Milford’s i.g. Burton Mercedes-Benz celebrates 50th anniversary

I.G. Burton & Company Inc. in Milford is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a Mercedes-Benz dealer, and the dealership team held a luncheon to mark this important milestone.

“We have had many different car franchises in our company’s 113-year history, and Mercedes-Benz was the very first European vehicle brand that we started selling. Every new year for several years, my father David G. Burton wrote a letter requesting a Mercedes-Benz franchise. Finally, in 1971 Mercedes-Benz representatives showed up and made an agreement with my dad to become a dealer. It’s a great story of never giving up,” said Charlie Burton, president of i.g. Burton.

The company expanded its franchise many years later by adding on Sprinter vans. “We did that because it’s an incredibly great vehicle. Mercedes-Benz raised the standard of what a van is with Sprinter. Whether you are hauling cargo, passengers, or want to have a really nice camper, Sprinter vans are amazing. You can do a lot with a Sprinter. And when it comes to quality, you can’t beat it. After all, it’s a Mercedes-Benz,” said Burton.

Best of the Best is one of many awards the dealership has received for its performance over the last 50 years. It is based on customer satisfaction, leadership and management, sales, service and parts operation, and only a small percentage of dealers worldwide earn this award.

“I’m very proud of our Mercedes-Benz team because they do such a great job with our customers. It all boils down to people taking care of people. That’s how we’ve earned the business of so many customers over last 50 years. Taking great care of our customers is the biggest focus of our entire organization,” said Burton.

One of the oldest auto dealers in the United States, i.g. Burton & Co. was founded in 1908. Charlie Burton is the fifth-generation family owner.

In addition to Mercedes-Benz, i.g. Burton offers Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Fiat and BMW. It is also the oldest Blue Bird bus dealer in the country. Its Delaware dealerships are located in Milford, Seaford, Lewes and Smyrna, and another is in Berlin, Md. To learn more, go to igburton.com.