O Scale Motor Vehicle Chronicle Oct. 24

Sorry I am unable to show photos. My dealership was made from a MTH Harley dealership building. The Chevy "bowtie" logo on it was gotten on eBay from a truck. I wanted to name it after my 1970s Chevy dealer, so I made a sign from the actual metal sign they put on the cars they sold (no decals back then). I found it at a local flea market.

If you are a nit-picker, like I am, make sure the cars on your layout are no newer than the new cars in your new car showroom.

Back in the 1950s, the October intro of the new models was a VERY big deal. Showroom windows were covered, as were cars being delivered. Dealers had a "Open House", TV "teaser" ads ran non-stop, and many people showed up to see them. Dad lusted for the convertible, but bought the 4-door sedan.

Somewhere back in the archives of this blog are the photos of my 1940 Graham

dealership, and the tiny Plymouth dealership/garage, either quite different from

the megaplex dealers common today. Neither of those makes are available today, either. (the Ford dealership in my childhood hometown was tiny, and was remodeled into a barbershop in later years...I don't think it made it through WWII selling cars).

I always enjoy this thread.  Again...thanks so much for keeping it going!!

Alan

Joe, Your post brings back alot of memories.

Richard thanks for this thread each week, even though I am not realy a car guy this is one of the three threads I look forward to at the end/beginning of the week.

Ford Dealership & Bus Terminal before being placed on the layout.

Westchester and Westchester harbor are the final parts of my WSR layout to be completed and sitting near the center of town above the harbor is "Westchester Motors", the local used car dealer. It is a dealer specializing in classic cars (although the three salesmen look a little seedy. I once owned a Fiat 500 like the one shown. Came home from vacation one time and found it sitting on its roof, compliments of some "friends." Fun little car, though; aluminum head spark plug threads were stripped. Plug held in by a whittled down closepin. It still ran, although occasionally it would backfire and blow the plug out. 

Fred Dole

Was also at York last week and picked up nine vehicles to add to the layout from Die Cast Direct. They had a large selection and some good buys. It does pay to ask.

This years O Scale motor vehicle acquisitions.

Ron

If you would like to see a new car "teaser" tv ad, get on Youtube and enter "1959 Chevrolet commercial with Dinah Shore and Pat Boone". Perhaps one of you can post it here.

Guys, I am sorry I missed this thread last week.  It is always one of my favorites and as I said in a post them, I'd been sick.  I just spoke prematurely about being better.

Anyway, the Studebaker dealership Richard E posted is a good model, very nice looking and well done, with a very good interior, but . . . compare it to the Ford dealership I have at the south end of Main Street on my layout.  Take a good look at it, study the cornerstones and windows and doors, etc., and compare them to Richard E's dealershipl  The see my comments below.

My Ford dealership was bashed from the six story MTH Susquehanna Hat factory.  The building comes apart by stories - you can take two six-story ones from the factory, take them apart and end up with one ten story (not on the layout now.  and one two story building as here.  The dealership you see is three pieces, the ground floor, the second story, and the roof/capital/facade.  Richard's building looks to be the same molds, etc., windows inserted the same way, etc., just without the second floor.  Walters, Atlas, MTH - all the same.  Fascinating.