W. Fred Ferman was a pioneering car dealer in Tampa. At 21 years old in 1895 he started Tampa Cycle and Sporting Goods, Co. at 908 Franklin St. He then moved to 508 Franklin and continued there until 1911 when he moved to Marion and Jackson Streets where he opened his first car dealership. At one time he dreamed of being a car manufacturer, but abandoned those plans so as not to leave Tampa. This Oldsmobile showroom opened in 1948, along with a truck service center at the east end of the building. Both were a block away from the original dealership. It went through several iterations as a car sales and service facility until leaving in 1977.

The shell of the old building is now a parking garage, helped by the structural strength of the second floor built to handle the weight of heavy vehicles. Looking closely inside the building, the former offices where deals were made are still visible, albeit boarded up. Fanciful red and black tile still lines the floor where Oldsmobiles once sat awaiting new owners. Ferman Motor Car Co. is now run by James L. Ferman, third-generation CEO after his father, James Ferman, and grandfather, W Frederick Ferman. The company now represents a dozen brands of vehicles in the tri-county area.

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