Photos of Vintage Auto Dealerships, Repair Shops, and Gas Stations
- Thread starter ayilar
- Start date
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
Art Deco, built in the late 1930's Moore, Buick, 215 E. Main St, Walla Walla, WA. Still there, largely unchanged exterior, though not a dealership.
Source: Art & Inspiration - vintage car dealership photo thread
1959
Today
Source: Art & Inspiration - vintage car dealership photo thread
1959
Today
70NEWYORKER
Well-Known Member
Wil-Shore Motors, Ford, 611 Green Bay Road Wilmette, IL.
Replaced with condos.
These nine places have something in common.
1. All in San Francisco
2. All approximate 100 years old
3. All were parking garages
4. All have distinct architectural styles of 100+ years ago (at least three styles my amateur eyes can ID)
4. All were still standing and in daily use as of 2015.
The addresses are there -- but I didnt look for what happened to them since 2015. Where/architect of each building is is below the photo.
. UPDATE: 1 is gone - replaced by housing, 2 are vacant/dilapidated, 6 are still going strong as of 2022
Gotta figure the Bay Area real estate economics (and/or local zoning-permitting laws) made it economical to reuse vs. tear down/rebuild in these areas.
You can veg out on interesting commentary at the link.
source: Early San Francisco Parking Garages
1. All in San Francisco
2. All approximate 100 years old
3. All were parking garages
4. All have distinct architectural styles of 100+ years ago (at least three styles my amateur eyes can ID)
4. All were still standing and in daily use as of 2015.
The addresses are there -- but I didnt look for what happened to them since 2015. Where/architect of each building is is below the photo.
. UPDATE: 1 is gone - replaced by housing, 2 are vacant/dilapidated, 6 are still going strong as of 2022
Gotta figure the Bay Area real estate economics (and/or local zoning-permitting laws) made it economical to reuse vs. tear down/rebuild in these areas.
You can veg out on interesting commentary at the link.
source: Early San Francisco Parking Garages
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Looks like circa late 1920's-early 1930's
A drive-in supermarket, Mandarin Market, LaMirada at Vine in Hollywood, CA. The East Asia themed architecture fits the name, or vice versa.
Its not there anymore.
A drive-in supermarket, Mandarin Market, LaMirada at Vine in Hollywood, CA. The East Asia themed architecture fits the name, or vice versa.
Its not there anymore.
1928, Violet Ray gas station, address unknown, but city is Los Angeles.
The name was the color of the gasoline apparently. General Petroleum Corporation was the refiner. The forumulation was designed to change colors IF it was mixed with an inferior brand.
Different Station below, corner of 7th Street at Coastal Highway, Carpenteria (Los Angeles) CA. Way, LONG gone if you know anything about this area.
Info on this sole proprietor station below, pic is circa 1930, as well as the brand itself: Violet Ray Gasoline Station
The name was the color of the gasoline apparently. General Petroleum Corporation was the refiner. The forumulation was designed to change colors IF it was mixed with an inferior brand.
Different Station below, corner of 7th Street at Coastal Highway, Carpenteria (Los Angeles) CA. Way, LONG gone if you know anything about this area.
Info on this sole proprietor station below, pic is circa 1930, as well as the brand itself: Violet Ray Gasoline Station
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100 year old business (est. 1921), and a 60+ year old sign (erected in 1958).
Felix Chevrolet, Figueroa at Jefferson, Los Angeles. I am sure there are earlier pics but only so much at I can do at lunch.
Story at link. As you might imagine, they got into a dustup with GM about branding. Apparently Felix won that one.
source: Landmark Car Dealership Felix Chevrolet Celebrates 100 Years | Downtown Los Angeles Weekly | The Spirit of DTLA
1964
1999
2022
Felix Chevrolet, Figueroa at Jefferson, Los Angeles. I am sure there are earlier pics but only so much at I can do at lunch.
Story at link. As you might imagine, they got into a dustup with GM about branding. Apparently Felix won that one.
source: Landmark Car Dealership Felix Chevrolet Celebrates 100 Years | Downtown Los Angeles Weekly | The Spirit of DTLA
1964
1999
2022
MrMoparCHP
Old Man with a Hat
This one was torn down late 50s/early 60s
Alan
MrMoparCHP
Old Man with a Hat
As a kid I remember driving past this one, at the time there was no fence.
Current, it has historic status.
Alan
Current, it has historic status.
Alan
streamline moderne. 120 S. Alameda, Compton CA. Built 1940's.
I will be darned if building aint still there and exterior wise, not that far from as built design.
I will be darned if building aint still there and exterior wise, not that far from as built design.
MrMoparCHP
Old Man with a Hat
This dealer later moved a mile away, then a little while later was sold. It became Moothart Chrysler Plymouth and it was there that my grandparents purchased the Barracuda that I now have.
Alan
built 1903 as a flour and feed store. then was a private home in the 1920's. opened as a gas station in 1940's. Stopped being a gas station in 1990, then restored to look like it did in 1944.
301 Front St. N, Issaquah, WA.
Somebody's taking care of it from a preservation standpoint.
2008
2022
301 Front St. N, Issaquah, WA.
Somebody's taking care of it from a preservation standpoint.
2008
2022
MrMoparCHP
Old Man with a Hat
1112 N Long Beach Blvd, Compton, CA
This one is from the late 50
The dealer moved to Lakewood about 1968
2007
2012, same building, they just cut off the showroom and part of the garage.
Alan
This one is from the late 50
The dealer moved to Lakewood about 1968
2007
2012, same building, they just cut off the showroom and part of the garage.
Alan
NHRA Safety Safari
I love this thread
Shirley Muldowney's dragster in front of their (her and her first husband) gas station, Schenectady, NY.
I think this would be when she was still running in the gas dragster class, before she started with funny cars.
I think this would be when she was still running in the gas dragster class, before she started with funny cars.
This historic structure really should be preserved and probably designated a landmark. It needs to be restored to it's original glory.
This one made me kinda sad. I dont know anything about Indy .. this area might have seen better days tho (barriers on the windows).
Its still there as of 2019, and I think if you were looking at it in person you'd think it used to be a cool building 80 years ago (still has its stainless steel trim in the art-deco style). You wouldn't have known probably it had a big "spark plug" sign tower.
502 Fairfield Ave, Indianapolis, IN
circa. 1930's
2019
Its still there as of 2019, and I think if you were looking at it in person you'd think it used to be a cool building 80 years ago (still has its stainless steel trim in the art-deco style). You wouldn't have known probably it had a big "spark plug" sign tower.
502 Fairfield Ave, Indianapolis, IN
circa. 1930's
2019
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