You missed one...Bob Denton sold the Buick dealership to Ray Conlon in 1968. Ray Conlon Buick-Opel operated there until late 1975 when he sold to Stella and purchased another Buick dealership in Merritt Island, FL.
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You missed one...Bob Denton sold the Buick dealership to Ray Conlon in 1968. Ray Conlon Buick-Opel operated there until late 1975 when he sold to Stella and purchased another Buick dealership in Merritt Island, FL.
"On to the Buick dealership on Grand River. Originally Sellgren Buick,later Denton Buick, then Stella Buick."
You missed one...Bob Denton sold the Buick dealership to Ray Conlon in 1968. Ray Conlon Buick-Opel operated there until late 1975 when he sold to Stella and purchased another Buick dealership in Merritt Island, FL.
I would like to know whether Prentis Cadillac was the last-remaining new-car dealership in the city of Wyandotte, surviving into the early 1990's. I think it had another name after Prentis but before it closed and it was on Eureka where Siding World is now.
Prentis [[or whatever it was called then) appeared in a 1991 telephone directory and Siding World was already there in 1995.
Coming into this game late, but what were the dealerships in the area that sold either Renault or Peugeot until those left the US market? Where there any in the Detroit area?
Heinz Prechter [[American Sunroof) bought Prentiss Cadillac. Renamed Heritage I think. Never planned to keep it in Wyandotte. He also bought Tessier Pontiac in Southgate and minority interests in some other nearby dealers. Planned to build an auto mall along I-75 by his Holiday inn. Never accomplished, plans apparently died when he did.
Lots of dealers sold Renault- all the A.M.C. dealers turned into Renault dealers when Renault bought AMC. Plus there were several small Renault dealers dating to the 60's when it was a quirky foreign car.
Peugeot- I don't think many dealers sold Peugeot, but if so as an extra franchise. Only 2 I recall is one up Telegraph by Dixie Highway and strangely enough- Dalgleish Cadillac Peugeot.
Yes, remember it now.........I remember going in there with my parents in 1960 as they were looking at new Buicks. Ended up with a new Ford Sunliner and again in 1964 before they bought their 64 Mercury Park Lane convertible. I went in there once in 1967 for some parts for my 58 Special but it was Denton at that time.
Jim Edelbrock was my wife's uncle. My wife and her brother drove a Camaro from her Uncle Jim until the wheels fell off. Unfortunately, we only have a can opener left from him. Found it in the garage after my wife's mother passed on a couple of years ago.
Attachment 37110Attachment 37109
This thread brought back many memories. Bought my second new car from Burke Pontiac on Gratiot near Houston-Whittier in 1965. Right next door was Fulton Chevrolet which is mentioned earlier in this thread. Just sold this key chain through ebay to the owner's son who now lives in I believe North Carolina.
Attachment 37111
Burke Pontiac was first Fisher Pontiac. The property was sold to them around 1948 when my grandfather passed. He had a store there since about 1900 [[first a general store, then groceries only). My dad bought his '56 Pontiac Star Chief at Fisher.
The Burke store later became Maxey Lincoln-Mercury before they moved to Mack Avenue.
Does anyone remember the Jeep Dealership on Livernois? It may have been Moss & Sons, early '70's?
For some reason,when I saw this thread title just now, the name 'Emmett Chevrolet' came to mind. I can't find anything in a general search, so either I have the name spelled wrong, or it's only in my imagination.
How bout Dreisbach & Sons Cadillac. The Futurliner they used to advertise always caught my eye when traveling down Grand River.
[[Photo midway down the page.)
https://www.hemmings.com/blog/2014/1.../#&gid=1&pid=4
There was a place somewhere on the East side, maybe on McNichols or Seven Mile, that sold parts for MG's [[and Triumphs, I believe). I went there in 1980/81 to pick up a hood for an MGB. I think I drove through a gate and around the side of the building to have it loaded in my truck. While waiting inside the shop, I headed for the front door to take a look around. I'll never forget the guy working there saying, "you thinking about going outside?" "Yes," I responded. "Well, don't. Stay in here." So endeth the first lesson for a small-town 17 year old who was curious about the city.
My dad bought a 1963 Chevy II wagon from Shore Chevrolet, 12240 Jos Campau. The building is still in pretty good shape today. I couldn’t find a Shore Chevy button pin in dad’s old collection but I did find these 4. The license plate tab from 1966 was probably on the Chevy II, and he was a Democrat and a good UAW union man to the end.Attachment 37217
Emmert Chevrolet was on the northwest corner of Grandriver and Vaughan. My Aunt and Uncle lived two houses north of Grandriver across the street from the dealership. My brothers and I would cross the street when visiting and look at the new models of Corvettes, Chevelle SS and so forth through the fence. Stan Emmert lived behind my parents house in Redford Township in the Western Golf sub
Fulton Chevy on Gratiot? No, Funston Chevy, Gratiot near Houston-Whittier. Also VerHoven Chevy, McNichols and VanDyke, Merollis Chevy on Gratiot and 8 1/2 Mile, and Stark Hickey Ford on Gratiot near 10 Mile. Earl Orr's Hodges Dodges, home of the Ramchargers on Woodward [[9 Mile, 10 Mile, not sure).
Les Stanford, the Corvette King on Michigan Avenue, still advertises monthly in the Dupont Registry.
And then the commercials: Roy O'Brien for sure but also:
"Coon Brothers, Plymouth Road and Telegraph."
"Get it at Leo Leo Leo Aaadler."
Allan Ford and "Here dog, c'mon dog, me and dog go down Telegraph Road, get a good deal, right now." Classics.
No Vettes now. Not even a fence.
