Packard plant 1910's?
Photos of Vintage Auto Dealerships, Repair Shops, and Gas Stations
- Thread starter ayilar
- Start date
Highland Park Ford plant. Probably late 20's.
Gotta like the awnings.
Gotta like the awnings.
I think this particular building (facing VanDyke, orange box was/is the semi-circular drive) was/is remodeled but the Sterling Heights Plant largest bulding is still there. Back then, Chrysler built the Jupiter and Redstone rockets in this massive facility.
"Plant History: Facility was built in 1953 as a jet engine plant and was operated by the Army as the Michigan Ordinance Missile Plant with Chrysler serving as contractor, building Redstone and Jupiter missiles. It was converted to an automobile plant in 1980 by Volkswagen and purchased by Chrysler Corporation in 1983."
source: Stellantis Media - Sterling Heights Assembly Plant
Today - Google Earth. VanDyke (widened substantially since the 1950's) horizontal street across bottom, 16 Mile the vertical street on the left side.
Biloxi, Mississippi 1958
Yup, this is in fact the powerplant on Woodward (north is too the left, and diagonal across bottom of pic below). Way back in Post #34, added black box whre powerplant was.
Photos of Vintage Auto Dealerships, Repair Shops, and Gas Stations
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Yup, old vs. new, the left-side walkway buildings were torn down, all the rest soon I hear below.
source: The Packard Plant: Then and now -- interactive comparison photos
source: Finally, Detroit’s Packard Plant Has a Date with the Wrecking Ball
Unknown location. I think that's a '49 Buick Super Sedanet
could be anywhere chief ... but looks like it was an advertisement for the "Lubricare" system for Buick (a "fastback" no less), that in and of itself has a vintage equipment following.
sources: Lubricare is Complete Protection | Buick Heritage Alliance, Blog — SERVICE MERCHANDISERS - 1940's & 50's
One of the things I've been watching for when I find these pics is an interesting car. That Buick really is half of the interest (to me anyway) in a pic like that. A service bay showing the equipment really pulls me in.
Funny thing, I've seen all those white oil change cabinets in different shops over the years. They're always beat up from use and maybe getting driven into a few times. And the two column lifts! A friend's shop had those... A little tricky to use, especially after some years of wear, until you get used to it.
1000 mile oil change!
The equipment is further away from my experience .. I have only the most basic mechanical skills, let alone had to make a living with the equipment in my past.
I remember some of these "cabinets" vaguely in the 1960's because many were "colorfully lit", or otherwise would attract a kid's attention. I had no idea what guys with the "dirty hands" were doing .. my dad seemed cool with things.
Hell I thought the Texaco guy lived behind the door with his picture on it when I was five years old..
source: Blog — SERVICE MERCHANDISERS - 1940's & 50's
As the vehicles changed I am sure the equipment evolved too as you said. Surely, however, the basic idea of "organization" and "efficiency" for the "mechanic" is still true as we speak. There equipment just looks different (digital display, handhelds, etc.).
Seems to me a buncha things used to service vehicles has changed .. evolved in appearance, disappeared altogether -- as vehicles changed -- a lot in the past 50 years vs. the first 70 years of the auto.
Might make an interesting thread one day?
I remember some of these "cabinets" vaguely in the 1960's because many were "colorfully lit", or otherwise would attract a kid's attention. I had no idea what guys with the "dirty hands" were doing .. my dad seemed cool with things.
Hell I thought the Texaco guy lived behind the door with his picture on it when I was five years old..
source: Blog — SERVICE MERCHANDISERS - 1940's & 50's
As the vehicles changed I am sure the equipment evolved too as you said. Surely, however, the basic idea of "organization" and "efficiency" for the "mechanic" is still true as we speak. There equipment just looks different (digital display, handhelds, etc.).
Seems to me a buncha things used to service vehicles has changed .. evolved in appearance, disappeared altogether -- as vehicles changed -- a lot in the past 50 years vs. the first 70 years of the auto.
Might make an interesting thread one day?
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Unknown Canadian locations, but comes with a "jingle eh?"
.
White Rose Gasoline was a Canadian Oil brand. Canadian Oil acquired by Shell in 1962 and went away.
source: (2 minute video with two vintage jingles .. gotta be 60+ years old)
.White Rose Gasoline was a Canadian Oil brand. Canadian Oil acquired by Shell in 1962 and went away.
source: (2 minute video with two vintage jingles .. gotta be 60+ years old)
Yea, I love the old equipment. It's something that you don't see in modern shops and I think it goes with my affection for using old tools. I never made a living working on cars either, so I only saw stuff like this in friends' shops and it was usually really beat up when they had it.
If I had more room, I would have a collection of the stuff...
This one caught my eye for having a Carson topped custom '39 Mercury on the lot. San Diego in 1963. Great signage. I also found the Mercury and it not only still exists, but has been restored. No proof, but it's believed that Barris did some work on it.
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
German Postwar Modern style, originally an Kiffe Opel dealership, built 1956, located at corner of Alter Steinweg and Asche, Münster, Germany.
Kiffe operated the dealership until 1982, then "exhibitions" (shows by public/private parties) were held there until 2009 as it was otherwise empty, then remodeled, then became a "TK Maxx" dept. store in 2010.
sources: Kiffe-Pavilion – MünsterWiki, https://img.fotocommunity.com/pavil...c-4a66-4d72-9d86-06c679058cdf.jpg?height=1080
circa. 1956
Today
Kiffe operated the dealership until 1982, then "exhibitions" (shows by public/private parties) were held there until 2009 as it was otherwise empty, then remodeled, then became a "TK Maxx" dept. store in 2010.
sources: Kiffe-Pavilion – MünsterWiki, https://img.fotocommunity.com/pavil...c-4a66-4d72-9d86-06c679058cdf.jpg?height=1080
circa. 1956
Today
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I would love the orange and white tool station.
1616 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO
Safe to assume that's a Reo sedan and a Sandow truck.
Today
Safe to assume that's a Reo sedan and a Sandow truck.
Today
1936/37 Cord with the headlights up. I've never seen a pic with the hidden headlights open.
1937 Cadillac in the background.
1937 Cadillac in the background.
1931 Auburn at the pumps. One attendant pumping gas and the other chatting up the driver. The uniform will get them every time.
