@67newport — now we’re talking !
Photos of Vintage Auto Dealerships, Repair Shops, and Gas Stations
- Thread starter ayilar
- Start date
hey @ayilar. in case you wanna go build one, or better yet rehab one. 
source: Texaco Blueprints, Texaco Gas Station Floor Plans
source: Texaco Blueprints, Texaco Gas Station Floor Plans
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Year built uncertain. Location is Sierra Blanca TX, off US-10 (about 90 miles SE of El Paso, close to Mexico border). Abandoned truck stop, but "decay artist" target.
Off -axis but back in 2016 an author speculated the gas station going the way of soda fountains and book stores -- that debate should be in the EV threads, but has merit.
source: Gas Stations Could Soon Be As Quaint As Bookstores and Soda Fountains
This one is here already but exact address wasn't know .. Sierra Blanca is small but I couldn't find hide nor hair of this old Texaco
Off -axis but back in 2016 an author speculated the gas station going the way of soda fountains and book stores -- that debate should be in the EV threads, but has merit.
source: Gas Stations Could Soon Be As Quaint As Bookstores and Soda Fountains
This one is here already but exact address wasn't know .. Sierra Blanca is small but I couldn't find hide nor hair of this old Texaco
Built 1948, S.L. Savidge Dodge, 9th Ave. at Lenora, Seattle, WA.
This streamline moderne beauty that kept her good looks for almost 75 years, aside externally for some paint here and there. Dealership closed mid-70's and building sat empty till early 80's when city of Seattle bought it as a library ever since.
source: Seattle Historical Sites Search Result - Department of Neighborhoods (DON)
circa. 1970's
Today
This streamline moderne beauty that kept her good looks for almost 75 years, aside externally for some paint here and there. Dealership closed mid-70's and building sat empty till early 80's when city of Seattle bought it as a library ever since.
source: Seattle Historical Sites Search Result - Department of Neighborhoods (DON)
circa. 1970's
Today
Former Firestone Tire & Serivice facility, 800 S. La Brea, Los Angeles, CA. Streamline moderne at its finest. Built 1938.
Now All Seasons Brewery, who worked really hard to try to keep it as original look as possible while building a new business for it to hold. Looks cool to me.
sources: LA’s Historic Firestone Tire Building Is Reborn, California Firestone Stores | RoadsideArchitecture.com
Before - when it was still a Firestone store
After - remodeling/reuse by All Seasons
Now All Seasons Brewery, who worked really hard to try to keep it as original look as possible while building a new business for it to hold. Looks cool to me.
sources: LA’s Historic Firestone Tire Building Is Reborn, California Firestone Stores | RoadsideArchitecture.com
Before - when it was still a Firestone store
After - remodeling/reuse by All Seasons
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A rare example where the revision might be an improvement on the original. I stay "might" because I liked the pillar that's been removed on the left.
MrMoparCHP
Old Man with a Hat
200 S California St, Ventura, CA 93001
Alan
Alan
Huntington, WV. Looks like they sold a little of everything.
Built 1937, streamline moderne, Zip Auto, 251 W. Main Street, Missoula, MT.
Restored in 2006 (mis-spelling and all) by a buyer and architect determined to do it right. Good on them for taking it on.
$850K and counting back then (1/4 recovered with historical tax credits) is fatter than my piggy bank (unless I could live there too) but I really like it.
Still there as of 2021.
Business with identical name is cata-corner (300 Main St) from this one. guess they are related businesses.
Restoring a Montana Auto Shop with a One-Track Mind | National Trust for Historic Preservation
Restored in 2006 (mis-spelling and all) by a buyer and architect determined to do it right. Good on them for taking it on.
$850K and counting back then (1/4 recovered with historical tax credits) is fatter than my piggy bank (unless I could live there too) but I really like it.
Still there as of 2021.
Business with identical name is cata-corner (300 Main St) from this one. guess they are related businesses.
Restoring a Montana Auto Shop with a One-Track Mind | National Trust for Historic Preservation
I always liked the Bear Alignment signs you would see in front of some shops.
Just for laughs, I thought I'd find a pic of an old shop with the sign and instead I found this!
Glendora, CA
While these are modern pics, it shows the layout of the alignment machines.
Just for laughs, I thought I'd find a pic of an old shop with the sign and instead I found this!
Glendora, CA
While these are modern pics, it shows the layout of the alignment machines.
Classic art Deco, history not known, no vintage photos found. A former dealership, 322 W. Lea St, Carlsbad NM.
Probably built in the 1930's, its been many things since it was a dealership 80 years ago. Obvious service bays on left, and former vehicleshowroom on right where laundromat is now.
