California Chrysler

Moniteau County, Missouri

California Chrysler

Est. 1913 as Keil's Garage

1968-2020 Spieler's, Inc.

Frank Keil, Richard Speiler and the still extant garage built in 1916

From the June 11, 1914 Moniteau County Herald:

Two New Richmonds

Roy Chambers and M. L. Hedrick received a new six cylinder Richmond last week, and Wm. Keil, the garage man received a new four cylinder Richmond, Monday. These gentlemen and A. A. Gatschet have the agency for the car in this locality. These are the first Richmonds brought to California and they are an attractive automobile, with electric starter and head lights and all late improvements.

From the May 18, 1916 California Democrat:

Installs Chargin Machine

Frank Keil has installed at his garage a machine for charging storage batteries.

From the June 1, 1916 Moniteau County Herald:

COME TO FRANK KEIL

for Auto Repairing of All Kinds Work positively guaranteed. Agent for Allen, Jackson and Halladay Cars.

Your patronage appreciated

Phone No. 385

From the July 20, 1916 Moniteau County Herald:

The Dort car, belonging to Jerry Cook and Lash Reed, which was wrecked in an auto collision in Jefferson City recently, is being rebuilt at the Keil garage.

From the August 31, 1916 Moniteau County Herald:

Automobiles Collide

Hill McPherson in his Reo and Jesse Martin in his Chandler Six collided on the streets of Clarksburg Saturday evening, and the Chandler Six's lights were broken and other minor damage was done while the Reo's running gear was badly damaged and had to be brought to California for repairs. It is being put into condition at Frank Keil's garage.

From the October 19, 1916 Moniteau County Herald:

Work on New Garage

Contractor Ben Inman has received the contract for the erection of the Frank Keil garage. Excavation began Monday. It is to be53x97 feet, of brick with an entire front of glass and a liberal number of windows along the north side. There will also be a skylight, so the workmen will have plenty of light.

From the October 26, 1916 Moniteau County Herald:

Excavating and Building

Work has commenced on the foundation of Frank Keil's garage. Mr. Keil is temporarily located in the Mike Kiely building opposite Rombach's bakery.

From the June 27, 1968 California Democrat:

After Being in Business 55 Years Frank Keil Sells to Richard Spieler

After 55 years as one of California's leading businessmen, Frank Keil is retiring. He has sold his garage to Richard Spieler. Mr. Spieler will take over the business and the Chrysler-Plymouth agency on July 1.

Mr. Keil first went into the taxi business with August Zey on May 28, 1913. The two men bought an old building that was at that time on the corner of his present location. A large two-story boarding house stood where his garage is now.

When interviewed Mr. Keil said that they soon found out a taxi business would not make enough money for two families, so he bought out Mr. Zey the following year and went into the garage business. He has spent part of 1912 in Kansas City taking a course in auto mechanics, so decided to put what he had learned to work.

In 1916 he bought the boarding house and had it torn down. That fall the new garage was stated. When completed he was granted a Buick dealership which he kept until 1931. He became the agency for Chrysler-Plymouth in 1935.

Mr. Keil expanded his facilities in 1946 when he bought the Kiesling building adjoining the garage. He is leasing the building to Mr. Spieler.

A big remodeling project will soon begin. Plans call for a complete new front for the building. A wall between the present show room and garage will be torn down making way for a new spacious room for showing new cars. A new wall will be built to separate the show room and garage. The new drive-in entrance will face the south.

Mr. Spieler plans to have his office and the auto parts department in that section that was once the Kiesling building. He hopes to have the remodeling job completed in time for a Grand Opening when the 1969 cars are introduced.

Charles Kaiser, who has been with Mr. Keil since 1917, will continue to work for Mr. Spieler. Others who are staying are Chester Keil and richard Roedel. Mr. Keil will be in charge of the parts department and will also serve as a salaesman.

Selling is not something new to Mr. Spieler. Before he went to work for Ralston Purina in 1964 as field supervisor for this area, he and his father, the late Herbert Spieler, were in partnership with the John Deere Farm Equipment agency in Tipton. After the agency was sold he farmed for a short time before going with Ralston Purina.

Mr. Spieler is a native of California and has lived here all of his life except for the years he was in the Army and the few years he and his family lived in Tipton. He and his wife, Jane, have three children, Dana, Kim and Cinda.

From Frank Keil's obituary in the October 6, 1977 California Democrat:

Frank Keil, 86, a car dealer in California 55 years, died at home in his sleep early Sunday morning.

Mr. Keil started in business in 1913 selling Maxwell and Allen cars. He then had the Buick agency until he went with Chrysler-Plymouth in 1930. He retired in 1968, and sold his business to Richard Spieler.

From the July 8, 2020 California Democrat:

Spieler's under new ownership

California Chrysler to see grand opening

After its long-time owners stepped away earlier this year, Spieler's is under new ownership.

Cliff Harris has taken over the business and plans to have a grand opening later this year, under the new name California Chrysler. Harris owns three other dealerships Warrensburg Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram Fiat, Warrensburg Ford and Marshall Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

"We believe in taking care of our customers. In fact, that is our slogan, 'we want you to be another happy customer,' and we live by that," Harris said.

Though most things will stay the same within the company, Harris is planning on adding some new service equipment, an alignment machine and rack, and a new tire machine and balancer with the hopes of becoming a full-service dealership.

Harris will be a new face at the business, but there will still be some familiar ones. Mark Knipp, who has been with Spieler's for more than 30 years, will be the general manager at California Chrysler. Bruce Rosenmiller, Bernie Bestgen, Bonnie Allee, Darren Haldiman and Robert Dumsday all remain in parts and service, Christina Miller in the office, John Schoenfeld in sales and Kevin Woolery in detail. But Harris said they're always looking to hire some new faces in all departments.

"All the employees are basically the same, so there's still the same familiar faces when they come in," Knipp said. "We offer all the same services that we did with Spieler's. We are looking forward to still servicing the California area and beyond."

With that being said, Harris and the rest of his team are looking forward to not only keeping up with what Spieler's was known for but also improving the business under its new title and ownership to help benefit the California community.

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