In the early 60’s, the owners of a local garage received a postcard announcing the production of a new four-wheel drive vehic ... le. At the time, the automotive industry was producing only one other vehicle in this category, so the owners thought this might be a good opportunity to introduce a new four-wheel drive vehicle that they would be able to sell as well as service. The postcard was answered and the response was the founding of the first Toyota dealership in New England and the beginning of what has become a very successful endeavor for Dominic Galardi, Anthony Buglione and A-1 Toyota. A-1 Service began before this. In January of 1951, Dom joined his father-in-law, Tony Buglione, in a partnership that included a gas station and used cars. The station was located on the corner of Olive Street and St. John in New Haven. In 1963, A-1 completed the building of the first Toyota showroom on the East Coast. In 1966, just three years after opening their dealership, A-1 became the second largest Toyota dealership in the country. Toyota’s line-up featured only two vehicles at the time, the four-wheel drive Land Cruiser and one of the first economy cars, the Tiara. In 1980 A-1 Toyota moved to their current location on Amity Road in New Haven. The business is still owned by the same family, and Dominic has been joined by his son, Tony, and daughter, AnnaLynn; Tony Buglione’s children, Mike and Carol, as well as Stephen and Dawn Wheeler, AnnaLynn’s husband and sister-in-law,, and the next (3rd) generation of children, Stephen Wheeler, Jr., Tony Galardi, Jr. and Daniel Wheeler. A-1 Toyota is proud to be the 6th oldest Toyota dealership in the country. In looking back over the years, Dom Galardi is happy to have answered that postcard, and is proud of his family’s history with Toyota. With that in mind, the Galardi/Buglione/Wheeler family invites you to become part of their business family, where years of Toyota sales and service is still being celebrated. read more