McGrath dealerships in Cedar Rapids is expanding with the purchase of Zimmerman Ford, BMW, Hyundai and Mitsubishi.

The dealerships confirmed the sale will take effect on August 11, changing the Zimmerman lines to McGrath. The sale adds the Ford, BMW and Mitsubishi lines to McGrath in Iowa, it already has a Hyundai dealership in Dubuque.

Mark Zimmerman said his family was looking to get out of the dealership business 48 years after his father bought the dealership on First Avenue SE.

"The timing was right for my wife, Tracy, and myself," Zimmerman told KCRG-TV9. "We are thrilled we were able to sell it to McGrath. We feel very confident our customers and employees will do a great job."

Zimmerman has about 80 employees that will now transfer to McGrath with the sale.

"We've come to find Mark has some very good people and we're excited at what this does for the expansion of our people," said Pat McGrath.

McGrath says the first thing customers might notice is an expanded inventory, particularly for Ford and BMW. McGrath says eventually, the family plans to put the Ford dealership in its own location so the BMW line can have its own showroom.

McGrath says it is great to keep a family dealership local, noting he had been eyeing the Zimmerman property for years.

"We've tried to show our commitment to the community, and to be able to take over and run a family owned dealership is exciting," said McGrath.

The sale will also include the Zimmerman Collision Center.

The sale is not related to McGrath's expansion to the former Junge location at the corner of Collins Rd. and Council St. NE. McGrath says that site will become a used car portion of McGrath Chevyland to make more room for Chevy inventory.