From passion to profit

Aspen Smith-Kuehn received his dealer license in May of 2016, but his love for cars started long before that.

"It has always been a hobby for me ever since I was a kid" he says.

Now, that hobby has turned into a full-time business. On August 1, Smith-Kuehn left long-term employment to do what he loves; buy and sell vehicles.

Smith-Kuehn's shop at 524 N. Central Avenue in Ekalaka is clean. It's organized, at least by most people's standards. He apologizes for what he says is a "mess" and roles up an air hose.

The shop fits into the landscape nicely; it's the second of three red buildings in a row on the street. Above the front entrance hangs an A & B Auto Sales sign. Outside sit GMC pickups, a Chevy car and a Jeep, all for sale. The temperature is nearly 90 degrees. The clean vehicles glisten in the afternoon sunlight.

Inside the shop it's much cooler. There are tools put away neatly along the outer walls. Another pickup sits in front of his lift. It's not for sale, though. He has been working on it and won't sell it unless it's running up to his standards. "I won't sell something that I wouldn't drive myself," he says.

Smith-Kuehn has owned a lot of vehicles over the years, too many to count. He says that basically he couldn't ever decide what he wanted to drive, so he kept buying and selling his own vehicles in search of the perfect one. It seems that search is ongoing, but it has helped drive him to do what he loves.

"I like picking out the right vehicle for somebody, not just something that will work for them," he says.

If he doesn't have the right vehicle, he can find it. Smith-Kuehn spends countless hours searching online and frequents auctions. He researches and is deliberate when making purchases. Any vehicle he sells goes through a complete inspection, gets a full service and is detailed.

In addition to selling vehicles, Smith-Kuehn does tire installation and repair, servicing and light mechanic work on cars, pickups and SUVs.

As he continues to talk and look over his shop, a customer walks in who has a steering column problem on an older pickup. He almost immediately knows what the problem is and the two discuss solutions. Fortunately the customer brought it with, so Smith-Kuehn shows him how to fix it.

He has a vast knowledge on most makes and models of vehicles; a knowledge that has been some 30 years in the making. But it's not knowledge that led Smith-Kuehn to start A & B Auto Sales, it's a lifetime of loving cars.

"I grew up in this shop working with my old man," he says with a grin, "Now, I run my business here."

A & B Auto Sales can be contacted at (406) 775-6683 or (406) 975-6872. For more information check out facebook.com/ekalakaautos.