119 S Larch Street Lansing, MI

Monday - Friday 7 AM to 6 PM

Our Auto Technicians

Liskey’s Auto and Truck Service history

Our story begins in 1960 when George Liskey, our founding father, opened the doors of this two‐man shop. George worked for the John Bean Corporation here in Lansing and was far ahead of his time. George was a pioneer in the automotive suspension field. He developed and published the first suspension specification chart in the industry. George would take measurements and document his findings on all types of vehicles. George worked very diligently to develop a way to keep vehicles aligned to their true center, thus resulting in cars tracking forward in a positive direction.

In 1962, Ed Carpenter, who had recently graduated from Ferris State College, moved his family to Lansing and began working for George Liskey. They formed a close relationship, both working and personal. After a few years, Ed decided it was time to move on and get more exposure in the automotive field. He left Liskey’s and went to work for a local dealership.

In 1972, George Liskey approached Ed and offered to sell the business to him. It was time for both men to broaden their horizons, and the transaction was made. After purchasing Liskey’s, Ed didn’t have the funds to rename the business. He also decided it would benefit him to keep the name and carry on in the specialized field, which was evolving in the automotive world. In 1972, Liskey’s was a three-bay shop. Today, we have thirteen bays with several experienced auto technicians to serve our customers’ automotive needs.

During his tenure, Ed became a fixture in the downtown area. Liskey’s became even more widely known for their abilities and specialties. Ed has earned many accreditations: Businessman of Year as awarded by the Greater Lansing Business Monthly and participant of the Automotive Advisory Board of Lansing Community College. Ed also served as a member of the Board of Directors and President of the Automotive Service Association of Michigan. In addition, he was on the Board of Directors of the Turner-Dodge House, to name a few.

In 1993, the original Liskey’s location was bought by the City of Lansing for its parking project and future Stadium District. Ed had already acquired Herms Body Shop on the East side of Larch Street as part of the Liskey’s experience. So, the decision was made to close and renovate the body shop and to stay downtown; thus came the slogan, “I stayed downtown to serve you!” On February 28, 1994, Lansing saw the Liskey’s Tool Box Parade, with then-Mayor David Hollister helping move toolboxes across Larch Street to bring Liskey’s to its new home. Many other dignitaries and local TV stations were also on hand for the occasion.

In 2003, Ed and his son, Jerry, made another transition. Jerry would take over the business’s daily operations, and Ed would, once again, broaden his horizons in yet another direction. This time, his new endeavor would be a U‐Cut Christmas Tree Farm.

Jerry would come to the auto shop after school to help his Dad and the other technicians by sweeping the floors and moving vehicles in and out of the shop. He would also take care of the lot and do many other helpful things that allowed his Dad and the staff to keep working on cars. Jerry’s Mom and Dad taught their children from early on that working hard would have its rewards if you were diligent in your work ethic.

After Jerry graduated from high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and spent four years in Bremerton, Washington. During this time away from home, Ed called Jerry and asked if he was interested in running the shop someday. After some soul-searching and careful consideration, he responded with a resounding yes. After his time serving our country, Jerry returned home to enroll in Lansing Community College and began learning the automotive trade from his father and colleagues. Both Jerry and Ed also possess degrees from the Automotive Management Institute.

Since taking over the auto shop, Jerry has embraced the same philosophy as his father. From customer service to public service, he always carefully considers a situation. To further that, Jerry has also been and is currently on the Lansing Community College Automotive Advisory Board. This board advises the automotive department on various developments in the automotive field. Jerry also serves on the Service Dealer Advisory Council for the Automotive Distribution Network. This group comprises service garages and parts stores from around the country. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Automotive Service Association of Michigan. This organization works with the political issues of automotive repair. In 2009, 2010, and 2012, Liskey’s was voted Best Repair Facility in Lansing by readers of the City Pulse, a local magazine. Jerry also served several years on the Board of Directors of the Capitol Quarter Midget Association. This organization teaches and supports children 5‐16 years of age in Auto Racing for Kids.

The motto “There Is No Substitute For Quality” came from a sign hanging over the area where Ed worked as a young man for George Liskey. This is not just our motto, but a way of life. A way of life for George. A way of life for Ed. A way of life for Jerry. A way of life for everyone at Liskey’s.

Ed & Jerry Carpenter