Spurred by 57 percent growth over the last seven years, Wheels, Inc. celebrated its 45th year as a pioneer automotive fleet-leasing firm by welcoming customers, suppliers, employees, and dignitaries to its new headquarters in Des Plaines, IL.

At a September 12 cocktail party, more than 800 people got an opportunity to tour the firm's new 62,000 square-foot building at 666 Garland PI. in Des Plaines, a suburban area of northwest Chicago. Among the top-level executive guests were: Robert Lund, vice president of General Motors; Robert Burger, vice president, Chevrolet; Diane Cronin, George Frink, Lou Proctor, Jim Slater and John Sommers of Chevrolet; Jim Christiano and Scotty Smith, Buick; David John and Denis O'Shaughnessy of Cadillac; Hal Barton and Roy Houston, Chrysler; Tony Majors and Lou Polsinelli, Ford; Ross Hendrix and Frank Brazill, General Motors Corporate Fleet; Robert Murphy, president of GMAC; Carl Rehm, GMC Truck Division; George Morgan and John Rowley, Lincoln-Mercury; and Don Robertson of Pontiac.

Local officials who attended the housewarming included Mayor John E. Seitz of Des Plaines, State Senator Robert Kustra, and State Representative Penny Pullen.

At another party four nights later, 250 Wheels employees presented Zollie Frank and Armund Schoen with special "Founders' Awards." Schoen and Frank - the latter is Wheels' board chairman - established the company in 1939. It is now the nation's third-largest vehicle lessor.

Surrounded by some 10 acres of forested land just eight minutes from O'Hare Field, Wheels' new building is twice as large as its former headquarters on Chicago's N. Western Ave.

"We brought in space planner RMM of Chicago and architect Fred Kaplan of Deerfield, IL, for consultation," says Wheels President James S. Frank, recalling the origins of the move. "With their input, the decision was made to create a completely new interior according to our specifications and state-of-the-art office planning."

Separate areas of the single-story, L-shaped structure were fashioned for each of Wheels' various departments, including M.A.P. maintenance, computer operations, truck leasing, used cars, and administrative services. The reception area was given added space for visitor comfort, while special space was provided for sales presentations. Chicago-based Interior Alterations was builder and contractor.

By all accounts, Wheels' move to larger headquarters is intended to anticipate present and future expansion. During the last seven years, the company's number of vehicles on lease increased from 54,000 to 85,000. The firm's total number of employees rose as well, from 104 in 1977 to 250 today. Wheels' maintenance management program also soared, servicing just 2,000 vehicles in 1977 but more than 25,000 in 1984. At the same time, the firm has seen a substantial increase in service-level enhanced programs and client services. Wheels' sales presence has been strengthened, too, with the opening of new offices in Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Detroit.

"Several things account for our success since 1977," says President Frank. "There's been a general growth in the economy. The leasing business itself has expanded, and the major lessors have developed a degree of sophistication and a level of service that goes beyond the scope of the small and intermediate-sized lessor. Because of that, there's been a higher concentration of business going to the bigger companies.

"And at Wheels, we happen to be doing an unsurpassed job," Frank concludes. "Our next 45 years should be even better than the last."