Auto repair shops and motor businesses are quite often a family business, passed down from generation to generation, leaving a lasting legacy of quality service. The wildly varied and somewhat eclectic Quigley Motor Company of Manchester, Pennsylvania is a 3rd generation family-owned business that specializes in a product you may not have even thought of until now: the 4-wheel drive van.
Read on to learn more about the Quigley family, and their fascinating and quirky automotive business.
The Quigley Motor Company Story
The Quigley Motor Company started in 1966 under the unassuming name of Bill Quigley Auto Sales. At the time, the family used their auto mechanic training primarily to sell trucks and vans. After some initial tinkering and a hefty dose of innovation, the company rebranded in 1975 and launched a whole new never-before-seen product.
What Quigley does is in some ways simple, but also brilliant: they covert Ford, GM and now Nissan products into hardy off-roading machines.
With their high quality 4-wheel drive systems, Quigley tapped into an incredibly useful product that customers flocked to with enthusiasm. By 1979, their 100th 4X4 conversion had sold, and by 1987 that number had ballooned to 1,000.
Who Are the Customers for These Vans?
As it turns out, there’s a wide assortment of niche markets that are clamouring to purchase Quigley 4-wheel drive vans. With now over 15,000 systems sold, the Quigley customer base couldn’t be more varied. From government agencies like the FBI, the CIA, and Whitehouse security, to big American businesses like Fed-Ex and AT&T, all the way down to regular off-road enthusiasts and their families, it’s clear that Quigley 4X4 systems sell, and sell a lot.
Of course, the resounding success of the Quigley Motor Company is due in no small part to the fantastic quality of their products. Automotive training center graduates who have the opportunity to take a closer look at a Quigley 4X4 system would appreciate the fine craftsmanship that goes into these vans.
The Mechanics of a Quigley Van
If one of the new-generation Quigley Ford Transit vans were to roll into an auto motive school in Cambridge, the students there would be able to get a sneak peek at the upgraded Quigley drive system, which includes:
- Original OEM stability control, brakes and transit suspension
- A Ford F-Series Magna two-speed transfer case
- An independent front axel
- Front hub locks
See this Quigley van tackle off-road terrain here:
Building Customer Loyalty
“Come Play With Your Quigley” – blessfully not a euphemism – is the name of the highly successful weekend info session designed for Quigley customers. Complete with children’s activities and a pig roast, the weekend is designed for people that want to experience the full off-roading capabilities of their hardy Quigleys. It teaches them how to go off-roading safely and get a sense of what their vans can handle through seminars and practical hands-on demonstrations.
What innovative new ideas would you like to see for the off-roading vehicle market in the next few years?
