Vintage Auto Dealerships?

[Guest]

Can anyone recommend a site (or an individual here) that may have info on vintage auto dealerships? I know some of them are pretty obscure today. I am trying to find some background on a 1930's/40's era dealership in Oxnard, CA. called Paul Bannon. Surprisingly the original building is still standing and is now a smog/repair shop. Any and all info is appreciated.

Greg

Edited April 7, 2016 by Guest (see edit history)

[John_S_in_Penna]

Would the historical society in that town or county

have that information?  They might have old pictures,

and even more.

 

Oxnard probably isn't close-knit like a small town, but

if some of the original family is still around, you

could check with a descendant of the original dealer.

 

Also, there might be a car fan (club member) from that town

who collects all sorts of local dealership memorabilia.  Check with

local clubs to see whether they know of such a person.

Edited April 7, 2016 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)

[Guest]

Thanks John, I did try the historical society; no luck up to this point with them, but I haven't given up yet.

G.

[Dave Mellor NJ]

There's a site called Shorpy that features historic pictures. Worth a try.

[John_S_in_Penna]

Your local library probably has city directories.

Since you have the address of the building, you

can see the names of the businesses there at

the time each city directory was published.  

Looking though various years, you can then tell

when the business changed names, or changed entirely.

 

Maybe the dealership even had an ad in the directory.

 

If your library has all the old Oxnard phone books,

they will have listings (and ads) too.

 

Another source:  Google Images probably has

an old photograph or two of the dealership!

[John_S_in_Penna]

Happy hunting, Greg!  History can be interesting.

[Guest]

Thanks John, I think I'm going to head over to Oxnard next week and drop into their publuc library. 

[nick8086]

Contact your local : historic preservation planner.. They have all the info you will need.. 

 

If it was a Studebaker Dealer.. The clubs have list of all the old dealers...also..  

 

http://www.studebaker-info.org/Dealers/page1.html

 

 

 

 

Edited April 10, 2016 by nick8086 (see edit history)

[C Carl]

Hi , Greg , Perhaps you could get additional information from the Murphy Auto Museum in Oxnard. While in Ox , see if you can include a visit to the Mullin Automotive Museum. You will enjoy this sophisticated museum very much. It is open to the public only 2 Saturdays a month. Tours are conducted by extremely informative docents. You can get into some very fascinating discussions with them. Good luck !  - Carl

[Jon37]

Did you try typing the building's address into your favorite search engine, to see what pops up?  You might discover an old ad or mention of the dealership, from an old newspaper that's stored online.  Of course, the street numbering system might have changed over the years, but it might be worth a try.

[ScarredKnightfan]

Facebook has at least 2 major pages that are more-or-less dedicated to showcasing images of vintage dealerships & related memorabilia.  I don't know, however, if either would have the type of information you seek.

 

 

Cort > www.oldcarsstronghearts.com
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[Guest McBuick]

I had a great uncle that owned a car dealership in Oakland Ca in  around 1911-1915, I called the Oakland library and spoke to a women on the phone and explained my story. Within a day she sent me several articles that they had on micro fish. pictures, articles etc. It was amazing. Contact the local library. Good Luck!