Since 1919 the Don Moore Automotive Team has been a
leader in automotive innovation in the Tri-State. What
began as a single franchise dealership at the dawn of a
new era in transportation has exploded to include an
all-star line up of vehicles representing over 75% of
the total vehicles sold in the U.S. today!
In August 1919 three brothers; Percy, Kelly and Harry
Short decided to venture into the newly developing
Automobile industry and formed Short Brothers Motor
Company. They signed a contract to sell Scripps Booth
Automobiles and Stevens Saline Six Vehicles. In January
1920 they signed a contract with Chevrolet Motor Company
to sell Chevrolet Vehicles. On February 2, 1920 they
received their first Chevrolet Automobile for sale. They
went on to sell the first enclosed automobile in Western
Kentucky. That vehicle was sold to the minister at
Settle Memorial United Methodist Church, the late
reverend Carl Gregory. That year they sold 24 new
vehicles.
By 1934 the volume had risen to 306 new and 438 used
vehicles. Around this time, Percy Short’s son, Don P.
Moore, Sr. joined the group. Over the next 30 years Don
Moore Sr. progressed in the business and in 1954 Short
Brothers added Cadillac to their vehicle lines. Percy
Short passed away in 1961 and Don Moore Sr. became
president of the company.
In 1959 Don Moore Jr. entered the business after
receiving his degree at the University of Kentucky. In
1969 Don Moore Sr. passed away with cancer. At that time
his son Don Moore Jr. became president of the company
and the dealer of record for General Motors. General
Motors then made the recommendation that the name be
changed to Don Moore Chevrolet – Cadillac. In 1970 this
change was made. At the same time plans for a new
marketing approach were being made.
In January of 1970, the new marketing approach included
television. At that time the number one show in prime
time was the Lucile Ball Show. On the third Monday in
January Don Moore Jr. made is television debut. It was a
10 second advertisement. The script went as follows:
“At Don Moore Chevrolet we have the hottest deals
around. Come on down and help cool us off.”
That marked the beginning of the creative image of the
Don Moore organization. The new marketing continued
through the seventies.
In May of 1982, Don Moore III joined the firm after
graduating from the University of Kentucky. In July of
1983, Don Moore Jr. decided to work full time in the
farming industry and Don Moore III was made General
Manager of the Dealership.
In 1986, Don Moore III agreed to purchase Sturgeon
Pontiac – Nissan from the Charlie Sturgeon Family. This
marked the beginning of Riverview Pontiac – Nissan. In
1992 Don Moore added Mitsubishi at the Downtown
location. In 1993 Don Moore purchased Van Slyke Toyota
from the Don Van Slyke family. This purchase included a
new location on Frederica Street. Riverview was
relocated to the newly acquired property and the
AutoMall was established. In June of 1996 Don purchased
Feldhaus Oldsmobile-Honda. He then relocated Honda at
the AutoMall location and moved Oldsmobile downtown. Don
also agreed to sell Roberts Motors the Pontiac franchise
in order to complete a dealership reorganization
required by General Motors. In 2000 the Group purchased
Thompson Ford-Mercury-Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep in Hartford
Kentucky. In 2005 Don Moore agreed to purchase the Tapp
Motor property on south Frederica Street. In 2006
Hyundai was also added to the family of dealerships and
placed at the newly remodeled property on south
Frederica.
Today Don Moore III, and his brothers John Moore and
David Moore operate 5 dealerships and 13 franchises
(Chevrolet, Cadillac, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Sion,
Mitsubishi, Ford, Mercury, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and
Hyundai). The Moore Automotive group is a four
generation family business that has continued its growth
for over 87 years. The group of dealerships currently
sells over 2200 new vehicle annually and over 2300 used
vehicles. Over 5500 people will come to the Moore
Automotive group annually for service and they are
serviced by the 180 dedicated Don Moore employees.
In 1959 Don Moore Jr. entered the business after
receiving his degree at the University of Kentucky. In
1969 Don Moore Sr. passed away with cancer. At that time
his son Don Moore Jr. became president of the company
and the dealer of record for General Motors. General
Motors then made the recommendation that the name be
changed to Don Moore Chevrolet – Cadillac. In 1970 this
change was made. At the same time plans for a new
marketing approach were being made. 
In May of 1982, Don Moore III joined the firm after
graduating from the University of Kentucky. In July of
1983, Don Moore Jr. decided to work full time in the
farming industry and Don Moore III was made General
Manager of the Dealership.