VW buses
Photos of Vintage Auto Dealerships, Repair Shops, and Gas Stations
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Former Miller Judd Motors, 5454 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI. That was Nash dealer (can't tell whats in the showroom) but could have been something else before that.
Now a Wayne State University building (in "Midtown", an up & coming area I have rediscovered in the past few posts) that has been reused. Wayne State has been integral to Detroit "middle-out" recovery strategy. Seems to be working out.
Built 1929, Albert Kahn design, Neo-classic industrial, limestone facade, reinforced concrett. Its a giant building. Had to have been other things besides a dealership.
1929
Today
North entrance (to the left is north, on side street)
Now a Wayne State University building (in "Midtown", an up & coming area I have rediscovered in the past few posts) that has been reused. Wayne State has been integral to Detroit "middle-out" recovery strategy. Seems to be working out.
Built 1929, Albert Kahn design, Neo-classic industrial, limestone facade, reinforced concrett. Its a giant building. Had to have been other things besides a dealership.
1929
Today
Asserted to be the first, purpose-built auto dealership (sales & service) in US. Dunno that for sure, but Detroit's Historical Society thinks so.
Former William E. Metzger, Sales & Service, 409 E. Jefferson, Detroit, MI.
Built 1902 for Henry Joy, (Future President of Packard in 1909, investor in Packard 1902 until then) Albert Kahn-designed and built FOUR more floors in 1903 (Kahn did the same thing at the Packard plant in 1905, btw).
Packard built other (company-owned stores) sakes & service facilities (among the first, urban "dealerships" in USA) all over Detroit in the next decade and this building became other things.
Wound up as DuMouchelle Auctions in the 30's, and still is today.
1902 - Metzger's name over the front door.
Late 1920's - This is an example of a Packard company store, across the street and one block down, from this one above. This is same one (before Packard remodeled it after two decades of operation - they added a lot to the west end), but earlier, in post #1,939
1940's
Today
Btw, right across the street.
Former William E. Metzger, Sales & Service, 409 E. Jefferson, Detroit, MI.
Built 1902 for Henry Joy, (Future President of Packard in 1909, investor in Packard 1902 until then) Albert Kahn-designed and built FOUR more floors in 1903 (Kahn did the same thing at the Packard plant in 1905, btw).
Packard built other (company-owned stores) sakes & service facilities (among the first, urban "dealerships" in USA) all over Detroit in the next decade and this building became other things.
Wound up as DuMouchelle Auctions in the 30's, and still is today.
1902 - Metzger's name over the front door.
Late 1920's - This is an example of a Packard company store, across the street and one block down, from this one above. This is same one (before Packard remodeled it after two decades of operation - they added a lot to the west end), but earlier, in post #1,939
1940's
Today
Btw, right across the street.
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Asserted to be the former Chaffee Cadillac, 3180 E. Jefferson, Detroit. Built 1923.
Today. Still there. Its a miracle.
Today. Still there. Its a miracle.
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I am standing down on Detroit.
There are literally several 100's of buildings --- ex-plants, dealerships, personal homes -- still in the greater Detroit area. Some are pretty dilapidated, others spectacularly reused, and dozens now gone.
and a ton of ex-gas stations & garages .. recall this was a metro area that didn't invest much in public transportation (e.g., Detroit never had subways) .. heck, everybody had cars (some us more than one
) plus the then then 3 largest car companies in the world were HQ'd there.
Y'all get the picture I think. It wasn't called the "Motor City" for nothing.
Last one, and its unfortunately gone.
Built 1923, former Kessler Chevrolet, 3830 W. Vernor, Detroit, MI.
1924
Today - building long gone, still "auto-related dirt.".
There are literally several 100's of buildings --- ex-plants, dealerships, personal homes -- still in the greater Detroit area. Some are pretty dilapidated, others spectacularly reused, and dozens now gone.
and a ton of ex-gas stations & garages .. recall this was a metro area that didn't invest much in public transportation (e.g., Detroit never had subways) .. heck, everybody had cars (some us more than one
) plus the then then 3 largest car companies in the world were HQ'd there.Y'all get the picture I think. It wasn't called the "Motor City" for nothing.
Last one, and its unfortunately gone.
Built 1923, former Kessler Chevrolet, 3830 W. Vernor, Detroit, MI.
1924
Today - building long gone, still "auto-related dirt."
.
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1949 Packards
'73 Chevys and Buicks.
1959 Ford in Australia.
Buicks at Mexican plant
First Firebird off the line.
Small block Chevy engines.
Mustangs and Cougars. Note hood "adjustment" tools. Yes... That's how they did it.
Auto school!
Unknown location, possibly NYC.
Unknown location, possibly NYC.
