The dealership building for Fahrney Ford in Selma will reopen May 8 after being renovated inside and out. Photo by David Castellon

Commuters driving through Selma may notice the Ford dealership has a new look and a new name.

Renovations that began late last year are almost finished, and the building has a new, stylish look — with a large, metallic Ford emblem on the front — and new exterior signage saying “Fahrney.”

Since the dealership opened in 1977 at the northwest corner of Highland and Floral avenues, just off Highway 99, the dealership’s sign has read “Swanson-Fahrney,” after founders Don Fahrney and Jack Swanson, who started the business in 1956 at a different location.

Now, the business is named “Fahrney Ford,” while next door is “Fahrney Buick GMC.”

“For many years now, the dealership has been owned and operated solely by the Fahrney family. With the dealership getting a facelift and a new sign, now seemed like the right time for our name to reflect that,” Marketing Director Sophia Fahrney said.

As for the new look, that’s part of a larger series of changes for the Fahrney Automotive Group, which for years sold Ford, Toyota, Buick and GMC cars and trucks in two adjoining lots.

That changed when the company built the new, larger Fahrney Toyota dealership that opened in October on the opposite side of Highway 99, just north of the Selma Walmart.

That created more room for the other brands of cars at the other two car lots, and company officials decided to begin renovating those dealerships, closing what is now the Ford dealership and showroom in October.

Since that work began, the Ford salespeople and administrative staff have shared office space at the Buick-GMC office and showroom next doors.

“Furniture is being moved in now,” said Sophia Fahrney, adding that the new, lighted “Fahrney” logos were installed on the Ford building this week.

Once finished, the renovated Ford office will reopen May 8, with plans to hold a grand opening event Memorial Day weekend, Fahrney said.

Next up, she said, are plans to fully renovate the Buick-GMC building, which probably will begin some time in the summer.