With more than 100 years in the transportation business in Louisiana, the Bubba Oustalet family has made a tradition of quality service and evolving to meet the new challenges of each passing year.

Bubba Oustalet Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Toyota and Bubba Oustalet Chevrolet-Cadillac offers customers the same quality service which has come to be associated with the Oustalet name.

The family tradition of customer service and satisfaction began nearly 100 years ago in New Orleans with Emile Oustalet's carriage and wagon business. In 1896, family patriarch Emile Oustalet opened a wagon manufacturing plant in New Orleans. Emile was a first generation American. Born in Natur Lourdes, France, European pride in craftsmanship was instilled in him at an early age. He was educated at the University of Paris where he became a master engineer and metallurgist. He put that knowledge and pride to work when he opened his wagon shop in New Orleans.

Emile established a reputation as a quality manufacturer of wagons that could travel and withstand the tricky terrain of Louisiana. But just as important, Emile backed his product with service after the sale. It was the beginning of a family tradition in the transportation business.

Perhaps "Grandpa" Emile saw the future of transportation as he schooled his son Maurice in the business. The education of his son set the pattern for another tradition in the Oustalet family. Each generation of Oustalets since has apprenticed under the experienced eye of his father.

Emile laid the foundation for four generations of quality transportation sales and service. As the dealership celebrates over 100 years in the transportation business, Bubba Oustalet pays special tribute to "Grandpa" who set the example which the family has followed since 1896. Maurice learned at an early age that quality was important. Maurice was in the right place at the right time to appreciate more than anyone else the importance of quality in transportation sales and service. As an apprentice to his father, Maurice was instructed in the art of wagon craftsmanship. Detailed craftsmanship was ingrained into his mind. It was this appreciation of detail which later made his venture into the servicing of automobiles a success..

Automobiles were a new phenomenon on the American scene when Maurice opened his auto painting and repair shop in 1921 in New Orleans. The tradition of quality had been established by his father and he was determined to maintain that hard-earned reputation in the transportation business. Maurice succeeded in building the largest automotive service center in the south.

In 1922, A.J.M. Oustalet Jr. was born. "Bubba" was to be the third generation of Oustalets to be involved in the transportation business, but not before he too had served his apprenticeship. Bubba learned from his father in the family tradition. He furthered that education with a degree in mechanical and aeronautic engineering from Louisiana State University, followed by hands-on experience in vehicle sales and management.

Bubba was an experienced 30-year-old when he opened his first Ford dealership in Jennings. It was 1952. Now, the Ford Dealership in Jennings is operated by Bubba's son Rick Oustalet, who also apprenticed under his father. In 1959, Bubba acquired a second dealership in Gulfport, MS, and another dealerhip in Gulfport in 1980.

In 1980, Bubba Oustalet acquired the Chevrolet-Cadillac dealerhip in Jennings. This dealership is operated by Joel Oustalet, who also apprenticed under his father, Bubba.

Quality has been, and remains, a priority in the Oustalet family. Bubba Oustalet has enhanced his family's reputation in sales and service and his contributions have been recognized numerous times on a national level. In 1977, Bubba Oustalet was honored as a Time magazine national Quality Award Winner of the Year. This award was a first for a Louisiana dealership. He has also been awarded the Ford Motor Company's highest honor, the Distinguished Achievement Award, for many years.

And the tradition of quality and dedication to customer service is carried through with the fourth generation of Oustalets in the two Jennings dealerships. The Ford dealership has recently undergone a total renovation to add to the convenience offered to customers and vehicle shoppers.

"We've totally remodeled the dealership," said Rick Oustalet. "We've doubled the showroom space, tripled the capacity of the parts department, enlarged the service department, expanded the collision center, and remodeled the offices and customer lounges."

To the customer, the remodeling means a pleasant environment to go along with the same professional sales and service offered at Bubba Oustalet Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Toyota.

And with the additional show-room space, customers can take advantage of the 20 percent expansion in vehicles, with an even better selection of cars, trucks and vans. That selection offers something for everyone, from the traditional value of the Ford, Chevrolet and Mercury lines, to the luxury of the Lincoln or Cadillac and the quality associated with the Toyota nameplate. You can find all of these choices at Bubba Oustalet.

Though the dealership has a new look, the people of south Louisiana can still depend on the same friendly home town award-winning service which made the Bubba Oustalet name synonymous with quality.

"We're proud of our 39 Distinguished Achievement Awards, which are based on customer service," Rick said. "We have 60 friendly employees who are dedicated to customer service".

And for the convenience of those customers looking for a quality used car, truck or car, the Oustalet commitment has added the Bubba Oustalet Sales Center on La. 26 in Jennings.

In addition to friendly, professional salespeople, Bubba Oustalet provides complete service after the sale, with a factory trained and award-winning service department, as well as a complete factory parts inventory to back up the sale.

Bubba Oustalet has become a household word in south Louisiana and the name still stands for quality sales and service of automobiles. Quality is a family tradition with the Oustalet family that you, the customer, can count on today and tomorrow as much as yesterday.