f.f.jones Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 When I was a kid in the ‘40’s and ‘50’s, it wasn’t unusual to see cars mounted on poles along the road as advertising for nearby businesses. The commercial concerns were usually auto-related, but I can also remember roadside cafes and other businesses attracting the attention of passing motorists. In the intervening decades, regulations and legislation have pretty well eliminated them, at least in my neck of [what used to be] the woods. Do you remember these or do they still exist in your region? If you have a photo or a story about an interesting “car on a pole” and would like to share it, please add it to this post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick8086 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 (edited) Not sure if I have a car on a pole.. Pic About 7 years ago I took this picture.. This one is from the net. It was the last one open near Peters MN. As a young kid I liked this place... Pioneer Village, Minden, Nebraska has a car and a wagon. on the pole and building.. Edited January 3, 2022 by nick8086 (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
intimeold Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 I really liked the Model T, w/mechanic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kings32 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 Parked under that sign at earp museum a few times Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3macboys Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 How about on 4 posts...Gillis Truck Stop in New Liskeard, Ontario and the theme is continue inside as well. Food isn't half bad either. Pics are from the web 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAKerry Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 I like the counter top! Theres one around me and for the life of me I cannot remember where!!!! I know I have passed it recently but I suppose it has become part of the landscape and nothing special. I will try to keep an eye out for it. There is a cool art deco service station nearby. Built on a half circle with the garage bay going across the back of the building. They had a large (prob. 30ft) cowboy on the roof forever. During the first gulf war the cowboy was taken down and painted desert storm tan, had a rifle placed in his hands and became a parade float. Havent seen it since. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 Bingham's Auto Parts near Denton NC had a 1st gen Mustang on a pole for years. Hated when Jim Bingham closed it down. Classic case of the land was more valuable than the business. There was a junkyard on US 70 near Burlington NC that had a Toronado on a pole. It had a nice set of Toronado chrome wheels but I wasn't gonna pay for the crane to take it down and put it back. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary_Ash Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 In northern Maine, near Alexander on Route 9, is a big Studebaker M-16 (1941-48) high on a pole. It was a well drilling truck, serves as an ad for the well drilling company. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
36humpback Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 I don't have a picture of it, but on Highway 18 going thru the cascade mountains in Oregon, there is a Ford pickup about 50 feet up in a tree. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC38dls Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 I don't hav a pic of it but on RT 10 in Indiana from I65 going to Illinpois there is a tractor on a pole. You can see it for a very long time as the land is so flat. dave s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carroll_1 Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 Here's one in NW Illinois. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72caddy Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 My father would always stop and take photos of any car on a pole on family vacations. There is still one I know of that has a 63/64 riviera. VW bugs were always popular choices in the south…probably due to weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bollman Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 Here are a few, I know I have a couple of more if I could find them. The one I always liked and never took a picture of you could see from the New York Thruway, it was a fun size tractor trailer rig way up in the air. I think I heard they had to take it down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 55er Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 Long gone now but there was a Nash Metropolitan up on a pole for many years at a small used car lot on E. Cumberland St. (route 422) in Lebanon, PA. It used to be a local landmark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldsmobile 83 Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 Near Mauston, WI along I90-94, there is a Kwik Trip semi sign next to the road. Tim 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAKerry Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 21 hours ago, Carroll_1 said: Here's one in NW Illinois. This one looks like a stripper on a pole! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 http://top-gear-car.blogspot.com/2009/12/40-art-cars-on-poles-and-famous-spindle.html Check this site for a few more. Terry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkyardjeff Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 The first one I remember seeing was a 50s round cab White sitting on a pole advertising truck parts or repairs in SW Michigan in the late 60s or early 70s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 (edited) On 1/3/2022 at 6:32 PM, Jim Bollman said: Here are a few, I know I have a couple of more if I could find them. The one I always liked and never took a picture of you could see from the New York Thruway, it was a fun size tractor trailer rig way up in the air. I think I heard they had to take it down. Mac's Wrecking Yard was on Airline Highway in St. Rose, Louisiana, and is listed as Permanently Closed. It was just up US-61 from the prior location of the New Orleans' International Airport passenger terminal. I still pass it at times. Edited January 6, 2022 by Marty Roth (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John348 Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 (edited) I don't even know if he even is a 'Pole' but I could not resist Edited January 4, 2022 by John348 (see edit history) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John348 Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 (edited) Most of these guys are Polish so... good for a laugh Edited January 5, 2022 by John348 (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dalef62 Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 The double headed VW near Delmont PA on route 66. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Kingsley Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 Here's one on Route 66 (now Il-53) in Joliet Illinois that I photographed in October 2019. Based on the Blues Brothers movies I think. I'm not a big movie person so I haven't actually watched them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John348 Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 (edited) 1 hour ago, Billy Kingsley said: Here's one on Route 66 (now Il-53) in Joliet Illinois that I photographed in October 2019. Based on the Blues Brothers movies I think. I'm not a big movie person so I haven't actually watched them. Billy, Is that you in the passenger seat? just joking... Edited January 5, 2022 by John348 (see edit history) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billy Kingsley Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 Naw, too thin! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JACK M Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 The Blues Brothers movies are kind of corny. But have great music featuring many famous musicians. I find myself adjusting the volume often. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Beat Posted January 5, 2022 Share Posted January 5, 2022 Not on a pole, but this Buick has been on the roof in Brooklyn for over 30 years. I took this picture three years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John348 Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 This is in The Bronx, along the Cross Bronx Expressway for along time, right around the corner from my old elementary school P.S.36 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 (edited) Hey Jim, Lawhorn's Auto Parts was the name on the Crosley back when I was just out of college. My friend and I shopped many Willys parts there. There also had Crosleys in there. Later it was repainted for the new name International Auto Recycling and they still had some Willys and Crosleys in there! US 301 Atlee, VA. The Crosley has been there so long that the county gave it a pass on the new sign regulations. It is now Atlee Auto Service, I think, unless it has changed again. No longer any auto recycling done there: https://www.google.com/search?q=crosley+on+pole&rlz=1C1VDKB_enUS969US969&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=LgQf5OZd020F0M%2CXCj2KtDPDkl1hM%2C_%3BM_MRu18upNHYtM%2CXCj2KtDPDkl1hM%2C_%3B6dPkKk0jpi_n9M%2CpsAuTgFkBayNRM%2C_%3BouFz_ceIUNtHTM%2CDYkxvgo6YGJXbM%2C_%3B8IUg-GSyirU_eM%2CtueozQeGCUYR6M%2C_%3B_2TQ38kfie9uSM%2Cu2SFdBzv9ivV1M%2C_%3BMsvRKrrzrNn0yM%2Cqo8Aa8qDR5Um8M%2C_%3BpJvh_8cOw1RAPM%2CI_5hwVoOqQywPM%2C_%3BlFnw5elYjxAD9M%2CuOcbeWxyNdf7OM%2C_%3BXgFVam1sRuUh4M%2CDYkxvgo6YGJXbM%2C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kQIpBw8O3hjmyoou_bRQtyUeWMRgw&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjau92Qm5z1AhUqq3IEHblbD_AQ9QF6BAgPEAE#imgrc=8IUg-GSyirU_eM And a Hemmings story of it being saved: https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2009/01/06/mechanicville-virginias-crosleyonnastick-to-be-saved Edited January 6, 2022 by Frank DuVal (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Bollman Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 Thanks Frank. Not sure if it was the Atlee, VA pole Crosley but one of pole Crosleys was recently taken down reconditioned and put back up or will be put backup. Almost forgot about this one less than 10 miles from me just South of Jonesborough, TN. The LeCar has went down hill fast the last 6 years I have been in the area, not sure how much longer it will last. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 Was there back in 2014.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom M Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 (edited) This Spindle was put up in Berwyn Illinois in 1989, taken down in 2008 Edited January 7, 2022 by Tom M (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dosmo Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 These pics are from the 1950s in Knoxville. Eddie's Auto Parts on the north side of town was known to have a few body shells sitting on the roof of his business from time to time. None are mounted on poles, but they seem to sort of fit the theme of the thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harold Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 Don't have a picture, but there was a '51 Dodge on the Darnell's Auto Wrecking sign in the movie Christine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carroll_1 Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 This one's at the campground north of Knoxville (IA) Raceway. Over the years, after a few liquid refreshments it was the source of many discussions about climbing to get in. Personally, I never got up far enough to get two pieces of paper under my feet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skvitt Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 1 hour ago, avgwarhawk said: "Car Totem" near Kress and Harrys scrapyard, Hazelton PA, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avgwarhawk Posted January 7, 2022 Share Posted January 7, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted January 8, 2022 Share Posted January 8, 2022 On 1/6/2022 at 6:05 PM, Jim Bollman said: Thanks Frank. Not sure if it was the Atlee, VA pole Crosley but one of pole Crosleys was recently taken down reconditioned and put back up or will be put backup. Almost forgot about this one less than 10 miles from me just South of Jonesborough, TN. The LeCar has went down hill fast the last 6 years I have been in the area, not sure how much longer it will last. It's probably already outlasted most of the LeCars imported to North America... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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