using a crane and pulley. Ernie spent over 3 years tinkering with his tow truck prototype. But finally, in 1919 Mr. Holmes proudly unveiled the first working tow truck – The Holmes 485. A 4-speed manual steam-powered vehicle with a 6-cylinder internal combustion engine.
The 485 worked great for a while but the biggest drawback was that it towed the car on the road, making potholes and debris a real problem. So, the flatbed tow truck was created to carry the entire weight of the vehicle. Today hydraulics are used to raise and lower the bed and one tow truck can transport several cars at one time. But it all started with the Holmes-485. Check your garage because if you have one it could be worth $250,000 today.
The Birth of Roadside Assistance
If a car broke down like they did a lot in 1915 it had to be repaired on the road. The first providers of this emergency road service was a group of motorcyclists. Five men working for the Auto Club of St. Louis started what was known as the “First Aid Corp”. They drove around St. Louis looking for broken-down motorists. They would make engine and tire repairs for members and non-members of the auto club – for FREE! On that very first Sunday, they assisted 24 motorists and helped 171 in just one month.
Everyone loved the guys on motorcycles and they were super popular. The club got letters every day thanking them for their service. One letter changed everything. It was from the manager of the St. Louis branch of Studebaker Corp, Carl Simons, after his inner tube was repaired by one of the motorcycle mechanics. Mr. Simmons immediately instituted a policy that everyone who bought a Studebaker would be persuaded to become a member of the St. Louis Auto Club.
In Conclusion...
Studebakers are long gone but today every Ford, Toyota, Kia, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Buick, GMC, Hyundai, Chevrolet and Nissan at the Folsom Auto Mall has roadside assistance. And it’s all thanks to five good guys on motorcycles and Ernest Holmes.
Visit a Folsom Auto Mall location for more information on the roadside assistance offered by the brands at the Folsom Auto Mall.