Barker Motor Company has been serving McLean County since the early 1930's. Originally established in 1917 as a Ford dealer in Danville, Illinois the Ford franchise in Champaign, Illinois was acquired later and both were liquidated before Alden Barker brought his team to Bloomington, Illinois.

Over the years Barker Motor Company has represented many franchises, American Motors, Jeep, Subaru, Honda, and probably the one best remembered Oldsmobile. Today Barker Motor Company represents GMC light and medium duty trucks, Cadillac, Workhorse, and Isuzu W-Series at 2030 Ireland Grove Rd. Just up the road in Lexington, Illinois Barker Motor Companies sister store, barker Chevrolet was opened in 2004 to bring a third dimension to our product portfolio after GM decided to retire Oldsmobile. Both locations offer complete sales, service, and leasing functions, including two large parts inventories that include Caterpillar, Isuzu, Workhorse and GM genuine parts.

For seven decades Barkers has been here watching franchises and competitors come and go. A few basic principals contribute to the companies success, good service, fair pricing, quality products, and "Doing unto others as we would have them do unto us." Words are only words unless they're supported with deeds. Give us a call Monday-Friday or stop by and give us a try to see if you won't agree with what we say is true.

Barker Timeline

1935 – Alden F. Barker II moved to Bloomington from Danville to open the Oldsmobile dealership located at 407 W. Washington Street.

1945 – Barker moved the Oldsmobile dealership to 310 N. Lee Street in Bloomington.

1956 – Alden sold the dealership to his two sons Al and Bill Barker.

1971 – The Lee Street location was sold to the City of Bloomington to build a fire station. The store was then moved to the current location at 2030 Ireland Grove Road. 

1978 – The Barker brothers expanded the dealership by purchasing the Cadillac franchise for the area. 

1994 – Barker’s product offering became even more diverse when they purchased the GMC franchise in 1994.

1999 – Al and Bill Barker sold the dealership to the current owners Dan Traeger and Tim Johnson.

2001 – GM downsized and cut out the Oldsmobile brand.  Barker changed the name to Barker GMC Cadillac.

2003 – The dealership diversified its product line once again by becoming a GMC Medium Duty Truck dealer. 

2004 – Barker purchased the Chevrolet franchise in Lexington, Illinois and named it Barker Chevrolet.