Sad to hear that the current guy in the advertisements will be leaving.

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Hudiburg, Mayes to buy Big Red Sports/Imports: No significant changes expected in operation, staff of Norman dealership

by Brian Brus
The Journal Record

4/17/2006 OKLAHOMA CITY - The Big Red auto imports dealership is being purchased by two of the main figures behind the Hudiburg Auto Group, David Hudiburg said Friday.

A purchase offer was accepted by Big Red Sports/Imports owner Mike Donohue on April 7, Hudiburg said. The president of the Hudiburg automobile dealership would not discuss financial details of the deal other than to say he entered the transaction with Hudiburg General Manager Chris Mayes.

"We also signed a management agreement so that we'll manage the company until the sale is approved by the factories," he said.

Big Red in Norman sells Kia, Suzuki, Isuzu and Subaru. Hudiburg said Big Red is one of the largest Kia and Suzuki dealers in the country. He said he expects the contract to be finalized by early June.

The Hudiburg Auto Group, based in Midwest City, has the family name attached to a large number of automobile brands, including Buick, Isuzu, Chevrolet, Pontiac and Nissan.

Hudiburg said he expects no significant changes in Big Red operations: "We like the name; they've got a great reputation; and he's got really good people in every aspect of the business," he said of the foundation Donohue laid. "So we're just going to take his people and operate the store." Donohue will no longer be a stockholder, but Hudiburg said Donohue will remain involved in the dealership's used-car operations. Brad McRae, the local television advertisement spokesman for Big Red, will no longer be involved in the ads, Hudiburg said.