Fred Gerbaz, 84, on the job among field of competitors

There seems to be no break in the heavy traffic in and out of Glenwood Springs, on I-70 east to Vail and west to Grand Junction, and on Colo. 82 south to Aspen.

With new-car dealerships as an indication, a healthy percentage of the cars and trucks filling the streets make stops for sales and service.

No other small city of its size (9,600 population) in Colorado has so many new-car dealerships.

There are nine serving the community – Berthod GMC-Buick, Berthod Jeep/Chrysler/Dodge/Ram, Bighorn Toyota, Elk Mountain Motors Audi/Volkswagen, Glenwood Springs Ford, Glenwood Springs Subaru, High Country Honda, Land Rover Roaring Fork and Mountain Chevrolet.

In a drive over there a week or so ago, Jan and I found our way into one of the Berthod stores (Buick-GMC), and were delighted to spend some time with Fred Gerbaz. Fred, wife Edna and son Don own and operate the two Berthod dealerships.

Fred’s life is one of those “feel good” stories.

Just out of high school in 1947, Fred went to work for the Berthod family as they opened a Tucker dealership. He helped stock some parts, but the Tucker automobile never showed up. Only 51 Tucker cars were built in Chicago before the company folded.

Hudson soon supplanted the Tucker space in the showroom, then came Packard, Nash and even Kaiser-Frazer for a short while. The prize, though, was acquisition of Jeep a few years later. The rugged 4-by-4 was surely well-suited to the Glenwood mountain country. “It’s been the backbone of the company all

these years,” said Fred.Fred bought the business from the Berthods in 1971, then added the Buick, Pontiac and GMC franchises from General Motors.

At 84, Fred still shows up for work each day by 6:30 a.m. and often is there till 6:30 or 7 in the evening. “I still enjoy coming in every day,” he said, and smiles about it.

Fred, Edna and Don in August opened a new facility to house Chrysler, Dodge and Ram inventory, as well as Jeep, down the street from the Buick/GMC building.

Elsewhere, renovation is nearing completion on the Glenwood Springs Ford dealership, and we enjoyed visiting there with owners Jeff Carlson and Steve Nilsson. They also operate Glenwood Springs Subaru next door. “Our strengths are the Ford trucks and Subaru cars,” said Carlson, “what a great combination.” Carlson was Time Dealer of the Year award winner for Colorado in 2005.

Expected to open in two or three months is High Country Honda, awaiting completion of its new building. It sits beside another new facility which houses Mountain Chevrolet.

Another opening earlier this year was a structure rebuilt for Bighorn Toyota.

Bud Wells can be reached via e-mail at bwells@denverpost.com.