Since 1965, the Frank Leta Auto Group has grown in lockstep with the automotive brand and our hometown of St. Louis.
Time and time again, the local community has shown its loyalty to the Leta family and the automotive brands we offer. A commitment to lifelong quality, innovation, and sustainability has earned the support of our customers, which in turn grants us the ability to give back to the community.
Here are some of the events that have made all of us who we are today and led to our philosophy of customer care, Leta For Life.
Frank Leta is born in Franklin, Pennsylvania, the 10th child of Francesco and Angelena. Frank was born into an entrepreneurial family. His father, Francesco Leta, was partner in a successful wholesale produce business for many years as the family grew to its considerable size.
1949 Leta History
Frank and his brother, Joe, join the United States Air Force. During the Korean War, he performs pre-flight inspections at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia and Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, Illinois.
1950 ST. Louis History
Philadelphia has the cheesesteak. Chicago has the deep dish pizza. St. Louis has the toasted ravioli. While it is served at many neighborhood restaurants, it originates in 1950 at Angelo Oldani’s on the Hill, the Italian neighborhood where both Yogi Berra and Joe Garagiola grew up.
1952 Leta History
Frank and Toni (née Pezzimenti) are married in Corpus Christi Church in St. Louis. After the wedding and honeymoon, Frank and Toni begin their married life together in St. Louis.
1952-1967 Leta History
Looking for reliable work to support his new family, Frank begins selling sewing machines. He has a natural talent for sales and gets off to a great start. Over the next decade-plus, Frank would own and manage sewing machine stores in Evansville, Danville, St. Louis, Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, and West Palm Beach.
1958 ST. Louis History
The St. Louis Hawks win the NBA Championship in six games over Red Auerbach’s Boston Celtics. This would be the last Finals until 1967 not won by those Celtics, and the Hawks’ (now based in Atlanta) sole NBA Championship.
1959 Honda History
With just eight employees and three models to offer, Honda begins selling motorcycles in the United States. This marks the beginning of Honda’s long and successful presence in the American automotive landscape.
1960-1970
1965 Leta History
After much hard work and persuasion, Frank Leta shifts careers after winning Honda’s approval to open the Northland Honda motorcycle franchise in North St. Louis county.
1965 ST. Louis History
The Gateway Arch is completed, after just over two years of construction. The Arch, located at the site of St. Louis’s founding on the west bank of the Mississippi River, is often referred to as “The Gateway to the West.” It would become a world-recognized symbol of St. Louis.
1965 ST. Louis History
The St. Louis Blues join the NHL as one of six expansion franchises, taking the number of NHL teams up to 12. The team is named after the W. C. Handy song “Saint Louis Blues.”
1965 Honda History
Honda introduces its first passenger car in the US market, the N600 sedan. The vehicle already showed Honda’s engineering prowess with an all-alloy, air-cooled engine putting out one horsepower per cubic inch. With a top speed of 80 mph, the compact vehicle got outstanding fuel economy at 47 mpg. It retailed for just $1,300 ($9,310 in 2022 dollars).
1971 Leta History
Leveraging his relationship with Honda, as well as his signature people skills, Frank becomes the first Honda automobile dealer in the Midwest. As sales of Honda’s peppy, fuel-efficient cars took off amidst the oil crisis of the 70s, Frank Leta expanded to a property on St. Louis’ “Auto Row” at 9420 West Florissant Avenue.
1971 ST. Louis History
Six Flags St. Louis opens. Originally known as Six Flags Over Mid-America, it is the only original park completely owned by Six Flags.
1980-1990
1982 Honda History
The first Honda Accord rolls off the assembly line at the Marysville Auto Plant in Maryville, Ohio, making Honda the first Japanese automaker to build cars in America using domestic and globally-sourced parts.
1985 Leta History
Construction is completed on the all-new (and newly rebranded) Frank Leta Honda in Bridgeton, at 12101 St. Charles Rock Road. This location is still active today as the Frank Leta Automotive Outlet, as well as the home to Frank Leta Misubishi.
1986 Leta History
Frank Leta becomes one of the first Acura dealers in the country when he opens Frank Leta Acura, designed on a modern template similar to the Honda store. The two stores are unlike anything in St. Louis at the time, featuring red clay tiles and a “California style” showroom.
1991 Honda History
Honda introduces VTEC, its foundational technology for low emissions, high fuel efficiency, and high performance, in the Acura NSX.
1997 Honda History
The first-generation Honda CR-V is offered for sale in North America. Built on the Civic’s platform, the midsize SUV drove like a car and offered good mileage and performance.
1999 Honda History
The Honda Insight becomes the first hybrid vehicle available in North America.
2000-2010
2000 ST. Louis History
The St. Louis Rams, known as the “Greatest Show on Turf,” win Super Bowl XXXIV. The 23–16 victory has gone down as one of the greatest Super Bowl games in history.
2002 Honda History
The first-generation Honda Pilot, Honda’s largest SUV, is offered for sale in North America.
2006 Leta History
Frank Leta Honda moves to a new, state-of-the-art facility in O’Fallon, MO. That same year, the company launches the Frank Leta Automotive Outlet, a used vehicle dealership, at the Bridgeton location.
2006 ST. Louis History
Busch Stadium opens as the new home of the St. Louis Cardinals. It replaces Busch Memorial Stadium, occupying part of that stadium’s former footprint. The St. Louis Cardinals would go on to win the World Series that same year, defeating the Detroit Tigers in five games.
2012 Leta History
Frank Leta Honda and Frank Leta Acura are both named by Automotive News as Top Ten Dealerships to Work For in the US.
2013 Leta History
Frank Leta Charitable Foundation is founded with the mission to provide safe and reliable transportation to those in need. Over 100 local non-profits and individuals have been served by the Foundation since its inception.
2017 Honda History
The Honda Civic Type R sets a new record lap time for a front-wheel drive car on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Later that year, the Civic Type R is made available for sale in the United States for the first time.
2019 Leta History
Frank Leta adds a Mitsubishi franchise to the Bridgeton facility, along with a second pre-owned location to the South County location next to the Acura dealership.
2019 ST. Louis History
The St. Louis Blues win their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. They triumph over the Boston Bruins four games to three in a nail biting seven-game series.
2020-Present
2020 Leta History
Frank Leta adds Acura of Springfield in Springfield, Missouri to the family of dealerships.
2020 Leta History
Frank Leta Automotive is recognized with the Time Magazine Dealer of the Year Award for client satisfaction and community service.
Present Day Leta History
The Frank Leta Automotive Group is still a local, family-owned, and operated business that is deeply committed to providing a lifetime of exceptional care for its team members, clients, and community.
