Chrysler Australia Tonsley Park plant
1970
1970
Photos of Vintage Auto Dealerships, Repair Shops, and Gas Stations
- Thread starter ayilar
- Start date
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
1952 Bailey and Kensington Ave Texaco Station. Buffalo NY
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
Steubenville OH
Few of the reasons the structurally UN-modified stations tend to, if they survive at all, become other things.
Rarely bigger than 800 sq ft, at most one small bay, tended to be on "landlocked" corner lots. May need as much $$ to environmentally remediate as bigger buildings as well. As such, alternative use economics reduce their viability as other things.
Still, There are thousands of them left all over USA for small businesses and little hobby garages. In major downtowns, the ability to use land for multistory structures is irresistable.
Anyway, Kidd Valley Burgers, 5502 25th Ave NE, Seattle WA.
Once its earliest location from mid 1970's, started as a early art-deco, canopy, porcelain sheathed Standard station, then become a ice cream/burger outfit, then Kidd Valley's small local chain's original burger location.
Closed last year .. making it ADA compliant was deemed cost prohibitive. Real estate still looks to be over $1M per Loopnet and building practically nothing.
sources: History — Kidd Valley, https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/5502-25th-Ave-NE-Seattle-WA/26503236/
1960's
mid 2000's
Rarely bigger than 800 sq ft, at most one small bay, tended to be on "landlocked" corner lots. May need as much $$ to environmentally remediate as bigger buildings as well. As such, alternative use economics reduce their viability as other things.
Still, There are thousands of them left all over USA for small businesses and little hobby garages. In major downtowns, the ability to use land for multistory structures is irresistable.
Anyway, Kidd Valley Burgers, 5502 25th Ave NE, Seattle WA.
Once its earliest location from mid 1970's, started as a early art-deco, canopy, porcelain sheathed Standard station, then become a ice cream/burger outfit, then Kidd Valley's small local chain's original burger location.
Closed last year .. making it ADA compliant was deemed cost prohibitive. Real estate still looks to be over $1M per Loopnet and building practically nothing.
sources: History — Kidd Valley, https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/5502-25th-Ave-NE-Seattle-WA/26503236/
1960's
mid 2000's
Last edited:
I recognize the fire hydrant in the second and third pictures!
Yup, I'd consider "hobby-housing" this one.
Bruce's Garage, 141 S. Main St, Liberty NY.
Looks to have been automotive-related (gas station and repair space) from build-date in 1947, Beautiful art-deco/modern design features, though a bit beat up.
Looks to be about 9,000 sq. ft. (looks to have a lower level in back on right), in a small town but NOT in the sticks, good vehicle access, a outdoor parking for 3 vehicles under a canopy (in front of the old service station office, where I think gas pumps used to be).
I'd restore the cool 1947 facade, new tires/pointing/tucking or whatever they do, use the gas station as living space, and park the fleet indoors. Nice flat roof that could be a "yard" if sturdy enough.
Cannot find vintage pictures of it but I am sure some must exist.
Not for sale that I am aware, a little too far north for climate reasons but WOULd not have to move the fleet very far, and zoning/environmental unknown.
Bruce's Garage, 141 S. Main St, Liberty NY.
Looks to have been automotive-related (gas station and repair space) from build-date in 1947, Beautiful art-deco/modern design features, though a bit beat up.
Looks to be about 9,000 sq. ft. (looks to have a lower level in back on right), in a small town but NOT in the sticks, good vehicle access, a outdoor parking for 3 vehicles under a canopy (in front of the old service station office, where I think gas pumps used to be).
I'd restore the cool 1947 facade, new tires/pointing/tucking or whatever they do, use the gas station as living space, and park the fleet indoors. Nice flat roof that could be a "yard" if sturdy enough.
Cannot find vintage pictures of it but I am sure some must exist.
Not for sale that I am aware, a little too far north for climate reasons but WOULd not have to move the fleet very far, and zoning/environmental unknown.
Love it @amazinblue82 — exactly the kind of building I had in mind when starting this thread. If you buy it, even better!
@ayilar. I am going to find one I will be able to get into .. one of these days. this thread definitely lit a fire under my a**.
If this one was available AND affordable -- many are not unless the Mega Millions deities smile on me I'd do it. Ostensibly perfect for all the reasons I'd even consider it.
I am also balancing my age, latitudes, zoning, the fact that fleet shrinks yearly because of my age, what my heirs will have to deal with, etc.. this one seems to check a lotta boxes tho.
Anyway, collecting vehicles ... best, worse thing I have ever done as my third trimester on the planet dawns.. still WOULD do it ALL over again .. cant help it, I'm sick
Holberts Garages, VW dealer, mid-century moderne, 1409 Easton Road, Warrington, PA.
This photo is early 60's. VW got to heartland US, somewhere in the mid-50's, so dunno history before or after, except it has been repurposed probably multiple times. This one billed itself as FIRST one in Bucks County, PA.
Basic architectural shape intact, inexpensive facade work typicially done to the vintage "boxes", retaining the clear span, single story, "chimney sign", design construction of 50's-60's builds.
Easily, efficiently sub-dividable to maximize leasable space. looks to be 20K sq. ft with a ton of parking (the dealership lots).
Thirty years plus AFTER the reinforced concrete "palaces' that dominated big city dealers, these building designs dominate even today.
Not a hobby-house candidate .. way too big, too commercial, usually millions $ to acquire meaning deal only floats with a business' support.
