Utter Seeks Bankruptcy Protection Cadillac And Infiniti Dealerships File For Chapter 11

Utter Infiniti Inc. and Utter Motor Co., owned by the Utter family of Spokane for more than 50 years, filed for bankruptcy reorganization Friday under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Officials at Utter Infiniti Inc. and Utter Motor Co., which sell Cadillacs and Infinitis downtown at 1219 W. Second, would not comment Monday. Barry Davidson, the attorney representing the Utter companies, did not return phone calls.

However, another dealer said that the two makes of luxury cars are sure to remain available in Spokane.

Jeff Barton, president and co-owner of Barton Auto Dealerships, said that Barton’s dealerships downtown and in the Valley have been interested in acquiring the franchise rights to Cadillac and Infiniti for some time.

“We’re working in concert with Cadillac and Infiniti to provide those services to Spokane,” said Barton, whose dealerships specialize in Saturn, Jeep Eagle and Oldsmobile.

“Cadillac and Infiniti owners can be assured that services in Spokane will continue,” Barton said. He added that efforts to acquire the Cadillac and Infiniti franchise rights are “awfully preliminary.”

The Utter bankruptcy filing may reflect Spokane’s traditionally weak market for luxury cars, said Chris Marr, president of the Spokane New Car Association.In the past year, local sales of most luxury cars were about constant or slightly diminished, according to a count of new car registrations in Spokane County between 1993 and 1994.

“Spokane’s luxury market is relatively smaller than a lot of communities,” Marr said. “With that combination of Infiniti and Cadillac, you’re pretty much at the higher end of the market, so you’ll be impacted more by a slower luxury market.”

When Utter Motor Co. opened in 1941, the dealership was the first Pontiac and Cadillac franchise in the Inland Northwest.

Fred Utter Sr. named his son, Fred Utter Jr., president of the company in 1966. In 1970 they sold the Pontiac division. Rick Utter became president of Utter Motor Co. in 1989 when he took the position over from his father, Fred Utter Jr. The company added Infiniti in 1991.