Vintage dealership buildings that are still around

[John S.]

WQ59B is correct about Strang Buick being in business thru 1973. It then became Grand Buick, which lasted until the early Eighties. They were a block away from the  old Ideal Toy Company factory.

[JACK M]

Available ?

What kind of car is that?

[WQ59B]

Peters Pontiac Village, 860 Commonwealth Ave, Boston MA. Some of the current buildings details are just discernible in the neon glow of the old pic.

[John S.]

Love the neon Indian. John

[WQ59B]

This one in CA is long gone (street is high rises now) but couldn't resist posting it- would still be a true beauty today :

[D Yaros]

On 1/17/2019 at 7:34 AM, Uncle_Buck said:

Townsend was the closest Pontiac dealer to me when in my high school years (class of ‘67).  Oh how we drooled over those big-inch Poncho’s in that very showroom.

 

Tri-Power, Wide-Track, 8 lug wheels, Catalina 2+2, Bonneville, Grand Prix, GTO.

 

Bring ‘em all back !!

 

You must be, like me, a "Region Rat"?  Personally I spent my time across the street at Walter & Lennertz Oldsmobile.

 

[TG57Roadmaster]

My '57 Roadmaster Model 73 Riviera Sedan came from John Tygard Buick in Aiken, SC. When I last saw the dealership about

18 years ago it was closed, but had Nissan signage out back. The area has been extensively rebuilt, so I'm sure it's long gone.

 

 

 

 

TG

[WQ59B]

Another beauty- no reason I can see NOT to build a dealership like this today: 1132 Connecticut Ave, Washington DC. Nothing remotely of this vintage on that stretch today ~

Edited January 21, 2019 by WQ59B (see edit history)

[Frank Tedesco]

O.k. Found another one...a Pontiac dealer on Jamaica Ave Woodhaven Queens. Then and now. I searched but cannot find the dealership name.

 It looks like a few dealers in a row. Pontiac, Mercury, Packard, Oldsmobile,  Plymouth and can’t  see the whole sign but I think Studebaker, all between 97th-98th streets. I’ll post some of them next.

-Frank

[Oldsfan]

Sign on the front says "Mercury Motors" with an Indian head in between. At least I think it says Mercury - don't know what else it would be...

Edited January 21, 2019 by Oldsfan (see edit history)

[Frank Tedesco]

Hi Paul, I’ll see what I can find. 

Love this thread, great pics in here. Let’s keep em coming!

Thes next pics are from another angle. See Pontiac on the corner. Looks like Packard is gone. Relocated?

Oldsmobile is on the far right of the shot

-Frank

[Frank Tedesco]

I see the mounting holes for the Packard sign are present in the “now” picture, so that means the Oldsmobile storefront is gone.

-Frank

[WQ59B]

I'd agree that it's 'Mercury Motors' Pontiac- it's not on my lists of Pontiac or Buick dealers, but it is back there (1939).
What's up with the street numbering in this area; 18-230 an 97-14? New pic says '987'.

[John S.]

WQ59B, Wow, you are really digging up great pictures of dealerships. The Pontiac dealer that I remember in that area was Cunningham Pontiac. They had two locations in Queens. One under the Elevated train on Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven, and a showroom on Queens Blvd., in Forest Hills. There was a Packard dealer, Woodhaven Motors located on the corner of 98th. Street. Their address was 98-01 Jamaica Ave. Their service garage was several blocks away at 88-04 102 St. John

[Frank Tedesco]

These storefronts on Jamaica Ave are 9702 through 9720. I had to back down the street to get the correct angle for the “now” picture, and must be in front of a different address.

[WQ59B]

I think the numbers were modified/changed tho, no? Transom number in the vintage shot say "97-14" and I remember seeing "182-30" when I was looking for info on Strang. Hyphens... or am I misreading it?

I list a Cunningham Pontiac @ 1212-02 Jamaica Ave. The source was from 1977, and there the 'city' was listed as Richmond Hill.
I live in Jersey but NYC stuff confuses me sometimes (I never go into the city).

EDIT" talked to a native NYer buddy- it's common to also/instead use neighborhood names vs. Borough names. 'Richmond Hill is a neighborhood in Queens.

Edited January 21, 2019 by WQ59B (see edit history)

[Frank Tedesco]

Yes correct there should be hyphens, so 97-02 through 97-20.

John S.  Thanks for the info! I’ll see what I can find.

[John S.]

