"I think the 2002 inventory was much slimmer than normal; we had a very robust August," said Michael Maroone, president of AutoNation, which operates dealerships in 17 states.

The company operates Volvo, Lincoln-Mercury, Chrysler and other dealerships.

"It's absolutely spectacular," said Michael Maroone, president of AutoNation, which operates dealerships in 17 states, referring to the zero percent deals.

Its subsidiaries operate dealerships that sell passenger vehicles from Volkswagen, Audi, and Chrysler.

Besides its fleet of 7,000 rental cars and vans, it operates new- and used-car dealerships in southern New Hampshire from its headquarters here near Manchester.

The company operates dealerships in most areas of the United States, except for the Northeast and Midwest.

Johnson Implement operates dealerships in Greenwood and Charleston, Miss., and Mr. Johnson said the two stores had sold 18 tractors and 14 pickers in September alone.

Cullen was said to be "very sad" at the appointment of receivers to his businesses Glencullen Holdings, which operates dealerships in Swords and Liffey Valley.

He became a salesman for Marmon and in the mid-1930s operated dealerships in Manhattan and Palm Springs, featuring Rolls Royce, Jaguar and other high-line luxury cars.

At its peak, the company operated dealerships in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Texas, Arizona and Nevada.