Good Guy Jim Perkins, Ex Chevy Boss Un-Retires

08/26/96

Jim Perkins, former general manager at the Chevy division of G.M. and a great friend of everyone in automotive media (he knew 1000 first names) came out of retirement last week and is joining the Hendricks Automotive Group, a billion dollar mega-dealer operation based in Charlotte, N.C. This is also the base of Rick Hendricks' very successful Winston Cup NASCAR race team. Perkins is an auto racing enthusiasts. J.P. will become Vice Chairman of the Hendricks Executive committee.

Rick Hendricks says Perkins will play a key role in strategic planning and partner relations for the 89 dealer franchise operation which had sales of $2.1 billion in 1995. Perkins retired from G.M. in May where he was head of Chevrolet for seven years. Prior to that he was Executive V.P. of Toyota for the U.S. His forte is dealer and media relations but best of all Perkins is a "car guy". He owns and drives a '57 Chevy rod with all the correct trick paint, pipes, chrome goodies and wheelie bars.

Bill Maloney -- The Auto Channel