Still there as of 2019, exterior looks like it survived (except for paint) the years in decent, original shape.
2017
2019
Probably built in the 1930's, its been many things since it was a dealership 80 years ago. Obvious service bays on left, and former vehicleshowroom on right where laundromat is now.
Still there as of 2019, exterior looks like it survived (except for paint) the years in decent, original shape.
2017
2019
Sorry @ayilar. 
Wouldn't be a proper Scenicruiser (an art-deco inspired vehicle design btw) owner - still a vehicle but BIG - if I didn't put ONE of the several streamline modern Greyhound stations still in existence and in use since built as a bus station.
Built 1948, Greyhound Station, 1465 Chester, Cleveland, OH. Still there, and I have been there (caught a bus from Detroit a decade ago to pick up a car .. guy met me AT the station).
Cool old joint, inside and out, as the architects didn't stop on the outside. Design of staircases, and furniture & fixtures INSIDE it also a treat.
Still in use as of last year.
sources: Cleveland's stunning Greyhound Station at 70: A visual history
Wouldn't be a proper Scenicruiser (an art-deco inspired vehicle design btw) owner - still a vehicle but BIG - if I didn't put ONE of the several streamline modern Greyhound stations still in existence and in use since built as a bus station.
Built 1948, Greyhound Station, 1465 Chester, Cleveland, OH. Still there, and I have been there (caught a bus from Detroit a decade ago to pick up a car .. guy met me AT the station).
Cool old joint, inside and out, as the architects didn't stop on the outside. Design of staircases, and furniture & fixtures INSIDE it also a treat.
Still in use as of last year.
sources: Cleveland's stunning Greyhound Station at 70: A visual history
Built 1939, Jones Ford, 3222 Central Avenue SE, Albuquerque, NM. On old Route 66, it included a Texaco station, it was architecturally intended to attract tourists and locals with its amenities.
Dealership moved in 1957. It became several other things, most recently Kelly's Brew Pub in 1999 -they poured investment in it to reuse it and try to keep it as original as possible.
Today showed Kelly's as permanently closed, however. Building is still there though.
sources: America's Biggest Road Trip 20 May 2003, Mother Road revival: Cars, motorcycles, neon abound in Route 66 exhibit
circa. 1940's
circa 2018
2022 - still there but dunno about the business status
Dealership moved in 1957. It became several other things, most recently Kelly's Brew Pub in 1999 -they poured investment in it to reuse it and try to keep it as original as possible.
Today showed Kelly's as permanently closed, however. Building is still there though.
sources: America's Biggest Road Trip 20 May 2003, Mother Road revival: Cars, motorcycles, neon abound in Route 66 exhibit
circa. 1940's
circa 2018
2022 - still there but dunno about the business status
This is at 288 Merton Rd, London, England UK.
No history, but assume the 1930's from the art deco architecture. It was still there in 2022 but with different owners (and they swapped out the windows - ugh)
I picked this because, as I stated early on in this thread, I am still looking for "retirement digs" where I can combine a residence and 10 or so vehicles that will "follow the hearse" so to speak (until my executor sells them).
If it were not in some urban "war zone", and not way out in the sticks somewhere, this "economics" of a building like this would suit me. I'd even keep the neon.
Something older, industrial with architectural character, that appeals to my life-long hobby of collecting/restoring such things, with room (upstairs, or on the roof) for my grand kiddies, would be cool I think. Just ain't gonna spend $1M dollars for it as a retiree.
Love my kids -- but I'd rather leave (and they'd rather have) money vs old Detroit iron that WILL likely become technologically obsolete (hopefully not illegal) in their lifetimes by the time they are my age now.
2009
2022
No history, but assume the 1930's from the art deco architecture. It was still there in 2022 but with different owners (and they swapped out the windows - ugh)
I picked this because, as I stated early on in this thread, I am still looking for "retirement digs" where I can combine a residence and 10 or so vehicles that will "follow the hearse" so to speak (until my executor sells them).
If it were not in some urban "war zone", and not way out in the sticks somewhere, this "economics" of a building like this would suit me. I'd even keep the neon.
Something older, industrial with architectural character, that appeals to my life-long hobby of collecting/restoring such things, with room (upstairs, or on the roof) for my grand kiddies, would be cool I think. Just ain't gonna spend $1M dollars for it as a retiree.
Love my kids -- but I'd rather leave (and they'd rather have) money vs old Detroit iron that WILL likely become technologically obsolete (hopefully not illegal) in their lifetimes by the time they are my age now.
2009
2022
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67newport
Old Man with a Hat
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
