Forza Car Company is a place for car collectors and enthusiasts to connect

Joyce Franco has always had an entrepreneurial spirit, a love for stories, and an appreciation for classic cars. The youngest of six daughters who grew up on a Mennonite farmette in Lancaster County, Joyce remembers tales of her father’s old Chevelles and the pictures he’d show off from the 1960s.

She muses that this may be where her love of cars was first born, and her teenage years were spent at local car shows and meetups locally.

“I truly have always found cars very fascinating and just fun to be around,” Joyce shared. “I’d see these old cars that were so different than everything else—the character they had and the story that came with them.”

Before finding her way back to cars, Joyce channeled her observant eye into sourcing fabric for other Mennonite women who wanted more interesting options for their dresses. While working in accounting right after high school, she also launched her fabric business, bringing swaths from across the world to sell locally and eventually in bigger cities across the east coast.

“I sold that business within the first year,” Joyce shared. “But I always knew I wanted to own a business again.”

After many years, she was able to transition into the automotive industry before founding Forza Car Company in April 2023.

Forza, which means “strength” in Italian, is a result of Joyce’s hard work and determination to create something she was passionate about. She is encouraged daily by her supportive partner Jules, as well as motivated to be an example to her teenage daughter. That’s why Joyce is focused on ensuring others feel at home at Forza, especially women.

“It is difficult at times to be a woman in this business,” she shared. “There is a community out there—a community of women who love cars. I want Forza to be a place where everyone can come and share an appreciation for these classic models.”

With a move to a larger space off Route 741 in July 2023, Forza is positioned to be a space that is just that—a hub for car enthusiasts to buy, sell, and enjoy the community around collecting.

Joyce credits her business partnerJason Clemens, CEO and owner of Classic Shine, an automotive detail shop within Forza’s showroom, as well as Trevor Kiscadden, Director of Operations, with helping her create this welcoming and dynamic environment.

All three of them share a love for not only the vehicles, but the history and stories that come along with each of them.  

“We love connecting with people, hearing the story about their car, and then helping people find a new home for the car,” Joyce said. “That’s really our favorite part.”

The team invites the Lancaster community to come see what Forza is all about, by stopping in or attending one of their upcoming events at 1195 Enterprise Road in East Petersburg.

Save the Date

Lancaster’s first Women’s Motor Fest will be hosted at Forza on September 7 from 10AM to 2PM. Find more information about the event at womensmotorfest.com/Lancaster-pa.

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