AUTOMOBILE NEWS
Jeff Sneed, son of Jimmy Sneed who owned Sunrise Ford until his death in
1994, stands in the parts department of Sunrise Ford, where he has worked for
36 years and is assistant parts manager.
Most everything at Sunrise Volkswagen of Fort Pierce is
sparkling new. But a showroom centerpiece is a Baby Boomer
icon, a 1970 VW bus that took three months to refurbish. That’s
eye-catching enough, but then Wetzel got a Fort Lauderdale
maker of aquariums to fit an 800-gallon-plus saltwater tank into
the bus behind the front seats. The venture was cool enough to
be featured on the season premiere of the National Geographic
Channel’s Fish Tank Kings in 2013.
FROM THE TRAIN TRACKS
Jeff Sneed has been working at Sunrise Ford since 1983. He is
now an assistant manager there. His father, Jimmy Sneed, was the
second-generation owner of the dealership that his father, J.W.
Sneed Sr., took over soon after its founding in 1932.
Jeff Sneed says that before a building was secured for the original
Sneed dealership, cars were simply lined up for sale along the
railroad tracks that run still between U.S. 1 and Indian River Drive
near downtown Fort Pierce.
At the start, Sunrise Ford sold tractors and the Model T, even
pumping gas near the western foot of the Citrus Avenue Overpass.
Sunrise Ford moved in the 1960s to U.S. 1, north of Fort Pierce
near Taylor Creek, when many expected the growth to be between
Fort Pierce and Vero Beach. Jimmy Sneed took over when >>
“Think Vero First”
The Vero Beach Chamber of Commerce is
here to assist our members by promoting
tourism, sponsoring events, and providing
networking and educational opportunties
for the Vero Beach business community.
Our pledge is to do this and still preserve
our precious environment and way of life.
• Vero Beach Pirate Festival
• The Niña and Pinta visits
• Quarterly day cruise
• Monthly Cocktails & Commerce
• Monthly Lunch & Learn
• Ribbon Cuttings
Become a member today!
1957 14th Ave.
in Masonic Hall downtown Vero Beach
772.226.5459
info@verochamber.com
verochamber.com/
• B U S I N E S S • L I F E • H O M E • AUTO
FOR PROTECTION & PEACE OF MIND –
TRUST KLEKAMP INSURANCE
Ph:/Fax: (772) 217-4229
905 16th Place - Vero Beach
www.klekampinsurance.com
email: Jaime@Klekampinsurance.com
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