Auto Buying Service

Company History

Auto Buying Service was founded by Frank & Wanda Lewark in 1970. It was originally located near Fairfax Circle on Lee Hwy - now called Fairfax Boulevard.

In the 70's, Auto Buying Service was known by most as the dealer with all the Corvettes and Hot Rods- stocking as many as 15 Corvettes at a time. In 1982, the Lewark's daughter - Betsy - joined the business, in the finance department and then in sales. Today, she is the General Manager of their Prosperity Ave location.

The 90's were a time of change for Auto Buying Service. They moved from their Lee Hwy location, where they had been for 27 years, to their location on Prosperity Ave. When you walk in the door to their Prosperity Ave office, you just feel like sitting back with a cup of coffee and enjoying the relaxed atmosphere.

Washington's premiere automotive sales company!

Auto Buying Service was founded in 1970 with the idea of offering a complete automotive sales service, a service for both buyer and seller. ABS would stock an inventory of quality re-conditioned used cars and trucks but would also, in a unique twist, locate the exact vehicle a customer wanted if it was not in inventory. So, borrowing from the real estate concept, ABS began. Now, some 36 years later, thousands of Washingtonians, Maryland and Northern Virginia residents have found ABS to be the company of choice to meet their used automotive needs.

Auto Buying Service is committed to furthering your automotive education and preparing you for your next purchase. By offering tips gathered from over a century of combined experience with useful links and quality listings ABS can serve our global community better than ever. Please see our "Used Car Buying Tips" under the "Inventory" heading.

07/02 Press Release :

WANDA LEWARK BECOMES THE FIRST WOMAN TO WIN THE TOP AWARD GIVEN BY THE NATIONAL INDEPENDENT AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION - N.I.A.D.A.

Wanda Lewark makes history by being the first woman to receive the coveted National Quality Dealer Award at the National Independent Automobile Dealers annual convention in Orlando, Florida. The 14,000 member association gives this award to one member each year and it is the highest award given by the National Association. State Quality Dealers from around the country compete annually for this award.

NIADA is among the largest national trade associations in the country and is the national voice of the independent automobile dealer industry. With its headquarters in Arlington, Texas, NIADA represents the nation's used car dealers to consumers, national legislators, federal regulatory agencies and the myriad of organizations involved in the multi-billion dollar used motor vehicle industry.

Wanda is the dealer/operator of Auto Buying Service, Inc., 2971 Prosperity Avenue, Fairfax, VA, and has been in the automobile business since 1962. She has held many offices at the State Association level including serving as President 1999-2000. Wanda currently holds two positions on the National level.

The coveted National Award is judged by professors from Northwood University in Cedar Hill, Texas, and is based not only on achievements in one's business but also looks at community involvement and service in the State and National Association.

Auto Buying Service is a 36 year old company founded on Christian principles. The company mission statement is as follows: "To establish a world class auto sales organization that will meet the needs of our customers in the buying and selling of used vehicles. Our desire is to provide a service that far exceeds that of our competition and to honor God in all we do. We acknowledge that without our valued customers there would be no business and without our faith there would be no true basis for serving."

HOW WE BEGAN...

"Back in the day" Auto Buying Service was located at 9854 Lee Hwy, now known as Fairfax Blvd. It was one lane in each direction then and we were right between the Hess gas station (when gas was under a dollar) and the Fairfax Raquet Club and Kenny Roberts Plant Nursery.

In 1969 (when I was five), my parents purchased a new home in Mantua with a HUGE, oversized 2 car garage. They could actually fit 3 cars in there! My dad had a vision and they started buying and selling cars out of their garage until they found their commercial property at 9854 Lee Hwy.

In 1970 they moved the operation to the new property and began Auto Buying Service. They had cheap cars, gave car loans and had as many as 100 cars for sale at one time. My dad was a bit of a motorhead, so would tend to stock a lot of fast cars - GTOs, Mustang Cobras, Vettes, Olds 442s, Novas, Cudas, Shelbys, Camaros & Trans AMs... you get the idea.

Soon they were known as "the dealer in Fairfax with all the muscle cars and hot rods". Back then they had a little problem with theft, so each night they would line the cars up end-to-end so that no car could be driven out of the place while they were closed. 

Auto Buying Service stocked used trucks, cheap used cars, economy cars, luxury cars, and all kinds of other vehicles including passenger vans and work vans.

They were different than other auto dealers and used car dealers. They rarely went to the auto auction. Instead they advertised that they buy used cars. They knew the used car values and they would do a used car search for their customer (before the net). If they didn't have the vehicle their customer was looking for, they would find it!

I worked in sales back in the late 80's and I would find a car for  customers on a regular basis. Dad paid a great bonus when you did that! If you had a used car for sale, we were probably knockin' on your door trying to buy it.

More to come soon...