As the neighborhoods became built up, the dealers moved from Jamaica Ave.  to larger locations. On Woodhaven Blvd., for instance, Haven Chevrolet was South of Jamaica Ave. along with Litchfield Studebaker, later Litchfield Buick. Yes, Cunningham Pontiac was on the Woodhaven, Richmond Hill boarder.

[John S.]

Frank,  the numbers 97-02, 97-20 , are the address numbers, meaning that these rows of buildings are on Jamaica ave. are between 97th., and 98th, Street.  The 02 to 20 even numbers are on the South side of Jamaica Ave. Odd numbers are North side of street. Thanks. John

[trimacar]

I believe I mentioned this on the forum before, there's a building in Cincinnati that used to be a Cadillac dealership in the 30's.

 

It's now occupied by Hixson Engineering, 659 Van Meter Street.  It's a four story building, and every floor was capable of holding cars.

 

It has the further distinction of being the tallest building in the United States that's accessible from grade on all floors.  It's on the side of a hill, and the road wraps around it, so it was perfect for a dealership.  Note, on the left side of the picture, the access ramp to the fourth story.

 

Anyone from Cincinnati, or elsewhere, have any  further information on the building and dealership?

[Frank Tedesco]

I could not find a picture of the Packard Dealer, but did find the service garage. Could this picture pre-date it becoming Packard?

then and now....

[John S.]

Frank, the picture that I have of the Packard Service Department is from the early Fifties, but it looks exactly like the picture that you posted. Thanks. John

[Frank Tedesco]

Thanks John! 

I located the photo of PS 273 across the street from the Packard Service Department, even if only the pumps appear at the far right.

-Frank

[WQ59B]

No background info but once again I have great admiration for a vintage Nash dealer. smart-brand car has done this sort of thing, and there's the 'car vending' company currently- who knew the concept went this far back.

[auburnseeker]

That Nash vending machine looks like maybe about 1933 era.  I would put a quarter in and be happy with any one that came out  

[John S.]

 I believe, if I am not mistaken, this was an exhibit at the Chicago Worlds Fair. I remember a post card issued  of an evening shot of  the display all lit up. John

[1935Packard]

7 hours ago, John S. said:

 I believe, if I am not mistaken, this was an exhibit at the Chicago Worlds Fair. I remember a post card issued  of an evening shot of  the display all lit up. John

 

Yes, good memory!  http://neplains.com/1933-chicago-worlds-fair---nash-cars---century-of-progress.aspx

 

[John S.]

1935Pacjkard, Thanks. John

[Walt G]

This is a great post and all the images of the past and current are wonderful, thanks to all for making the effort ( especially my two good local friends John and Frank!) KEEP IT UP EVERYONE!

[W_Higgins]

This doesn't quite fit the requirements as it doesn't seem to have been a dealership and it isn't likely still around, but I don't think anyone would mind.  Awhile back this image was posted on the MTFCA forum and was thought to have been taken in Gettysburg.  Nothing there really fit the bill, though.  Some time later I was in a shop and there was a large framed photo of this on the wall and the owner knew some more about it saying that it was supposed to be a Rotary Club gathering in Hanover, PA.  On his copy you can see "Baltimore St." written across the bottom.  The image is out there floating around because back in the 1970's a local historical society was having interesting photos reprinted and selling them to raise funds.  While a lot of significant buildings remain in Hanover, I believe these have been demolished and today is the site of a Rite Aid Pharmacy.  Looks like a White, two Ramblers, and Model T.  The T looks to be a 1909 with flat billed fenders and no windshield.

 

It was listed as the "Adams Sporting Goods House" in a 1910 Blue Book (likely the same year the photo was taken judging by the dealer plate on the T.  My earlier Blue Book does not mention it):

 

https://books.google.com/books?id=Pa9JAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA370&lpg=PA370&dq=adams+garage+sporting+goods+baltimore+street+hanover&source=bl&ots=sI3n63MwHZ&sig=hcIy2Osn7OppJTk0hRA9gUlcwOg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj79dDpl5DYAhVi74MKHVHPDYsQ6AEIhQEwCA#v=onepage&q=adams garage sporting goods baltimore street hanover&f=false

 

 

This 1912 Horseless Age would seem to indicated that they added a brick garage:

 

https://books.google.com/books?id=EU4bFBh2WKQC&pg=PA1109&lpg=PA1109&dq=adams+sporting+goods+house+hanover&source=bl&ots=RXAJIK0Djo&sig=xLddBOc0ixY86VNk1hSvkIEhN0Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi_tayZm5DYAhWL34MKHe5BDWU4ChDoAQgnMAA#v=onepage&q=adams sporting goods house hanover&f=false

