This profile is in active compilation — some details are awaiting a cited source.

George’s Imports Ltd is a second-generation Schaffner family European-car garage, opened by George B. Schaffner Sr. in 1956 and now run from Martin City by his son George B. “Brad” Schaffner Jr. The shop followed the odd end of the European import trade for seventy years — Kansas City’s authorized Citroën dealer from 1964, then the city’s exclusive Saab dealership from 1976 — and after Saab’s collapse it continued as the metro’s Saab service authority, still repairing marques whose manufacturers left the American market decades ago.

Description

George’s Imports Ltd is an independent European-automobile repair shop in Martin City, at the far south edge of Kansas City, Missouri. It is the second-generation continuation of a garage opened by George B. Schaffner Sr. in 1956, and it is unusual among metro repair shops in that its specialisation was inherited from a franchise history rather than chosen from a market: the business was successively an authorized Citroën dealer and then Kansas City’s exclusive Saab dealer, and it kept servicing both marques long after each manufacturer withdrew from the United States.1

The shop presents itself as the only factory-authorized Saab service center in the Kansas City area, a status that outlived Saab itself.23 Alongside Saab and Citroën work it services Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volvo, and advertises general repair across makes and models.2

Brad Schaffner, the founder’s son, has been in the business since childhood — the family timeline records him honing cylinders in his father’s garage at age eight in 1957 — and won Saab’s Master Technician Competition in 1987.1 Ownership has stayed inside the family throughout; a Martin City business directory listing describes it as a family-run European vehicle specialist and repeats the Saab authorization claim.3 The shop is actively taking work, with a live online appointment-booking system as of August 2026.4

Goods and services

  • Saab service, diagnostics, and parts — the shop’s defining specialty23
  • Citroën service, continued from the 1960s dealership era21
  • Service for other European marques — Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volvo2
  • General mechanical repair: brakes, clutches, transmission repair and service, engine rebuild, fuel system, alternators, batteries, belts and hoses, exhaust2
  • Routine maintenance: oil changes, tire rotation, air conditioning2
  • Computer diagnostics23
  • Parts sourcing for out-of-production European vehicles5

History

George B. Schaffner Sr., born in 1922, opened his repair garage in 1956.1 The shop’s own history timeline places the first garage in Liberty, Missouri; the shop’s front-page summary describes the founding premises as a Quonset hut, without naming a town.21 Both details come from the business itself and are recorded here as the business states them.

Through the mid-1960s the shop moved toward European cars. In 1964, trading as George’s Foreign Car Service, it became Kansas City’s authorized Citroën dealer and relocated to Prospect Avenue; in 1966 the dealership moved to 8106 Prospect.1 Brad Schaffner graduated high school in 1967 and entered military service in 1969, returning to the business in the early 1970s.1 Citroën ended imports to the United States in 1972, and the shop continued servicing the marque without a factory pipeline.1

In 1976 Saab awarded George’s Imports Ltd the exclusive Kansas City dealership; the company took its present name at that point and moved to Wornall Road.1 Brad Schaffner won Saab’s Master Technician Competition in 1987. George Schaffner Sr. died of leukemia in 1988.1 The business relocated to State Line Road in 1995 and later to its current Martin City address on East 135th Street.21

Saab ceased automobile production in the 2010s. George’s Imports continued as a Saab service center, and by the shop’s own count had been servicing European vehicles for more than 68 years as of the most recent update to its site.2

Sources

Footnotes

  1. George’s Imports Ltd — official history timeline — asserts: George B. Schaffner Sr. born 1922, died 1988 of leukemia; George B. “Brad” Schaffner Jr. born January 2, 1949; Terry L. Schaffner born June 18, 1953; 1956 George Schaffner opens garage in Liberty, MO; 1957 Brad honing cylinders at age eight; 1964 George’s Foreign Car Service becomes authorized Citroën dealer and moves to Prospect Ave; 1966 move to 8106 Prospect; 1967 Brad graduates high school; 1969 Brad enters military; 1972 Citroën imports to the U.S. end; 1976 Saab dealership awarded, company renamed George’s Imports Ltd, move to Wornall Road; 1987 Brad wins Saab Master Technician Competition; 1995 relocation to 8011 State Line Road; 1998 Tom Toler joins as sales manager. Primary source for all founding and milestone dates on this page. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11

  2. George’s Imports Ltd — official site — asserts: current operation at 505 E 135th St, Kansas City, MO 64145; phone (816) 333-6582; hours Mon–Fri 7:30 AM–5:30 PM, closed weekends; founded 1956 by George Schaffner; current owner Brad Schaffner, son of the founder; specialization in Saab, Citroën, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Volvo; claim to be the only authorized Saab service center in the Kansas City area; service list (A/C, alternators, batteries, brakes, transmission, engine rebuild, fuel system, oil changes, tire rotation, exhaust, clutch, belts and hoses, diagnostics); founding in a Quonset hut; 68+ years servicing European vehicles. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11

  3. Martin City Business Association — business directory listing, George’s Imports — asserts: George’s Imports is a family-run European vehicle specialist; the Schaffner family has serviced European vehicles for 62+ years; described as the only factory-authorized Saab service center for warranty and service in Kansas City; Saab and Citroën specialization; kcsaab.net as the appointment site. Independent-of-the-shop confirmation that the business is a recognised Martin City neighborhood business. Note: this listing gives hours as Mon–Fri 7:30 AM–6:00 PM and Sat 9:00 AM–12:00 PM, which conflicts with the official site — see source conflict note. ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  4. George’s Imports Ltd — online appointment booking — asserts: the shop maintains a live customer-facing booking system, i.e. it is taking work. Freshest currency evidence located in this pass (accessed 2026-08-14). ↩

  5. George’s Imports Ltd — parts page — asserts: the shop sources and supplies parts for the European vehicles it services. ↩

Categories

On the record — ks.city/registry/georges-imports · record updated 2026-08-14