BJ Werner Ford was started in 1948 by Benedict J. Werner. The original location was 450 River Road in Garfield, New Jersey. Garfield is 18 miles northwest of New York City.

This original advertisement is from the 1950s.

Benedict Werner retired in 1965 and the dealership was taken over by Steven Spak. A new location was just down the street at 485 River Road. That was January of 1967.

The Ford "Golden Shovel" Award was given to dealers that significantly improved their facilites.

Spak worked at the dealership before buying it from Werner. He did not change the name.

We are pretty sure this was Steve Spak's jacket!

One of the perks of being a Ford dealer in the 1960s.

For the rest of my life? Jeez, I just wanted to see the new Mustang...

This is 6S523. The car spent its life in New Jersey and visited BJ Werner often.

As a franchise dealer, Werner sold about two dozen 1968 Shelbys. I have it on good authority that some original paperwork has survived. The "X-39" written on the invoice is a Werner stock number.

Car 2551 is actually Candyapple Red. The salesman was Steven Spak.

When car 2615 showed up at Werner. It was a total mess. Someone had stolen the carburetor and the car started on fire. It was deemed a total loss and Werner ended up paying just $350 for the car.

This Highland Green GT350 convertible is number 2625.

The dealership advertised in a few different newspapers. Here is an advertisement for the GT500KRs.

Nicely restored car 2929 represents the two dozen 1968s from Werner. Black was a rare color.

The ads from the 1960s are the best!

Car 3731 is now a red GT500 KR with an automatic transmission. The car started off Highland Green.

There were enough special yellow cars to go around. 4293 has a few modifications from its days at Werner.

The GT350 listed here had to be a used car based on the price.

This is Marty's 1969 GT350. The car that inspired the page.

If you want to attract some young men to the dealership this is the way to do it. One Playboy model and a super cool muscle car.

It seems to have worked.

From the looks of this Boss 302 the dealership dabbled in drag racing.

1979 Mustang Pace cars were on the lot
...and there was something lurking close by.

Believe it or not this 1970 SCJ Drag Pak was still in the Werner showroom. It would remain there until 1982 when BJ Werner went out of business.
When Marty first told me this story, I thought "It can not be true". It now has just over 500 miles on it and remains largely unrestored.

This reflective decal was on the bumpers on some Werner cars.




If you have anything from BJ Werner Ford and would like to share it, please contact me.

Coralsnake68@hotmail.com