This year, Carter Volkswagen is celebrating 50 years of continuous family ownership and operation, officially making Carter Motors the oldest automobile dealer in Ballard.

Since its founding in September 1960 at 5202 Leary Ave. N.W., Carter Volkswagen has risen to become on of Seattle’s premiere dealerships. Jump-starting the five decades of continuous growth was the infamous Volkswagen Beetle, then selling for an affordable $1,565.

“When my late husband Wade Carter Jr. and I started Carter Motors, we knew that putting our customers first would be the best foundation for our future success.” cofounder Mary Carter said in a press release. “And while car styles and models have certainly changed a great deal since we first opened our doors, that has remained constant. Reaching this milestone can be credited to our loyal consumers and to our employees, who are the cornerstone of our dealership.”

Wade Carter built the company from scratch, starting with this flagship Volkswagen dealership that’s still located in the original building on Leary Way – the one he slept in some nights during the early days when they were getting established.

The Saab line was later added, and in 1976, Carter opened a Subaru dealership on Aurora in Shoreline. In 2008, his son Wade and daughter Sara expanded Carter Motors by adding a second Subaru franchise in Ballard across the street from their Volkswagen store.

Carter Motors has deep roots within the community. Cofounder Wade Carter Jr. was active in the Ballard Rotary, of which he was once president, and spent 20 years on the board of the Ballard Hospital, which later became a branch of Swedish Medical Center.