When he was a kid, he woke up early on Saturday mornings to go to the dealership with his father, Steve Foley Sr., and helped in any way that he could: He hand-washed cars, changed license plates, and drove cars from the front to the Service Center and back. After high school, he enrolled in Northwood University’s Automotive Marketing and Management program. Upon graduating, he headed right back to the dealership and experienced every department—Service, the Parts Department, Finance and Insurance, and Sales—before he worked his way up to General Manager.
This year, celebrating the 30th anniversary of his professional career in the industry he loves, Steve is currently Chairman of the Board of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association and served as Vice-Chairman of the 2011 Chicago Auto Show, the largest and longest running auto show in the country. Foley has lived and breathed the car business since he took his first breath; it stands to reason that since 2003 they’ve been the only dealership in the state of Illinois that Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has trusted as an authorized dealer.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars actually vetted the Steve Foley Auto Group back in 1983, when Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Limited produced both Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars, and Steve Foley was solely a Cadillac dealer. The group became one of two Rolls-Royce/Bentley dealers in Illinois, the other residing in the western suburbs.
When Rolls-Royce and Bentley separated in 2003, the new Rolls-Royce Motor Cars regime decided that Steve Foley would be their only authorized dealer in our region. That was right before they launched their most celebrated family of cars ever: the Phantom series.
Since their founding, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars have been the archetype of luxury automobile craftsmanship. The Phantom series, the first under new management, retained the same beautiful, handcrafted attention to detail that have kept their clientele loyal for generations while infusing the new models with the latest tech-amenities and ultimate in innovative, high-performance capabilities. The Phantom Sedan, Phantom Drophead Coupé, and Phantom Coupé all follow in the rich tradition of Rolls-Royce with the signature long wheelbase, broadened bonnet, and unique stance that render them instantly recognizable as a Rolls. The interiors, as always, rely on the impeccable handcraftsmanship of skilled artisans; the genuine wood found throughout the cabin is prepared and installed by craftsmen with proven histories of fine cabinetmaking, and the leather upholstery is dyed, rather than painted on, hand-stitched, and incomparably soft to the touch. This all adds up to an unheard of amount of comfort and space; it’s practically a mobile Presidential Suite. The same relentless attention to detail and luxurious privilege also went into the creation of the newest member of the Rolls-Royce family: the Ghost. Sportier and slightly more discreet, the Ghost enjoys all the design benefits and artisan comforts of the Phantom models, but with the additional advantages of being a little more compact and starting at a lower price point. All of these attributes together have made the Ghost the highest selling Rolls-Royce of all time.
Steve Foley Jr. has been introducing the North Shore to the comfort and style of Rolls-Royce for most of his life. Visiting this family-owned and operated business, you come away with a real sense of legacy and the unmistakable pride they put in their operation.
Once you’ve test-driven and decided on a model, the real fun starts. Sitting in the commissioning room, you get to view and touch samples of every facet of the car and basically custom design your perfect model from the ground up. They’ve even gone on to arrange for clients to visit the Rolls-Royce factory in Goodwood, England, to see their own car being put together. Clearly, when you buy from Steve Foley, you’re not just buying a car, you’re buying their entire ownership experience.
“We’re not just here to sell a car, but to build a relationship with the client for years to come. We want each client to have an extraordinary ownership experience, from the first visit, through the purchase process, to every service visit,” Steve says. With a separate service department for the Rolls-Royces, they will pick up and drop off your car whenever you want it serviced, and if you’re flying to your vacation home, pack up the Rolls with the second round of luggage and Steve will personally arrange to have it trucked down to meet you there and trucked back when it’s time to come home. As one of their sales associates is notorious for saying, “Once you’ve bought a car from us, you’re a part of the family.”
“[The Ghost] is the best car on the road right now, no question about it,” Steve says. “It’s got every modern technology, and there’s never been a smoother ride. That’s why it’s a perfect fit for our clients. We sell the world’s most amazing cars to the most amazing clients, and that makes it fun.”
Steve Foley Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is located at 100 Skokie Boulevard in Northbrook. For more information, call 888-809-1967, or visit them online at stevefoley.com.
—Words by Jake Jarvi
