If you’ve lived anywhere near Oxford County, Maine, in the last half-century, you knew the name. Bessey Motor Sales Inc wasn’t just a place to buy a truck. It was a landmark. For folks in South Paris, it was the reliable spot on Main Street where you’d see the latest Jeeps glinting in the sun and catch a wave from someone you probably went to high school with.
Then, everything changed.
Honestly, the way it ended felt like something out of a movie, and not a particularly happy one. One day the lights were on, and the next, there were locks on the doors and a bank representative standing guard. If you’re looking for the glossy, PR-approved version of this story, you won’t find it here. We’re talking about the rise, the rebranding, and the sudden $4.4 million collapse that left employees out in the cold and customers wondering if they’d ever see their vehicles again.
The Long Road from 1967
The story starts way back in July 1967. That’s when Bessey Motor Sales Inc officially incorporated. For decades, it was the quintessential small-town dealership. It thrived on "handshake deals" and a reputation for being a "Five-Star" outfit.
Gene Benner, a name synonymous with Maine’s automotive scene, was the heartbeat of the operation for a long time. He took a stake in 1984 and eventually bought the whole thing with his wife, Ellen, a decade later. Under his watch, the place was a powerhouse. We’re talking about a dealership that won the Five-Star Award of Excellence every single year starting in 1994.
You’ve gotta realize how rare that is. In a business where everyone is skeptical of the "car salesman," Bessey’s felt different. It felt like home.
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The Changing of the Guard
Eventually, Gene decided to step back. In 2023, the dealership was sold to John Emerson. This is where things started to shift, though most people didn't see the cracks forming immediately. Along with the new ownership came a new identity: Oxford County Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM.
The name "Bessey Motor Sales Inc" remained the legal entity, but the sign out front reflected a new era. For about two years, it seemed like business as usual. People still brought their Rams in for oil changes. They still haggled over Wranglers. But behind the scenes, the math was getting ugly.
Why Bessey Motor Sales Inc Suddenly Vanished
The end didn't come slowly. It was a cliff. On April 3, 2025, a court order from Massachusetts-based Rockland Trust Company brought the whole operation to a screeching halt.
Imagine showing up for your shift and being told to grab your toolbox because the bank owns the building now. That’s exactly what happened. Staff members were escorted off the premises. Some were told they’d need a lawyer just to get their personal belongings back.
The $4.4 Million Problem
So, what went wrong? It basically comes down to a massive "gap" in value. According to court filings and news reports from WMTW, the dealership owed Rockland Trust a staggering $4,462,621.27.
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Here’s the kicker: when the bank took a look at the inventory left on the lot—the cars, the parts, the equipment—it was only worth about $946,945.
That is a $3.5 million hole.
In the banking world, that’s a "shut it down today" kind of problem. When the value of the collateral (the cars) is that much lower than the loan, the trust is gone. The bank didn't just want their money; they wanted to stop the bleeding before that million dollars in inventory turned into even less.
The Customer Chaos of 2025
When a dealership like Bessey Motor Sales Inc (operating as Oxford County CDJR) closes overnight, it creates a nightmare for the community.
There were stories of customers who had dropped their cars off for service on a Wednesday, only to find the gates locked on Friday. One guy was stuck paying for a rental car while his primary vehicle sat "prisoner" inside a dark service bay.
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The legal fallout was messy. The Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection had already been keeping an eye on the entity—dating back to an "Assurance of Discontinuance" in 2018 regarding advertising disclosures—but this was a different beast entirely. This was a total institutional failure.
What about the warranties?
This is what most people get wrong about dealership closures. If you bought a new Jeep there, your manufacturer warranty is still good at any other CDJR dealer. But if you had a "we-owe" slip for a free detail or a specific dealer-backed service plan, you were likely out of luck.
Lessons from the South Paris Collapse
The fall of such a long-standing business teaches us a few things about the modern car market. Even a "local institution" isn't immune to the pressures of high interest rates and floorplan financing.
- Trust the brands, not just the building: Your factory warranty is your safety net. Always keep your digital records of service.
- The "Floorplan" Trap: Most dealerships don't own their cars outright. They "rent" them from banks. When sales slow down and the bank sees the inventory isn't moving, they can pull the plug instantly.
- Watch for the signs: Massive rebranding followed by a sudden loss of staff or "limited" service hours is often the canary in the coal mine.
What to Do if You Were a Customer
If you’re still trying to track down paperwork or titles from the Bessey Motor Sales Inc era, you aren't alone. Since the bank seizure, the primary point of contact moved to the trustees and legal representatives of Rockland Trust.
Next Steps for Impacted Owners:
- Check your Title: Ensure your lienholder information is updated if you've recently paid off a vehicle through the old dealership.
- Contact Stellantis: If you have an unfulfilled service contract, call the corporate Jeep/Ram customer service line. They can often redirect your service plan to another local dealer like Goodwin’s or a shop in Auburn.
- Legal Reclamation: If you still have personal property or a vehicle trapped in a closed facility, you must contact the court-appointed representatives rather than trying to reach the old business numbers.
The era of Bessey Motor Sales Inc in South Paris is officially over. It’s a tough pill to swallow for a town that relied on those 40+ jobs and that familiar face on Main Street. While the building might eventually house a new brand, the legacy of the original "Bessey’s" is now a cautionary tale of how quickly a local giant can fall.