The former Tim Short Auto Mall now contains Wildcat ’ s new service center .
Photo by Janie Slaven
Wildcat Used Cars ’ s original location on Hwy . 27 . Photo by Janie Slaven
“ It ’ s Amity and I , not one or the other . We ’ re a team .”
- Ricky Thomas
“ I just wanted to accomplish a goal that I ’ d set out for myself years ago ,” Thomas said .
In the last couple of years , Wildcat has continued to expand from its lot at the corner of US 27 and Ky . 914 to include two adjacent properties . Earlier this year , the company closed on the former Tim Short Auto Mall property directly behind them on Ky . 914 — expanding their coverage to a total of 12.79 acres .
“ We ’ ve got the property and the structures ,” Thomas said . “ It ’ s just going to take time to grow the business to the scale that we want .”
With the expansion , Wildcat is constructing a service department — something you normally associate with full-blown dealerships . It allows for better inspections by certified mechanics on vehicles before they ’ re sold .
“ We ’ ve basically quadrupled the number of employees ,” Thomas said of the expansions since the pandemic .
Though Wildcat carries all makes and models of pre-owned vehicles , Thomas noted their niche is trucks .
“ We sell more trucks than anything ,” he said . “ It ’ s what we ’ re known for ; we send them all over the country .”
He himself spends much of the week on the road going to various auctions in Kentucky and surrounding states to get the very best merchandise for the lot .
“ I traveled to eight different auctions last week ,” Thomas said , adding that he doesn ’ t buy into reports of a supply shortage when it comes to pre-owned automobiles . “ I have no problem getting all the cars I want . You might see that from dealers who choose not to be proactive and go find the vehicles .… It ’ s just like anything in life ; if you ’ re willing to hustle and go get it , the opportunities are our there .”
28 • SEKY - Life in Southeast Kentucky June 2022