1960: Opens his first dealership, Ron Tonkin Chevrolet, in Portland, Ore.
1983: Becomes an NADA director
1989: Becomes NADA president
1990: Tells NADA convention he is filing a lawsuit accusing the Big 3 and Toyota of unfairly paying fleet incentives that allowed car rental companies to buy vehicles at prices below dealer invoice. As the next speaker after Tonkin's announcement, Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca good-naturedly referred to Tonkin as a "pain in the ass." The suit was settled out of court.
1996: Speaking of his career, says, "I don't know if I'd be good at anything else. But I do know that I can turn a dealership around, get it selling cars, get it making money again."
2006: Commenting on the franchise system, says, "There is no better way. The automakers that produce the cars are really not good at selling them. Every time they have made an attempt, it has resulted in failure. It's a different side of the business. They have to make them, and we have to sell them."
2009: Is named one of Automotive News' 50 Visionary Dealers
Source: Automotive News archives
Firebrand. Outspoken.