2015
2022
This photo is early 60's. VW got to heartland US, somewhere in the mid-50's, so dunno history before or after, except it has been repurposed probably multiple times. This one billed itself as FIRST one in Bucks County, PA.
Basic architectural shape intact, inexpensive facade work typicially done to the vintage "boxes", retaining the clear span, single story, "chimney sign", design construction of 50's-60's builds.
Easily, efficiently sub-dividable to maximize leasable space. looks to be 20K sq. ft with a ton of parking (the dealership lots).
Thirty years plus AFTER the reinforced concrete "palaces' that dominated big city dealers, these building designs dominate even today.
Not a hobby-house candidate .. way too big, too commercial, usually millions $ to acquire meaning deal only floats with a business' support.
2015
2022
I think this is same place.
Former Roy Stauffer Chevrolet, 1001 N Washington, Scranton, PA.
The art-deco design of the linen postcard is obvious and spectacular. Over the years, GM and Stauffer or subsequent owners put the "brand box" bastardization with blue Chevrolet facace.
Guess I feel two ways .. they tried to honor the old architecture as tastefully as "mixmatching the styles" would allow. As we have seen, the OEM's really didnt give their franchisees very much latitude to preserve vintage building architectures if they wanted to.
Anyway, I give 'em (dealer owners) a "B" for the effort.
ca. 1940
Today
Former Roy Stauffer Chevrolet, 1001 N Washington, Scranton, PA.
The art-deco design of the linen postcard is obvious and spectacular. Over the years, GM and Stauffer or subsequent owners put the "brand box" bastardization with blue Chevrolet facace.
Guess I feel two ways .. they tried to honor the old architecture as tastefully as "mixmatching the styles" would allow. As we have seen, the OEM's really didnt give their franchisees very much latitude to preserve vintage building architectures if they wanted to.
Anyway, I give 'em (dealer owners) a "B" for the effort.
ca. 1940
Today
Last edited:
Empire Chevrolet, Utica at Empire, Brooklyn, NY. Not really an architectiural gem, but building reused exxtensively since it was a dealership.
Given the pricey nature of NYC land, that surprises me. Though it does look like the irrestible urge to build "Up" its taking bites out of it
source: Past and Present: Empire Chevrolet | Brownstoner
Recent
Today
Given the pricey nature of NYC land, that surprises me. Though it does look like the irrestible urge to build "Up" its taking bites out of it
source: Past and Present: Empire Chevrolet | Brownstoner
Recent
Today
Last edited:
Buckley Brothers Studebaker, 660 S. Broadway, Denver CO. Mid-century moderne, it was "personalized" with the Studebaker corporate "S"
Postcard 1948, photo somewhere mid 1950's, and then today building at that address.
Re-facaded today , footprint/curb cut seems to me to be same. Hostorical aerials shows UNchanged footprint since 1951. Wish they'd striip off all that cladding IF in fact it is the ex-Buckley dealership.
Today
Postcard 1948, photo somewhere mid 1950's, and then today building at that address.
Re-facaded today , footprint/curb cut seems to me to be same. Hostorical aerials shows UNchanged footprint since 1951. Wish they'd striip off all that cladding IF in fact it is the ex-Buckley dealership.
Today
polara71
Old Man with a Hat
Today I realized how much I appreciate this thread. From my ages of 1-9 I lived on rt 30 in Audubon NJ. 5 dwellings up the street same side was the used car lot to Burns Pontiac. The mother ship to Burns was right across the street. To the right of them across the side street was the dwelling that belonged to Oakwood Chevrolet. They weren't there any longer that I can recall.
A quarter mile West, same side was Johnny's County motors. A Chrysler dealership that I was later employed at in 1983/4. Another quarter mile West, same side was the Eggie, AMC dealership.
ALL the buildings are now GONE for convenience stores, banks, whatever society needs now.
Just sad to see.
The yellow dots are of the dealerships I referenced.
A quarter mile West, same side was Johnny's County motors. A Chrysler dealership that I was later employed at in 1983/4. Another quarter mile West, same side was the Eggie, AMC dealership.
ALL the buildings are now GONE for convenience stores, banks, whatever society needs now.
Just sad to see.
The yellow dots are of the dealerships I referenced.
Last edited:
Former Barrow Grace Buick, 1300 Scott, Wichita Falls, TX.
Linen postcard depicts 1949, art deco/moderne, now 15K sq. ft now, as it looked (the used car section) to have been partially razed where large lot is today.
Lookrf to have had clear space arched roof garage, showroom frontage that had an open covered area that they boxed in in the past. It led off the where the used car area was.
I'd hobby-house this one with a few thousand sq. ft left over to help out others wanting to keep the rain of their hobby sleds. Can get both my PD's in it PLUS the Sultana (if i ever find one) Would need to sublet some of that asphalt tho.
Today
Linen postcard depicts 1949, art deco/moderne, now 15K sq. ft now, as it looked (the used car section) to have been partially razed where large lot is today.
Lookrf to have had clear space arched roof garage, showroom frontage that had an open covered area that they boxed in in the past. It led off the where the used car area was.
I'd hobby-house this one with a few thousand sq. ft left over to help out others wanting to keep the rain of their hobby sleds. Can get both my PD's in it PLUS the Sultana (if i ever find one) Would need to sublet some of that asphalt tho.
Today
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
1952 Bailey and Kensington Ave Texaco Station. Buffalo NY
67newport
Old Man with a Hat
