On July 18, 1964, Bill and Virginia Bunton purchased Collier Auto Supply at 333 South Ohio in Mercedes, Texas. The name of the business was changed to Bill Bunton Muffler and Auto Supply. Bill brought 18 years of experience in the auto parts business to the new enterprise.
Wally Bunton returned from two years in Africa with the Peace Corps with his wife, Mary and entered the family business on Thanksgiving Day of 1967.
The spring of 1968 saw the construction of the new machine shop building directly behind the auto parts store. The machine shop began operation in June under the supervision of V.D. Biestle of Edinburg. The name of the business was changed to Bill Bunton Auto Supply & Machine Shop. Manuel (Chino) Fonseca became the first machine shop operator.
In January of 1974 the business was incorporated and assumed the present name of Bill Bunton Auto Supply & Machine, Inc.
On June 10, 1977, the firm moved to its present location at 1101 West Highway 83. Bill Bunton died August 1, 1981, but the corporation continues with Virginia Bunton as Chairman of the Board, Wally Bunton as President, and Mary Bunton as Secretary and Treasurer.
In the summer of 1987 the store was remodeled due to the widening of Highway 83 and the machine shop was moved to a separate building behind the parts store.
The nature of the company’s business is to serve the automotive needs of the area and customers in all aspects that it can profitably cover. It specializes in replacement engine and chassis parts as well as accessories. The machine shop offers all machine services for automotive and industrial engines. A large variety of service equipment is stocked and a good parts inventory and service department for its repair is maintained. The company makes it a practice to carry top-quality, nationally advertised lines and to back these lines with adequate inventories and the best possible personal service. In addition to being a full-service jobber, Bill Bunton Auto Supply & Machines, Inc., serves walk-in trade, fleet customers, and body and paint shops. A special interest of the company is a customer education program, which provides schools and clinics with the latest in up-to-date information.
Our goal is to provide our customers with top-quality products and services at a reasonable price. We strive to be efficient, fair, courteous and honest in all our dealings.
