Dimmitt Cadillac - Classic Luxury, Timeless Style

Written by Amy Paterson

For decades the Cadillac brand has been famous for its fine, luxury vehicles. So famous in fact that a major recording label, Cadillac Records, was so named because its founder Leonard Chess had a habit of buying all of his musicians (and himself) a Cadillac. Songs paying tribute to the icon have played on our radios for generations, and one of Cadillac’s biggest fans was the King of Rock-n-Roll himself, Mr. Elvis Presley. Elvis owned many Cadillac cars during his reign—the first being his world-renowned pink and white 1954 Cadillac—and was known for giving them as gifts. Throughout the years, many things have changed, but one thing that remains the same is Cadillac’s signature luxury style, partnered with dependable, quality vehicles and superb service. If Elvis were around today, I imagine he’d still drive a Cadillac. I picture him in the new Cadillac CTS Coupe, custom-finished in gold, of course.

Providing our community with 87 years of Cadillac sales and service is the Dimmitt family of Clearwater, Florida. The Dimmitt legacy began in Clearwater in 1924 when Larry Dimmitt, Sr. purchased a Ford dealership where he handled sales of Ford and Lincoln until 1933 when he began handling sales and servicing of Cadillac, Chevrolet, and LaSalle. In 1952, Larry Dimmitt, Jr. took over from his father, and then in 1972, Lawrence Dimmitt III followed family tradition and took over for Dimmitt, Jr. It was in 1976 that Richard Roth Dimmitt (currently the sole owner) became co-owner with his brother Lawrence and dealer/operator of the Cadillac dealership. In 1986, Dimmitt Cadillac relocated from its original location in downtown Clearwater on Ft. Harrison to its current location on US Hwy 19 in Countryside, now a local landmark, referred to as ‘The Mansion.’ Richard Dimmitt became the sole owner of Dimmitt Automotive Group in 1993. Today, Dimmitt Cadillac specializes in sales and service of Cadillac, Land Rover, and Saab. The family legacy continues as Mr. Dimmitt prepares his sons, Peter and Richard, Jr., to become the fourth generation of owners in the Dimmitt family.

Family is an important part of Dimmitt Automotive Group and extends beyond the boundaries of blood. The entire staff of Dimmitt Cadillac work as a family. I experienced this first-hand when I was given a tour of the property by Dimmitt’s Community Relations Director, Kelli Krebes. In every area, from the sales floor to the service department, everyone I met was proud to tell me how they came to Dimmitt. Many of Dimmitt’s employees have worked there for decades.

“It is a pleasure to work for a family committed to our community,” says Kelli. “One family, partnered with a professional staff dedicated to ensure your complete satisfaction can make a difference.”

The service department plays a huge part in the Dimmitt Cadillac legacy and specializes in providing quality service to any model and make of vehicle. The dealership used to handle sales of Hummer, and will continue to specialize in servicing Hummer vehicles. Dimmitt Cadillac’s service department is legendary for excellence in service, and just like the sales department, caters to customers’ needs, whether it is relaxing in one of the lounge areas, having a quiet place to catch up on emails, or getting chauffeured to a destination. And, there are always fresh baked goods, delicious coffee and refreshments available.

When mishaps happen and your car needs paint and body work, you are in good hands at Dimmitt Cadillac’s state of the art Collision Center.  Adhering to the “Cadillac Standard” in customer service and quality work, Dimmitt Collision Center repairs all makes and models, accepting all insurances.

The Dimmitt family takes pride in our community, and has continuously contributed to local organizations throughout the years. Dimmitt Automotive Group has sponsored many charities and non-profits, as well as private dimmitschools. Local organizations that have Dimmitt’s ongoing support include: Children’s Cancer Center, All Children's Hospital, Mike Alstott Family Foundation, Morton Plant Mease Foundation, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, The Run Neese Foundation, United Way of Tampa Bay, PARC, UPARC, Children's Home Society of Tampa Bay, Gulf Coast Division, American Cancer Society - Pinellas County Unit, Boys and Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay, Salvation Army, Good News Jail and Prison Ministry, Red Cross Disaster Relief, Toys for Tots, The Haven of RCS, East Lake Youth Sports Complex, Clearwater Little League, and East Lake Little League.

Dimmitt is proud to announce their recent partnering with Ruth Eckerd Hall. The pair is very excited about future endeavors together. Richard Dimmitt commented, “The partnership between Dimmitt and Ruth Eckerd Hall is a great way to help drive the economy while supporting the arts and arts education in our community!”

The Ruth Eckerd Hall-Dimmitt Automotive Group partnership is offering new vehicle buyers a complimentary six-month Dress Circle membership. As a Dress Circle member, you are entitled to an array of privileges such as ticket purchasing before the general public, private concierges phone line service for ticket purchasing, access to the exclusive Hoffman Dress Circle lounge with complimentary champagne, wine and soft drinks. Dress Circle members enjoy exclusive VIP Experiences such as Meet and Greets, backstage tours and other up-close and personal experiences at Ruth Eckerd Hall. My sister and I were able to experience the Dress Circle firsthand, as Kelli was kind enough to invite us to attend the Kenny G. concert. We had VIP parking, free beverages and hors d’oeuvres, and a fantastic show!

If you have ever dreamed of owning a luxury automobile, you owe yourself the experience of a visit to Dimmitt Cadillac, where every customer is treated like gold. And, if you are in need of a quality, hand-selected pre-owned vehicle, Dimmitt Cadillac has many choice vehicles available. Take the time to tour the property, meet some of the staff and check out the History Wall in the Mansion that displays photos of the Dimmitt family’s climb to excellence in the automotive industry. You also can find this history lesson at www.dimmitt.com, under “About Us” on the company information page.

When you visit Dimmitt, they treat you like you are coming into their home. The friendly, warm environment is enjoyable – a place where everyone feels welcome. So what are you waiting for? If you love luxury, innovative engineering and timeless class, your next vehicle may be right down the road at Dimmitt Cadillac.

Visit Dimmitt Cadillac to take your favorite new Cadillac for a test drive. Do you see yourself maneuvering thoroughfares in the Cadillac of Crossovers, the ultra-fine, sporty Cadillac SRX? Maybe it’s the new fit-for-a-king CTS Coupe.  Go ahead, channel your inner Elvis and be King for a day…or longer.

Dimmitt Automotive Group is located at 25191 U.S. Hwy. 19 N in Clearwater.  Sales hours are Mon. – Fri., 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Sat. from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Service department hours are Mon. – Fri., 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., and Sat., 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.  The Collision Center is open Mon. – Fri., 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and on Sat., 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Visit online at www.dimmitt.com or call (727) 797-7070 for additional information.