Torkelson Motors of Elgin was founded in 1926 and originally operated under the name Torkelson Brothers, with Tom, Carl, Otto, and Clarence Torkelson forming the partnership. They purchased the current Elgin building at 216 Center Street from H.T. Knutson, uncle of the Torkelson Brothers. The building was originally built in 1915. In addition to the dealership, the Torkelson Brothers operated several other business ventures in Elgin, including maintaining seven or eight threshing rigs each summer, operating a sawmill, drilling water wells, repairing water pumps, running a meat locker, and even a rolling skating rink. These businesses played a vital role in establishing the strong commitment to customer satisfaction that Torkelson Motors continues to uphold today.

In 1926, the Torkelson Brothers secured a franchise with the two-year-old Chrysler Corporation to sell the Chrysler line of automobiles, making them one of the earliest Chrysler dealerships in Iowa. Chrysler’s reputation for excellence in engineering combined with the Torkelson family’s dedication to superior service allowed the business to survive the Great Depression and establish a strong presence in the automobile industry. Each brother contributed unique skills and interests, earning the dealership a reputation for being able to repair and rebuild nearly any machine of the era.

In 1949, Otis and Ivan Torkelson, sons of Clarence, purchased Otto Torkelson’s interest in the business and changed the name to Torkelson Motor Company. In 1951, Carl and Tom sold their interests as well, leaving Clarence and his sons, Otis and Ivan, as the sole owners. To support continued growth, additional lots beside the building were purchased and became the display area for the dealership’s expanding inventory of new and used vehicles.

The second generation of the Torkelson family, Ivan and Eleanor Torkelson, assumed total ownership of the business in 1964 and continued operating from the same Elgin location where it began in 1926. In addition to serving as a Chrysler dealer, Ivan played an active role in Chrysler and dealer relations. He served on the dealer council and was a member of the Chrysler and Dodge Advertising Boards for 20 years.

In 1978, a second dealership was opened in Waukon, Iowa. Ivan and Eleanor’s son Bruce and his wife Sue entered the business partnership and managed the Waukon location. The original Waukon dealership opened on Highway 9, and in 1986, a new facility was constructed and opened on Highway 76 North. Bruce continues to manage the Waukon dealership today.

In 1985, Dirk and his wife Cindy became partners in the family business. Dirk currently manages the Elgin dealership, making him the third generation of the Torkelson family to manage a Chrysler dealership in the original Elgin building.

Jerrod and his wife Royale, along with Brandon, and Cody and his wife Jacey, represent the fourth generation of the Torkelson family to be involved in the Torkelson Motors dealership. Jerrod began his career as a sales manager in Waukon in 2011 before transferring to the Elgin dealership. Brandon and Cody followed in their brother’s footsteps by joining the business as well. Brandon became the parts manager in Elgin in 2014, and Cody joined the Waukon dealership as a sales manager in 2017.