 

 

In 1915 Hanover was badly damaged by a tornado and the Garage is seen in several photos here.  I have not been able to determine its fate immediately thereafter:

 

https://books.google.com/books?id=HZIleoDNRKAC&pg=PA59&lpg=PA59&dq="adams+sporting+goods+house"&source=bl&ots=Gf_JHF4lCR&sig=KicF2ii2gPiy4fet4aumRlW3xzU&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwik_NzV15jYAhWkg-AKHY5FAUkQ6AEIKDAA#v=onepage&q="adams sporting goods house"&f=false

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 30, 2019 by W_Higgins (see edit history)

[Bloo]

Midway Motors (Buick-Dodge Bros.), Waterville, WA.

 

 

In the 70s, when I remember it open it was Chevrolet and a few other GM brands. I believe it was called Big Bend Motors. Much more recently it had an antique store in it. It still stands.

 

 

Edited February 16, 2022 by Bloo (see edit history)

[WQ59B]

On 1/21/2019 at 12:17 PM, John S. said:

The Pontiac dealer that I remember in that area was Cunningham Pontiac. They had two locations in Queens. One under the Elevated train on Jamaica Ave. in Woodhaven, and a showroom on Queens Blvd., in Forest Hills.

 

[WQ59B]

Lockwood Pontiac, 17 North Broad ST, Peekskill NY. Building demo'd in 2010, now the parking lot of a Walgreens ~

 

 

Edited April 6, 2019 by WQ59B (see edit history)

[victorialynn2]

This is an old Buick dealership in Fredricksburg, Tx. Not sure of the age, but it strikes me as 50’s. It recently became a tasting room and the wine barrels obstruct some of the showroom windows now. I always like to check it out when I’m in town and drive by. 

 

I had dreams of putting my dad’s cars on display in the showroom as a mini museum. Of course I knew that wouldn’t happen, but it was fun to think about.

 

There happens to be a rather large classic car dealership in town called Street Dreams, but they are in a modern building. I like to visit them and check out their cars when I’m in town. https://www.streetdreamstexas.com/

Edited April 6, 2019 by victorialynn2 (see edit history)

[John_Mereness]

On 1/21/2019 at 3:54 PM, trimacar said:

I believe I mentioned this on the forum before, there's a building in Cincinnati that used to be a Cadillac dealership in the 30's.

 

It's now occupied by Hixson Engineering, 659 Van Meter Street.  It's a four story building, and every floor was capable of holding cars.

 

It has the further distinction of being the tallest building in the United States that's accessible from grade on all floors.  It's on the side of a hill, and the road wraps around it, so it was perfect for a dealership.  Note, on the left side of the picture, the access ramp to the fourth story.

 

Anyone from Cincinnati, or elsewhere, have any  further information on the building and dealership?

When built  it was the Lincoln dealer for sure (and may have been Mercury too).  A friend talked about going there with their father to have their Zephyr's repaired  -Charles Koch (the friend) whose father was a brewmaster had moved to Cincinnati from St Louis in the depression to brew in Cincinnati,  Jim Koch of Samuel Adams/ Boston Beer would be the son and grandson.  The building is a structural architectural - interiors firm and I understand  the building is 100% reworked with no historic interior features remaining.   The building sat on the hillside of Mount Adams/downtown for years untouched prior to the renovation.

Edited April 6, 2019 by John_Mereness (see edit history)

[trimacar]

That is correct, I worked with the firm for a number of years, and have been inside the building many times.  It's all modern offices inside....

[Bloo]

Chevrolet Garage (a blacksmith shop before cars came along). Athena, Oregon

 

Edited April 6, 2019 by Bloo (see edit history)

[MICKTHEDIG]

Here is an article on the early Auto dealers on Commonwealth VA in Boston.

 

http://www.bu.edu/today/2011/a-trip-down-automobile-row/  

[peterjohn72]

On 4/6/2019 at 12:52 AM, WQ59B said:

 

My dad bought his first car there on top 1957 starchief convertable, white red stripe heard about it everytime we passed it. Lol

[TAKerry]

3 hours ago, peterjohn72 said:

My dad bought his first car there on top 1957 starchief convertable, white red stripe heard about it everytime we passed it. Lol

Where are these located?