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About Rock County Honda
Welcome to Rock County Honda!
Rock County Honda has served Janesville, WI, and the surrounding areas from Madison, WI, to Rockford, IL, since 1939. We exclusively represent Honda, which we have been selling since 1979.
No matter what you are looking for, whether that be a new or used car, vehicle service, parts, or body repairs, Rock County Honda is your one-stop shop.
At Rock County Honda, we believe in a seamless car buying experience. Our staff will be with you every mile of the way. Many customers have described our sales staff as "not pushy" and "honest."
You will find an excellent selection of new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles online and in-store. If you would like financing options, we will help you find the financing options that fit your needs.
Our highly trained staff is knowledgeable in all Honda products and services. Some have achieved the highest award Honda has to offer: Gold Council of Sales Leadership and Honda Master Automotive Technician.
Whether you're looking for a new vehicle or need repairs on your current one, our staff will always be here to help.
Richard Stockwell - Dealer Principal
Kara Nania - Dealer Manager
Our History
Before Rock County Honda was introduced to Janesville in 1979, Rock County Buick Pontiac GMC preceded it. The small business was started in 1939 by business partners Clayton Stockwell and David Williams and went by the name of Rock County Buick Garage (dealerships during this time went by the term garage, as they operated out of small service-like garages).
A few years after the company started, WWII struck, causing car manufacturers to halt production of consumer vehicles to focus on producing tanks, trucks, airplanes, helmets, and other war products to support the efforts. Richard Stockwell remembers his father, Clayton Stockwell, kept the business alive by selling used cars, towing services, vehicle services, and parts.
After the war the production of vehicles resuming, and inventory slowly became available to the public, customers became frantic to get their hands on a pair of keys to a brand-new car.
In 1969, Richard Stockwell started working full-time at the dealership. By the mid-seventies, his father passed down the reins of the dealership.
Soon after taking over, GM discontinued the Opel line. Needing to fill the inventory gap, Richard began looking into other brands. Honda became the target of his focus.
From seeing the success of the dealership, Honda picked Rock County Buick Pontiac GMC to acquire the Honda franchise in 1979.
In 1980, the recession hit, and the economy took a huge dive. With the addition of Honda to the inventory, Rock County Buick Pontiac GMC Honda was the only GM dealership that survived.
In 2010, Mr. Stockwell sold the Buick Pontiac GMC franchise to a local dealer to focus his attention on his strongest brand: Honda. The dealership soon became known as Rock County Honda. Mr. Stockwell said, “Focusing on Honda was the wisest decision, as sales have increased every year, with the exception of the Pandemic."
Rock County Honda has been a family-owned dealership since 1939 and will remain so in the coming years. As history tends to repeat itself, Richard Stockwell will pass on the dealership to Kara Nania, his daughter, making Rock County Honda woman-owned as well as family-owned.
