Glenda Defas thought she was going to Rick Case Honda to buy a car.

Instead, she received the gift of a lifetime.

Defas, who lost her previous vehicle in a terrifying carjacking, fell to her knees in thanks when Rick Case Automotive Group president and CEO Rita Case told her the dealership was giving her a 2020 Honda Passport.

“I feel like Jesus listened to me and sent me angels to release my tragedy,” she told a local television station.

In August, Defas and her brother, who is disabled and deaf, were carjacked by a man who threatened them with a hammer. When police later saw the vehicle and caught up to it, the driver fled, and the ensuing chase ended with a crash that left Defas’ SUV totaled.

Defas was devastated — she had just finished paying off the vehicle after seven years of making payments.

Case saw the story on the news and decided to get involved.

“When I heard this story, I had to help this family,” Case said. “She and her brother went through a traumatic experience. I felt so much empathy for her, especially on learning her car was totaled after she spent seven years paying it off.”

She contacted Defas’ daughter, who brought Defas to the dealership in Davie, Fla., under the pretense of looking for another vehicle.

Rick Case Automotive Group, which operates 12 dealerships in South Florida and the Atlanta area, is the largest female-owned dealership group in America. Rita Case and her late husband Rick created, developed and led fundraising initiatives that have raised more than $120 million for organizations in South Florida.

Victory for the win: Group acquires St. Louis Toyota store

Chalk up a win for Victory Automotive Group.

The Michigan-based dealership group has acquired Weiss Toyota of South County in St. Louis from John Weiss and John Capps, according to Haig Partners, which advised the seller in the transaction.

Victory, led by Jeff Cappo and sons Eric and Mike, now owns more than 50 dealerships in 11 states. In 2023, it reported some 50,000 new and used sales and revenues of $2.3 billion. Its new acquisition, renamed Victory Toyota St. Louis, is the company’s first location in Missouri.

“This dealership is an ideal fit with our strategy of growing with leading brands and strong managers across the U.S.,” Jeff Cappo said.

Weiss Toyota of South County, founded in 1985, has been the highest volume Toyota dealership in St. Louis for several years, Haig Partners said.

Dealer principal John Weiss said he sold the business because “my children decided to go into finance and healthcare” and “I was ready to literally go fishing more often.”

“I’ve been a dealer for my entire career and sold all kinds of new vehicles, including Volvos and Ferraris, but the best investment I ever made was to purchase this Toyota dealership,” Weiss said. “I’ve loved representing the brand and building a talented team. … I’d like to congratulate the Cappo family at Victory Automotive Group. I know they will enjoy working with our longtime general manager, Casey Krebs, and the rest of our team to continue delivering an excellent experience for our customers in the St. Louis area.”

Haig Partners said the sale is its 67th in the Midwest region, which managing director John Davis said is an underrated area for auto dealerships.

“Florida and Texas get a lot of press related to acquisitions,” he said, “but the Midwest is one of the best areas for auto retail, given the many population centers and a lower cost of living than most of the country. As a result, acquisitions of dealerships in the Midwest can provide a strong return on investment.”