Our Mission

Donald Leggett founded Spankey's Auto Sales in Mechanicsburg, PA with only three vehicles. From that humble beginning in 1978, his business has grown to four locations and over one hundred employees. Incorporating in 1983, Spankey's has since become one of the largest used car dealerships in Pennsylvania.

Growth was modest at first. The late 70's and early 80's proved to be rather painful for Leggett due to youthful inexperience in a very competitive business. In 1979, not long after starting his business, Leggett was involved in a horrific automobile accident involving his VW Beetle and an eighteen-wheel truck. Needless to say, Leggett and his Beetle finished second. Unknown to the truck driver, the car was being dragged behind him. Fortunately, a young woman flagged the rig's driver to stop, broke the rear window of the Beetle and stayed with Leggett until the medics arrived. Leggett was flat on his back in a hospital bed for weeks. Without his leadership his business began to unravel. Months later, after recuperating at his father's home, he found his business near extinction.

Still bearing freshly healed scars and walking with crutches for 14 months, Donald Leggett resumed control of his tattered company. He now realized that without proper training and education of his employees, his business was doomed to fail. With dogged determination he set out to recruit and develop the best-qualified employees in the area. It was a time of revival both for his shattered ego and his faltering company. Leggett adopted "three simple concepts" to guide him on his journey to success: Do The Right Thing, Encourage Employee Education, and Give Outstanding Customer Service.

"Do the Right Thing" does not always mean making money. It is a matter of character, principle, and standing behind your word. Leggett understands that "Do the Right Thing" for your employees and customers means as did the young woman who stayed with him during his accident. Donald Leggett not only offers but also insists on his employees taking advantage of continuing education in the industry.

Real service "commitment to what we sell" was novel in the used car business. This inspired a body shop and service center that was opened in 1985. It quickly became recognized as the only certified independent BMW body shop in the Capital City Area. Three years later another sales location was opened in Enola to service their East Shore customers. A Truck and 4 Wheel Drive Center was added to the Mechanicsburg location in 1995. A Thrifty Car Rental was acquired in Carlisle during 1998 and after many struggles, is now profitable and growing. Other locations have since been acquired. A separate finance company was established early on to service customers in the Buy Here / Pay Here arena. Our Super Store approach encompasses the dealerships, body shop, rental center, and finance company into one umbrella, which can offer total service to our customers. Spankey's Auto Sales is truly one stop shopping.

According to Leggett, the combination of "Do the Right Thing" and Employee Education create Outstanding Customer Service. This equation continues to give Spankey's Auto Sales a strong customer base and ongoing growth. Implementation of his "three simple concepts" along with steady attention to an ever changing market have enabled Donald Leggett and his Spankey's employees to ride the crest of their industry.