Burnworth-Zollars Auto: Your Community Ford Dealership in Ligonier, Indiana!
When it comes to delivering outstanding customer care as a car dealer, BZ Ford is your premier destination. Not just because of our expert team of professionals or our affordable, quality Ford vehicles but because we’re a family-owned company that believes in doing our part in the community. Since the inception of Burnworth-Zollars Auto Group over 40 years ago, our founders, Rick Zollars and his father-in-law, Bill Burnworth, wanted to create a car dealership with its customers in mind. Three generations later, building customer relationships remains our highest priority, serving the good people of Ligonier, Indiana and neighboring communities all over the Midwest. In fact, we love it when some of our regular customers from the early days still stop by, whether it’s for a vehicle upgrade or a maintenance tune-up. Let’s explore more about BZ Ford, the history of Burnworth-Zollars Auto Group, and why we’re Ligonier’s favorite community Ford dealership.
BZ Auto Group History
Established in 1979 with just five employees, Burnworth-Zollars Auto Group all began when Rick Zollars and his father-in-law, Bill Burnworth, acquired a Ford dealership from Wayne Reed in Kimmel, Indiana. Within just two years, the pair decided to move the dealership from Kimmel over to Ligonier, Indiana, where their continued growth allowed them to expand their dealership to over 14,000 square feet and even opened their very own body shop. With the future of the community in mind, they expanded their dealership even further and opened a new facility across their Ligonier campus, equipped with 18 service bays, a car wash, lounges, a showroom, and a sales area along with a large on-site body shop building.
After 15 years of success, the Burnworth-Zollars Auto Group grew to new heights, enabling Rick Zollars to acquire a local Chevrolet dealership in 1998, moving the location from downtown Ligonier to the north side of U.S. 6 (across from the Ligonier campus). By 2005, the BZ Ligonier campus was further expanded with an additional showroom and body shop making the Ligonier campus a total of 34,000 square feet of facilities across seven acres.
In 2015, Rock Zollara made the difficult decision to sell the Burnworth-Zollars business to former sales managers Ken and Jason under one condition: They continued to keep the same traditions that Zollars had established, focusing on customer service and community involvement. Recently, in 2022, the company changed its name from Burnworth Zollars to BZ Automotive Group LLC. Although the business is under a new name, the tradition of exceptional customer service and community involvement continues to persevere to this day.
Why Ligonier Trusts BZ Ford
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your vehicle with the latest Ford model, shopping for a quality used vehicle, need expert repairs or maintenance, or are having trouble getting approved for a car loan, the team at BZ Ford is always at your service. Burnworth-Zollars Ford was established in 1979 with just five employees. In the decades since, we have expanded to 56 employees, two certified service and parts departments, a state-of-the-art body shop, a finance department with more than 15 available lenders, on-site car wash and detailing, and two certifications. Not to mention, we proudly offer a variety of Ford vehicles. We aim to offer an experience that exceeds our customers' and employees' expectations today, tomorrow, and in the future. Here are some of our core values that keep the people of Ligonier, IN, coming back:
Integrity is Everything. At BZ Ford, we endorse a culture of honesty, transparency, accountability, and being unwavering in our commitment to do what's right, even when no one is watching.
Go the Extra Mile. We’re committed to exceeding expectations with our world-class service. Our dedication to going the extra mile for our customers, teammates, and families is just the thing that generates positive word-of-mouth and makes us a trusted Ford dealer in our community.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work. Ego has no room within the Burnworth-Zollars walls. We are a united entity with a singular purpose - to serve customers and support teammates. We firmly believe that collective effort surpasses individual prowess, and together, we can achieve more.
Be a Lifetime Student. Believing one knows everything leads to stagnation. To avoid this, at BZ Ford, we relentlessly pursue knowledge and new experiences. We are lifelong learners committed to chasing excellence.
Believe in the Big Picture. We at Burnworth-Zollars firmly believe in our collective direction, understanding exactly what needs to be done to get there. We uphold our Core Values, both within our store and in our personal lives, as they form the very essence of who we are.
We Support Our Military
At Burnworth-Zollars Auto Group, we take pride in being a veteran-owned dealership that brings a unique and dedicated approach to serving our community. Our commitment to excellence, integrity, and the values instilled in us during our military service set us apart in the automotive industry.
In appreciation of the sacrifices made by our active and retired U.S. military personnel, BZ Auto Group is honored to extend exclusive military discounts across our dealership lineup. We understand the dedication and commitment that come with military service, and we want to express our gratitude by offering a 10 % discount on parts and services.
To further extend our support for veterans, if you’ve stopped by our lot on a Friday, you might have noticed all of our team members wearing the color R.E.D. – and it's not just a fashion statement! R.E.D. stands for 'Remember Everyone Deployed,' symbolizing our gratitude for their sacrifice and a heartfelt gesture to honor our troops and their families. When you see us in our R.E.D shirts, remember, it's our way of saying 'thank you' to those serving far from home.
Community Support
BZ Ford has earned a reputation for being a good business neighbor and friend to not just Ligonier and the Noble County community but throughout the surrounding areas. As a Ford dealership in Indiana, we’re always looking for ways to give back to our communities. Whether through our BZ Autos Ford Drive 4 UR School event benefitting West Noble School Corporation or our annual Winter Wear Drive for Crossroads United Way, serving Elkhart, LaGrange & Noble Counties, our service goes far beyond just selling quality vehicles.
Find Your Next Car at BZ Ford
As a part of the Burnworth-Zollars Auto Group, BZ Ford is proud to be serving the people of Ligonier, IN, for over 40 years. We take pride in the name we’ve built for ourselves over the years, whether you spell it as Burnworth-Zollars, Burnsworth-Zollars, Burnzorth-Wollars, or Burnsworth-Dollars, we’re happy to be our community’ trusted Ford dealer. Browse our inventory of Ford vehicles, schedule a service appointment or contact our team today to get started!