RK Auto Pictorial History

RK Chevrolet / RK Toyota history: growing and expanding to serve customers better and better every year.

 

We at RK Chevrolet / RK Toyota want to say thank you to every RK Auto customer, whether you bought your first car from RK in 1964 – or in 2004. You are why we’re here. So, thank you!

 

Take a look back in time with us . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s March 1950 and Richard H. Kline just received his bachelor’s degree and was accepted into the General Motors Institute. The Institute “prepared men of potential for future positions of responsibility.”

 

Richard Kline purchases a converted gas station to house RK Chevrolet.

 

Kline began serving the community out of this small corner lot, where Virginia Beach Boulevard and Lynnhaven Parkway now intersect.

 

 

 

 

 

May 1967: RK Chevrolet moves into expanded headquarters.

 

This expanded facility offered significantly more services to customers, thanks to a:

 

• service department with 40 stalls,
• new truck repair center,
• paint shop,
• auto body shops services,
• 2100-square-foot showroom,
• tire repair and sales center and a
• glass/radiator repair center.

 

Make room for King Neptune!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 1973, Kline came up with the idea of the Neptune Festival to celebrate the uniqueness of Virginia Beach, and residents responded enthusiastically. Two years later, Kline was chosen as King Neptune; in the photo, he and his wife Fay wait to make their appearance.

 

1979: the RK Auto service department and auto body shops are expanded, once again, to meet the needs of customers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 1981: RK Chevrolet received the Chevrolet Supremacy Award for Outstanding Service.

 

Since then, RK Auto expanded the showrooms to accommodate growing truck sales – and Kline has also added RK Toyota, RK Scion, RK Subaru, RK Buick, RK Scion and RK Truck World to the RK Auto family, along with new auto body shops, to provide even more choices for clients.

 

Thank you!