Ed Martin Automotive

The Ed Martin Automotive group was founded in 1955 by Ed Martin Sr. Ed began life as the first child born in the Indiana University Coleman hospital in Indianapolis, IN. His entrance into this world shows that his life was destined to be anything but typical. Ed graduated from Manual High School as a football star and continued his football career at Butler University in Indianapolis. Ed's parents, Clarence and Nelly Martin were both attorneys; his mother was the first woman to pass the bar in Allen County, Indiana; his father was a Supreme Court Justice for the State of Indiana. In 1946, in Indianapolis, Ed, at the tender age of sixteen, purchased his first automobile with money he earned from delivering groceries and selling ice in his neighborhood. He sold his first car from his parent's front yard. His parents, being both professional and very proud people did not allow Ed to continue selling cars from their front yard. Ed approached the neighborhood "filling" station owner and negotiated a deal to sell his cars from the station. As sales grew, it became apparent he had to open his own used car lot, from which he continued selling and wholesaling used cars. In 1955, Ed Martin purchased his first new car dealership, an Oldsmobile dealership in Shelbyville, Indiana. In 1960 in Indianapolis, Ed Martin became the youngest Ford Automotive dealer in the entire United States. Over the following years, the Ed Martin Automotive Group has evolved into one of the top privately owned corporations in Indianapolis and top eighty corporations in Indiana. Ed Martin passed away May 19, 2005. His daughter, Kathy Martin Harrison and her husband Mark Harrison currently own the dealerships, continuing Ed's Legacy. Mark Harrison is the President of The Ed Martin Automotive Group. Ed's family has grown his vision and today The Ed Martin Automotive Group is comprised of 13 brands in 11 locations: