  Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 131 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 66.184.3.44 |
I don't think this has been covered on an exclusive thread, so I thought I'd start one. Can anyone provide info on dealerships that used to be scattered around the city. I reamember Raynal Brothers Dodge & Plymouth on Chalmers at Harper. The sign used to say since 1925 and they closed sometime in the early 80's. Now the Dodge showroom is a custom car shop and the Plymouth is Focus:Hope. The east side also had Dick Green Chrysler on Gratiot, Ver Hoven Chevrolet at 6/ Van Dyke, Jerry Mikowski Buike on Harper near Whittier. There also was George Bente on Jefferson where the powerhouse gym is now. I can't remember for the life of me what he sold, I think it was Pontiac? I remember on west Eight Mile Charles Harrel Chevy, only because he bought one of the Fisher Mansions in Palmer Woods only to have it burn down. I recall it caused some to raise an eyebrowe because he made out like a bandit on the huge insurence policy on the home. His dealership closed shortly after and he moved to Chicago. Anyone else have memories of dealerships in Detroit? Also if you could say what happened to them. Also any info on Ed Davis, the nation's first black new car dealer? What was the location of his Chrysler dealrship? | ||
Gistok Member Username: Gistok Post Number: 2510 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 4.229.81.91 |
The largest surviving concentration of Auto Dealers in the city of Detroit has to be Mack Ave. along the border with the Grosse Pointes. There has to be about 4 or 5. | ||
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit Post Number: 623 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.246.10.173 |
the location of the Ed Davis dealership is at Sexter and Elmhurst. It is owned by the State of Michigan and is a community center. I worked there in 2002 and even though they made some mods on the inside, you can still tell what was there and so forth like the service dept, show room etc. The lots are still outside where the cars used to sit. The building is in very good condition and serves the community well. Remember Porterfield Wilson Pontiac Buick on Livernois? or Krajenke Buick? if Kozak Chevy still open? | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 3568 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.47.100.44 |
Stark Hickey's still flaoting around in some incarnation in NW Detroit. | ||
Oldredfordette Member Username: Oldredfordette Post Number: 181 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 151.202.88.11 |
My father worked for Krajenke Buick "Hard to Spell, Easy to Deal with". They were the first car dealership in the Detroit area to hire African-Americans as car salesmen. I lived a couple of blocks from Clohecy Pontiac. The radio commercial featured an "Indian" drumbeat while they chanted "Go see Clohecy Go see Clohecy Pontiaaaac". | ||
Ed_golick Member Username: Ed_golick Post Number: 356 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.246.55.51 |
Ed Davis' first dealership was at 421 East Vernor. He opened for business on December 4, 1939 and spent 20 years at that location. Davis also owned the Standard Gas Station next door.  | ||
Jimg Member Username: Jimg Post Number: 670 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
I remember Livernois was 'Motor Mile' or something similar. And Coon Bros was on Evergreen near OD, I think. Have vague memories of St. Mary's Packard, was downtown I think. | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 832 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 68.40.119.216 |
How about Dean Seller's? | ||
Ray1936 Member Username: Ray1936 Post Number: 720 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 207.200.116.139 |
I mentioned before that Frost-Avis Ford was at Grand River and Meyers in the '40s and '50s. Avis pulled out of the business and founded Avis Rent-A-Car. Bought my first car, a '51 Ford, from their used car lot. There was also Hettche Ford on Grand River down around Arcadia (east of Joy Road) that folded in the sixties sometime. Not to hijack the thread, but whenever I buy a car, the first thing I do is rip off that license plate frame the dealer puts on. If he wants me to advertise his dealership, he better cough up fifty bucks a month. How do y'all feel about dealer advertising on plate frames? | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1344 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225 |
Right on Ray36! Take off the dealer's tackey plastic frame and put on one of your own choice. Same for bumper stickers advertising the dealer. Speaking of dealers, how 'bout T.J.McCarthy Chevrolet on Woodward south of the viaduct near The Blvd, Clark Edsel dealership near Northern High school,Snethkamp Motors in HP ( still going strong at that location) or even Jess McNeill's Crosley Appliance store (B'ham) where we picked up my first car, a 1947 Crosley. Bought a new toaster, a table radio and a Crosley 2 door all in the same day! | ||
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit Post Number: 625 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.246.10.173 |
I won't buy a car with the dealership advertisement on it... I mean like stickers etc... I never keep the frame.. I put my PHI BETA SIGMA plate on before we leave the lot lol.... | ||
Frank_c Member Username: Frank_c Post Number: 698 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 207.200.116.139 |
I Don't think you could list all the Auto Dealers, people would come from around the country to buy cars in Detroit, pay kids to drive them back to their home state, in fact there were side companies that specialized in getting your new car back home. Those were the days! | ||
Ed_golick Member Username: Ed_golick Post Number: 359 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.246.55.51 |
Silent film comedian Buster Keaton, who used to spend his summers in Muskegon, purchased his new cars in Detroit then drove them back to Los Angeles himself while enjoying a nice cross-country vacation. In fact, that was the subject of one of his two-reelers, "Nothing But Pleasure." | ||
Caldogven Member Username: Caldogven Post Number: 2 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 68.123.224.83 |
How about Burke Pontiac, Roney Motors, Snythkamp's, Frank Guns, Petzold Motors, Carl Hosten, Lewis F. Brown. | ||
Caldogven Member Username: Caldogven Post Number: 3 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 68.123.224.83 |
I almost forgot, I worked at Jim Funston Chevrolet back in the 60's. | ||
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 134 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 66.184.3.44 |
Also on the east side there was Joe Haney Datsan and Wood motors which sold Mercedes, Volkwagon and Honda. | ||
Caldogven Member Username: Caldogven Post Number: 4 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 68.123.224.83 |
I must be getting old cause I also worked at Wood Motors when Funston went out of business in 1972. Woods sold V/W's, Mercedes, Porsche, BMW, and Honda. It was a great place to work! | ||
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm Post Number: 613 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.189.188.28 |
Somebody mentioned Bill Snethkamp in Highland Park. Wasn't that dealership owned and operated by Chrysler Corporation at one point because they wanted a presence in their home city? Being from Ferndale, I remember Higgins Pontiac on Woodward between Maplehurst and Lewiston. In the mid 60's, it was sold and became Belcastro Pontiac. Hodges (for Dodges) was where I saw my first turbine car (and where they once fired up one of the Ramcharger S/S Dodges in the showroom), but my favorite dealership was Falvey Motors where I could look at MG's, Austins, Jaguars and the like. | ||
Caldogven Member Username: Caldogven Post Number: 5 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 68.123.224.83 |
Snethkamp also had a dealership on Conner between Harper and Gratiot, don't remerber if it used a first name. | ||
Caldogven Member Username: Caldogven Post Number: 6 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 68.123.224.83 |
Snethkamp also had a dealership on Conner between Harper and Gratiot. | ||
Frank_c Member Username: Frank_c Post Number: 703 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 207.200.116.139 |
Mulligan Ford Lincoln Mecury, Grand River | ||
Iheartthed Member Username: Iheartthed Post Number: 153 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 64.131.176.232 |
Is Dalgleish Cadillac still open? | ||
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 136 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 66.184.3.44 |
Yes. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1355 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 216.203.223.93 |
Crest Lincoln-Mercury used to be at the southeast corner of Van Dyke and E Outer Dr. They left around 1970. Charlie Burke Pontiac, 12740 Gratiot Ave, Detroit, MI 48205. We bought a 1968 Ventura there, aformer auto show car that was hidden in their back lot. (Message edited by Hornwrecker on July 30, 2006) | ||
Neilr Member Username: Neilr Post Number: 310 Registered: 06-2005 Posted From: 69.242.223.67 |
Ed Davis and his wife Mary-Agnes were pillars of Detroit's old black elite from the 40's. Not only was he a major auto dealer, she was a founder of several of the elite social/service groups, and was recognized as being one of Detroit's leading philanthropists on both a local and a national level. They were among the very first black families to move into the Boston-Edison Neighborhood | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 480 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 65.185.132.134 |
St. Marys Packard was on Grand River between Greenfield and Southfield, on the South side of the street, right across from St. Marys RC church. The building houses General Transmissions today. If you look on the west side of the building you can still see the faint outline of the Packard logo painted on the wall. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 481 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 65.185.132.134 |
Here's what the inside of the Packard main (factory) dealership on Jefferson (where the ren cen sits today) looked like in 1936, when it was "ladies week".  | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1358 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 216.203.223.93 |
The exterior of that building, IIRC it was an Albert Kahn design, 574 E Jefferson.  wsu | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 482 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 65.185.132.134 |
Here's Russ Dawson Ford and Haney buick. The Haney Building is still on GR, it's now a distribution center for Purple Heart.   | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1360 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 216.203.223.93 |
Building sign at Woodard and 7 Mile from around 1957.  | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2723 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 128.36.14.165 |
On Detroit's NW side there were two significant clusters of dealerships. The first cluster ran roughly along GR for ~2-3 miles from greenfield to ~burt. It included AMC (around the corner @ greenfield @ schoolcraft), and then going up GR: Pontiac, Ford, Oldsmoblie, Buick (?) then a ~1/2 mile gap between Southfield and ~evergreen then Lincoln Mercury and Chrysler-Plymouth (?). There were a few smaller used car lots too along this stretch. As these Dealerships moved out to the suburbs (Generally the western suburbs) the lots typically became used car dealerships and the repairshops stayed repairshops ... eventually this pooped out too and most of these dealership buildings are long gone torn down for other things and the lots filled in with other stuff. In most cases you'd never know they were even there. The second cluster ran for ~2 miles west of Lahser along GR and included a few dealerships along Telegraph too. I recall Buick, Ford, Dodge, Cadillac, along there. These have generally stayed as car dealerships (mostly used car dealerships today, but anyway ...). It is a blurry line between Detroit/Redford Township/Livonia & Farmington Hills up along there so some of these dealerships might be outside of Detroit city limits. | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2724 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 128.36.14.165 |
56packman, cool about Packard along GR ... I did NOT know that and never noticed the Packard logo on that building! Wow you learn something new all the time on this forum. Did they sell Studebakers too after the merger? (I usedta drive a Studebaker in my younger days.) | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 484 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.105 |
Rustic--I don't know for sure if St. Mary's carried Steadybreaker, nor do I know when they stopped being a Packard dealer. Lincoln-Mercury sent out letters to Packard dealerships inviting them to jump ship in about 1954, right around the time of the purchase/merger (Packard bought Studebaker). One of the big ideas was to cross-pollinate their dealership network. There was a Packard dealer on GR right across from what used to be called the Adlai Stevenson bldg. (right where the jeffries meets GR near Oakman-roughly 10155 GR) that bldg still stands. The former Puritan electric bldg on Wyoming was a Packard dealership, and still had the upright sign at the time of its demolition last year. Bower motors was your Brightmore Packard dealer (a business oxymoron if there ever was one)on Fenkell just west of Lahser. There still is a grand 1920's style Packard dealership bldg on Cass @ Burroughs, WSU owns it today. There is a very unusual bldg (for a Packard dealer) on E.Grand Blvd, just west of the plant, that bldg is being used, and is in good repair. Wetmore's on Woodward (Ferndale?) was a Packard dealer. | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2726 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 128.36.14.165 |
so let me get this straight ... there were TWO packard dealerships within spitting distance of each other on the fringes of civilization back in the olden tymes: GR St. Marys and Fenkell/Lahser? weird. The GR oakman packard dealer would have nicely served the middleclass and wealthy enclave along Oakman/Davison and even up into HP. That Brightmoor dealer tho, wtf? | ||
Nedab3 Member Username: Nedab3 Post Number: 93 Registered: 01-2004 Posted From: 71.28.132.197 |
Kotcher Olds and Cadilac on E. Warren in the 40's 50's into the 60's I guess when I left Detroit. Walking home from school in the alley I found lots of good stuff (for a little kid) in the trash. I took it home and dad threw it away.I bet jjaba did the same thing as a kid. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1366 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.2.148.69 |
 Dealer tag from Carson Buick, on Hamilton (?), from trunk emblem 1956 Buick Super. | ||
Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2 Post Number: 825 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.223.133.177 |
This was, I believe, a Ford Dealership located on Jos Campau between Dearing and Grant Sts. which is just about one (1) block south of E. Davison Ave. on the east side of the street. Does anyone know the name of this dealership? It opened in the late 1940's and I attended the Grand Opening. I was just a little kid and they were giving away free balloons, hot dogs, pop and popcorn.  Livedog2 | ||
Viziondetroit Member Username: Viziondetroit Post Number: 637 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 65.42.23.2 |
Is Woody Pontiac in hamtown still open? | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 492 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.105 |
No--ah-ah! | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1368 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.2.148.69 |
Nor is Central Oldsmobile. | ||
Eric_c Member Username: Eric_c Post Number: 798 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.76.202.10 |
In case anyone cares, there is only one operating new car dealership on Joseph Campau anymore: Al Deeby Dodge of Hamtramck. The last dealership to close on Campau was Century Chevy in 2001. They outlasted Woody Pontiac by about a year. At one time, it was possible to buy every brand of domestically manufactured automobile on Joseph Campau between Caniff and McNichols except Lincoln. Even then, they were just around the corner on McNichols! Today, Joseph Campau north of Carpenter is a ghost town of old auto dealers. Truly disheartening as I drive the route almost daily. | ||
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 5 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 66.184.3.44 |
Sadly Al Deby is the lone holdout, having taken over Garrity Dodge. Hopefully they stick around for several more years. Does anyone remember the name of the Chrysler/ Plymouth dealer on Campau? I can't for the life of me rememberit even though most of my family bought cars there at one time. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4164 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 71.193.193.49 |
There's a Hudson dealer in Ypsilani made into a museum. It looks like it did the day it closed with inventory still visible. jjaba bought a car on Meyers and Puritan, a Porsche' in 1966, the first yr. of the 912 coupes. Don't remember the name of the agency, but it was all Germans working there. Wasn't Wetmore Motors in Ferndale where FL Wright did some interior rennovations? jjaba. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1369 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.2.149.12 |
I found part of a 1972 DetNews, and scanned these two ads.   | ||
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm Post Number: 615 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.189.188.28 |
Jjaba.... ....The Wetmore's I remember (23459 Woodward, corner of W. Drayton) was a General Tire dealer that specialized in alignments. They had an old Packard mounted in a tower with motorized revolving out of alignment front tires and the caption "does you car do this?". It could have been a car dealership at one time. For what it's worth, the dealerships I remember in Ferndale were.... Falvey VW Floyd Foren Chevrolet Ed Schmidt Ford (although I don't remember its previous name) Gage Olds Race Motors (once a Chrysler/Plymouth dealer, dropped the franchise and became an Edsel dealer) Hodges Dodge Northwood Chrysler/Plymouth, which became Hodges Imports Higgins Pontiac. Might have missed one or two (or misspelled also), but I don't remember a dealership north of Higgins (Belcastro) Pontiac until a Chrysler/Plymouth dealer just north of 10 Mile. | ||
Caldogven Member Username: Caldogven Post Number: 7 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 68.126.2.161 |
Canfield Motors-Packard, Mack-Gratiot Chev., Jerry Lynch, John's Bros.Ford, Teal Bros.Hudson, Millenbach Ford, Al Steiner Ford, Ray Whyte Olds, Stotts-Murphy Ford, Dave Kennedy Lincoln-Mercury, Start-Commes & Rickey. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4167 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 71.193.193.49 |
Hornwrecker, your 1972 ad calls it 6 Mile Road, when Mc Nichols was the name of the street. Mostly, you'd expect to never see 6 Mile Rd. in print for a Detroit address. jjaba, Westsider. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1372 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.2.149.12 |
They were trying to sell people that were located on the Eastside, if you called it that other name, nobody would know what street you were talking about. Am I going to have to make up an Eastside to Westside dictionary up for you? | ||
Swingline Member Username: Swingline Post Number: 545 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.74.0.226 |
Al Deeby Dodge is an excellent dealer. Salesman are fair and non-pushy. Service dept. is polite and very helpful. | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1349 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225 |
caldogvn--you sure Canfield Motors was a Packard dealer? The Canfields were our neighbors in GP and I am pretty sure he had a Dodge dealership on the east side. My Uncle Sam was the manager of the GP Packard dealership on Jefferson which later became Pattmon Olds, and before he moved into Packards executive offices on E Grand Blvd. he had also managed the Packard dealership downtown by Ren Cen as shown in hornwrecker's postcard photos. Gotta admit I do not recall Packard taxicabs as shown on the post card.Pretty classey. Packard taxi cabs. | ||
Caldogven Member Username: Caldogven Post Number: 8 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 68.127.240.56 |
Rock- I was doing a bit of restoration on a 1936 Packard a few years ago in California, on the firewall was a plate that read sold by Canfield Motors, Detroit Mi. I beleive they were on Gratiot just past Mc Dougall. I grew up in that neighborhood. Is the dealership on Jefferson the sameone that became Carl Hosten? | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 496 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.234 |
Caldogven--what model '36 were you working on? I assume you are talking about the black and silver plate fastened to the firewall with patent listed, plus the model/serial info, and the dealer name hand-stamped onto them. "ask the man who owns one" | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1350 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225 |
Caldogvn, you have presented pretty convincing evidence that,at least in the 30's, Canfield Motors was a Packard dealership. That's news to me. "Ask the man who owns one" was the advertising motto for Packard for many years. The Packard dealership I mention in Grosse Pointe was out by the boarder with Detroit, where the new library and GPP city hall are located. It became an Olds dealership, first Willie Pattmon and then Ray White Olds ( or vice-versa). Ted Ewald Chevrolet and then Ritter Chevy were in the adjacent building. The Ewald family gave a huge chunk of change for the new library. I know that when they demolished the Olds dealership and took off the Old's sign over the front of the building, you could clearly seee "Packard" chiseled into the stone. | ||
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 14 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 66.184.3.44 |
I remember Ewald Chevrolet, when did it become Hammound Chevy? Before it closed it was breifly Jefferson Chevrolet North. Also wasn't the Olds dealer at on point called Lakepointe Olds? | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4170 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 71.193.193.49 |
"huge chunk of change for a library." That's sooooooooooooo Grosse Pointe, Rock. Oh, I've got some spare change, might as well dig in my pockets and donate it for a new library. Rock, you are a classic. We love ya.(Even with that tennis visor in summertime.) jjaba, Old timey Westsider. | ||
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm Post Number: 616 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.189.188.28 |
Jjaba.... ...a couple of quick questions. 1) What kind of a car dealership was Wetmore's before it became an alignment shop? 2) Is the Hudson dealership you mentioned in Ypsilanti in what we called "Depot Town"? | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1351 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225 |
jjaba, kindly keep your west side posterior on the subject of auto dealers, and quit picking on me. God's sakes man, it's hot enough here in The Pointe even without socks on. Our tempers are short, though I recognize you are calm and cool thanks to your Good Housekeeping Shop window airconditioner. By the way, old learned one, what do you surmise is the difference in model years of the Packards shown in packman's photo of the '36 Packards and the taxi cab Packards shown in hornwrecker's photo? 4 or 5 years judging by the grilles? And are they really taxi cabs? No writing on the doors, but they have the milkglass lamps on the roofs. Do you remember Packard taxis in this town? I sure don't. Lot's of Checkers made in Kzoo, but Packards? | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 497 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.234 |
Douglasm-Wetmore's was a Packard dealer--see my post above dated 7-31. the_rock- the Taxis shown in the WSU photo Hornwrecker posted are 1946-47 Packard clippers. Packard made a number of taxi cabs in those years, all bottom-level six cylinder models. They were more expensive than Checkers, and especially DeSotos, the leading brand of taxi cabs then. We had one here last month for the Packard convention. After the war Packard only offered the Clipper models, the dies for the "senior series" big (expensive) cars had been ruined while stored outdoors for the duration of WWII war production. The Clipper models were the lower-series car from Packard, a re-style and re-name of the earlier 110-115-120 "economy" Packards. | ||
Douglasm Member Username: Douglasm Post Number: 617 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 66.189.188.28 |
Sorry, only saw the post where you asked about Wetmore's. My only memory was as a alignment shop, but maybe that explains why there was a Packard in the tower. Is the building still there? | ||
Karl Member Username: Karl Post Number: 3400 Registered: 09-2005 Posted From: 64.12.116.204 |
Slightly outside the city limits, but who could forget: "Roy O'Brien's got them buyin, buyin, They come from many miles away, You save yourself alot of dollars, dollars, By driving out his way today." Roy (actually Bryant, not O'Brien) brother-in-law of Henry Ford, must have spent millions sending that jingle into all our homes over the years. Can't recall the first part of the jingle. Anyone know what happened to Roy O'Brien Ford? | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 499 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 65.185.132.134 |
Karl- http://www.royobrien.com/ click on that and you will hear the jingle They would LOVE to have you come and buy a Ford right now. You strike me like a Crown Vic/ Custom E-150 kind of guy Ford needs all the help it can get right now | ||
Karl Member Username: Karl Post Number: 3401 Registered: 09-2005 Posted From: 64.12.116.204 |
Thanks, 56 - Sorry, I'm a GM guy, but must admit I've have been checking out those Saleens. Couldn't get the jingle to play, I'll try on another computer. | ||
Caldogven Member Username: Caldogven Post Number: 9 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 68.127.240.56 |
56packman- I think it was just a basic 120 sedan, like the ones that carried Packard thru the depression. My dad worked at Packard for over 40 years, from the early teen's until they closed up. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4172 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 71.193.193.49 |
Under the thread title of Old Car Factories, Packards are shown as taxis. No, jjaba doesn't personally remember them on Detroit streets. Ofcourse, jjaba remembers the Checker factory in Kalamazoo. What am I, chopped liver! Yes, Hudson's last dealership is in Depot Town in Ypsilanti. There's a museum next door. This is not far from the site of the Tucker plant. jjaba, Westsider, cooling off without socks with his Good Housekeeping Shop Window AC unit. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 500 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 65.185.132.134 |
No Jjaba, you are not chopped liver-here's a few shots of Packard Taxis--once again, they weren't the segment leader, but they sold a bunch. You were far more likely to see a DeSoto or Checker cab.    | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 501 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 65.185.132.134 |
Just to prove I'm not a total Packard idiot-savant (which I pretty much am) here are all of your Detorit area Dodge-Plymouth dealers for 1939   | ||
The_rock Member Username: The_rock Post Number: 1353 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.42.251.225 |
caldo and packman sure know their Packards. And I have been enlightened about the importance of Packards as taxi cabs, too. My cousin is restoring a 4 door(Clipper?) Packard out in Fresno CA, a gift to him by my late uncle who was a head mucky-muck for Packard. His last challenge is the transmission, no easy task. Maybe he can turn it into a taxi cab. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 502 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.234 |
The_Rock--send your cousin to the Packard forums at www.aaca.org --Have him go to the Forums on the RH menu, then to the Packard discussions board. Lots of knowledge (and opinions, typical internet forum) there, parts, sympathy. | ||
Eric_c Member Username: Eric_c Post Number: 803 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 68.21.62.206 |
Hugher Motors, baby! 11500 Jos. Campau Ave., Hamtramck! Single-line Dodge, in Dodge's hometown, since 1928! | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4177 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 71.193.193.49 |
Imagine Hugher's pull at Dodge Main. "Factory direct to you." The salesman walks over and gets your car off the line. Amazing. At the end, there were 200 single-line Olds dealers. In some places, you can still see the Plymouth-Chrysler blue strip signs across the dealerships. jjaba. | ||
Caldogven Member Username: Caldogven Post Number: 10 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 68.127.36.22 |
Rock- Back in the late 50's early 60's I was doing automobile glass replacement work, one of our accounts was Carl Hoston Studebaker-Packard,and Mercedes on Jefferson just past Alter Rd. toward G.P. The bodyman's name was Kurt Zeibert who,with the the Kruseman Bros, Rudy Herman,and Joe Scheilegy who was the service manager, started Zeibert Rustproofing. They started out in the service area of Dave Kennedy Lincoln-Mercury on Harper and Outer Drive. The dealership on Jeff. became a Dodge dealership that my brother ran for Chrysler's. One of many that he did. He eventully acqired his sole ownershp of a store in Mt. Clemens. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 505 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.105 |
Here'a a few from my buddy Gary's Waterwinterwonderland.com    | ||
Billybbrew Member Username: Billybbrew Post Number: 199 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
56Packman... I drove down GR today and looked TWICE for "General Transmissions" and could not find it. The only building I could see was a garage that was cinderblock and looked too new for a Packard Dealership. Is it in the middle of a block or on a corner? Thanks... Packard V12... Boss of the road, beauty of the Boulevard... | ||
Mikefive Member Username: Mikefive Post Number: 16 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 136.181.195.56 |
Billybbrew, The General Transmissions building has been recently renovated. It is on the corner of Grand River and St. Mary's directly across the street from a liquor store. I believe the building that brought it is call Tidwell Construction. | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 509 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 129.9.163.234 |
Billybrew,Mikefive--OK, haven't been there since I worked in the area (until '04) the address would be 16250 Grand River. Put that address into google maps. When it comes up switch to the satellite view, and zoom in. The (former) St.Marys Packard building is the L shaped building on the south side of the street, across from the church. the painted Packard logo is/was on the short "horizontal" end of the L, facing the trapeziod-shaped building to the east. you can barely see it while driving by--it's better viewed from the alley. Hope its still there. | ||
Billybbrew Member Username: Billybbrew Post Number: 200 Registered: 07-2005 Posted From: 152.163.100.8 |
Ok, I saw Tidwell and wondered if that was the dealer. I wonder if you can still see the letters on the side. I went by to try to take a pic, but wasn't sure which it was. Thanks. Drop me another e-mail 56Pack, I lost your e-mail address...Thanks in advance. | ||
Dday Member Username: Dday Post Number: 844 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 65.209.165.170 |
George Bente sold Cadillacs. Before that it was Seymour Cadillac | ||
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 48 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 66.184.3.44 |
Thanks Dday, I couldn't for the life of me remember what he sold. It was one of those little things that bug you. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1402 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.19.18.46 |
From a photo in the WSU/VMC identified as being Mack and Chalmers is this Chevrolet dealer. It looks like Hanson is painted on the side of the building.  Late 1930's? | ||
Hornist9 Member Username: Hornist9 Post Number: 2 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 24.192.182.223 |
Does anyone remember the names of the two dealerships on Van Dyke two blocks south of Stephens Drive in South Warren? The one on the West Side of Van Dyke was in it's final days as a car store was called "Rancho Rambler", but I can't remember the name of the dealer ship on the east side. That building one the East side is now occupied by Regal Tire. I can remember my dad and mother going to look at a Chrysler product, I think it may have been a Dodge. It shocked me totally, as my dad was a GM employee and had driven nothing but Pontiacs. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2693 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
circa 1967:     | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2694 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
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Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2695 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
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Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2696 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
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Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1408 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 66.19.25.194 |
I was waiting, and waiting, etc... for you to show up in this thread Mikem; about time. Hornist9, welcome to the forum (finally) looking at an old classified section of the DetNews from 1972, Eastland American Motors shows two locations, one on Gratiot and 9 Mile, and another at Van Dyke at 9 1/2. Maybe they took over the Rancho Rambler franchise. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2697 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
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Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2698 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
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Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2699 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
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Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2700 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
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Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2 Post Number: 904 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.223.133.177 |
Mikem, do you know the year this ad was run?  Livedog2 | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2702 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
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Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2703 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
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Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4252 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 71.193.193.49 |
Excellent memories from the phone book. jjaba likes the map in a day when you could easily find an agency on the surface streets in Detroit. jjaba. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2704 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
        Livedog, sorry I missed your post...these are from the September 1967 issue of the Yellow Pages. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2705 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
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Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2 Post Number: 909 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.223.133.177 |
Mikem, thanks for the info about when the ad ran. The math doesn't compute in my head though because the ad for Krajenke Buick says "53 Years of Good Deals" and "53 Years on Jos. Campau" and the ad ran in September of 1967 which means the dealership opened in 1914. But, I remember going to a dealership at the corner of Dearing and Jos Campau on opening day for free hotdogs, pop and popcorn in September of either 1948 or '49. The ad for Krajenke Buick also says they are located at 12801 Jos Campau, 3 Blks. S. of Davison” which would put it on the Westside of Jos. Campau between Meade and McLean Sts. So, this is must not be the dealership I went to on the corner of the Eastside of Jos. Campau at Dearing St. I knew I had some photos of the dealership I am talking about but it was just a matter of finding them.    So, the address has to be higher than the Krajenke Buick address of “12801 Jos Campau” and it has to be an even number because it is on the Eastside of Jos. Campau. Livedog2 | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2707 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
Dave Coogan Lincoln-Mercury, 13832 Jos Campau? | ||
Livedog2 Member Username: Livedog2 Post Number: 912 Registered: 03-2006 Posted From: 24.223.133.177 |
No, that's not it because "13832 Jos Campau" would put it on Jos Campau between Victoria and Gaylord Sts. The one I'm looking for would be farther south on the Eastside of Jos Campau 2 blocks south of Davison on the corner of Dearing St. Wait, I'll go back to the original photos I posted of the dealership in question and see if I can zoom in far enough to get an address off of the building. But, I do remember the other dealership called "Dave Coogan Lincoln-Mercury." My goodness there were a lot of car dealerships on Jos Campau! Livedog2 | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2708 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
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Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2713 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
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Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2714 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
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Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2715 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
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Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1413 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.157.64.128 |
The Houghton-Hurlburt dealership on E. Jefferson, judging by what is seen of the cars in the windows, must have been around 1910. I haven't found any other info on this one yet.  The Crosstown Corp, dealer of King Motor Cars, located at Woodward and Warren, about where the Rackham Building is.   | ||
56packman Member Username: 56packman Post Number: 522 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 65.185.132.134 |
MikeM--Bravo, man. You really put 'em all up. I especially like the fact that there are little maps to see where they were. Fantastic posts | ||
Detroitnerd Member Username: Detroitnerd Post Number: 636 Registered: 07-2004 Posted From: 209.69.221.253 |
Reminds me of some of the old TV jingles. They were in heavy rotation and I can still hear the AM-quality sound and razzamatazz backing music: Walt Lazar Chevrolet is the super-super-dealer! and of course Here dawg c'mon dawg good dawg want you to go to Telly-graph road Raht nowwwww Get a good deal *woof* | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2716 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
Stepping back to 1946:           I believe this is the dealership of Everett Kircher, who left the auto business the following year and bought some hilly land in northern Michigan to build a ski hill, now called Boyne Mountain. | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2717 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
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Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2761 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.234.183.131 |
Neat to see that you could purchase farm eqt on Schafer and Joy rd in the mid 40s ... | ||
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 93 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 66.184.3.44 |
Thanks to everyone for posting the pics. Love to read the slogans the dealers came up with. Keep up the good work. | ||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 1419 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.157.64.128 |
An ad from the May 9th 1973 DetNews classified section.  | ||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2719 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
That church across the street looks familiar:     | ||
Karl Member Username: Karl Post Number: 3516 Registered: 09-2005 Posted From: 68.110.101.59 |
Sure seems like it was A LOT more fun in the D and surrounding areas when we were all one area code - along with all those prefixes (personal favorite = TUxedo) Not to mention all those dozens of car dealers, each with its own distinct personality. RIP. | ||
Detroitej72 Member Username: Detroitej72 Post Number: 97 Registered: 05-2006 Posted From: 66.184.3.44 |
St.Josephat Catholic Church still has the prefix on it church bullitan. We all should take the first 2 numbers of our phone numbers and use the letters instead. It would really be confusing with the 50m area codes! |