Attachment 37221
[QUOTE= Merollis Chevy on Gratiot and 8 1/2 Mile, Earl Orr's Hodges Dodges, home of the Ramchargers on Woodward [[9 Mile, 10 Mile, not sure).[/QUOTE]
Still buy my cars from Gene's nephew Carl over at Sellers in Farmington Hills. Gene was also a member of Western Golf &C.C. along with Howard Rigg, Louis Emmert, Pat Milliken, Don Barrett[[Rollie Barrett Chrysler-Plymouth,Walter Beglinger[[Beglinger Oldsmobile)and Earl Vivier [[Vivier Oldsmobile) I worked with Earl Orr when I sold cars in Dearborn. Earl's last gig selling cars was at Westborn Chrysler at Michigan and Outer Drive. His son Jim was the G.M. at the time. Earl always reminded me of Groucho Marx. And as I stir my memory, Emmert was on both sides of Vaughan with a physical address of 20000 Grand river
Way after this thread was started, but I found some of my grandfather's old receipts from HUSAK BROTHERS in the early '60s. Awesome to see. I didn't know he owned a pickiup truck in 1960, but I just learned that fact. My dad always told me how "Grampa" loved his Studebakers, and the Husaks were he favorite guys. Another family tradition is the WARHOLAK sons/brothers just east of Wyoming on McGraw. It was SO much fun to see this thread tonight. Here is an image from one of the receipts. I have many more, but they're no more interesting than this one.
Attachment 39562
What dealerships were on Gratiot between 7 and 8 mile rd?
Haney Datsun, later Haney Nissan. Wood Imports [[VW, Mercedes, Audi)
Designed by Theodore Rogvoy. Wagner Oldsmobile Incorporated, 9001 Woodward Avenue built 1948-1949 Piety Hill Neighborhood, Detroit, MI. Includes a rendering of the building from a 1948 issue of Michigan Architect and Engineer.
Current Status: unknown to me
Designed by Albert Kahn. Miller Judd Motor Sales Building, 5454 Cass Avenue built in 1929 Midtown, Detroit, MI. Includes an image of the building from Indiana University's Building a Nation: Indiana Limestone Photograph Collection, circa 1930.
Currently part of Wayne State University.
Designed by George D. Mason & Company. Michigan Motor Sales, 3632-3634 Woodward Avenue built in 1908 Midtown, Detroit, MI.
Demolished: Date unknown to me
Image from the Burton Historical Collection, circa 1908.
Designed by Bonnah & Chaffee. Cadillac Motor Car Company Sales and Service Building, 3180 East Jefferson built 1923-1924 Rivertown Detroit, MI. Includes an image of the building from Indiana University's Building a Nation: Indiana Limestone Photograph Collection, date unknown.
Designed by Albert Kahn. Packard Motor Car Company Retail Sales Building 574 East Jefferson built 1923-1924 Detroit, MI.
Demolished: Sometime around 1959 or 1960
Image from the Burton Historical Collection, circa 1920's.
Designed by Rogers, Bonnah & Chaffee. Peter J. Platte Motor Sales Company, 14801-14825 East Jefferson Avenue built in 1919 Jefferson-Chalmers Historic Business District, Detroit, MI.
Extensive alterations
This building is considered to be the first dedicated automobile sales and service building built in the United States.
Designed by Mason & Kahn for Henry B. Joy. The four story addition designed by Albert Kahn for Henry B. Joy in 1903. William E. Metzger Automobile Dealership, 409 East Jefferson Avenue built in 1902 Downtown, Detroit, MI. Includes an image of the building from archives of Joseph G. DuMouchelle circa 1902, and an image of the building from the Burton Historical Collection, circa 1940's.
Designed by Charles N. Agree. Marmon Motor Car Company Sales and Service Building, 5800 Cass Avenue built in 1928 Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Designed by Samuel E. Remey. Kessler Sales & Service dealers of Chevrolet Motor Cars. 3830 West Vernor built in 1923 Detroit, MI.
Demolished: unknown to me
Image from a 1924 issue of Michigan Architect and Engineer.
Designed by Albert Kahn. Packard Motor Car Company Sales and Service 8500 Woodward Avenue built 1924-1925 Detroit, MI. Includes an article/photograph of the building from 1925 edition of the Detroit Free Press.
Demolished: Date unknown to me
Image of the building from Indiana University's Building a Nation: Indiana Limestone Photograph Collection, circa 1930.
Designed by Albert Kahn.Lincoln Sales and Service 3700 East Jefferson built in 1930 Rivertown, Detroit, MI.
Demolished: Date unknown to me
Image of the building from Indiana University's Building a Nation: Indiana Limestone Photograph Collection, date unknwon.
Designed by J. Leonard Rush. T. A. Grissom Chevrolet 19000 Joy Road built in 1952 Franklin Park, Detroit, MI. Includes Images of 19000 Joy Road from a 1953 issue of Michigan Architect and Engineer.
Currently U-Haul-Self storage.
Designed by Albert Kahn. Packard Sales and Service Building, 15205 East Jefferson built in 1929 Grosse Pointe Park, MI. Includes a rendering of the building from the archives of the Detroit Historical Society, circa 1920's.
Demolished: 1997
Image from the archives of the Grosse Pointe Historical Society circa 1980.
Designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls. Sales & Service Building-Thomas J. Doyle dealer of Dodge Brothers Motor Cars. 2270 East Jefferson built 1922-1923 Detroit, MI. Demolished: Date unknown to me
Images from Indiana University's Building a Nation: Indiana Limestone Photograph Collection, circa 1923, and a 1923 issue of Michigan Architect and Engineer.
Designed by Albert Kahn. Stark Hickey Sales and Service Building, 8461 Grand River built in 1929 Detroit, MI.
Designed by Smith, Hinchman & Grylls. United States Motor Company Sales and Service Building, 2959 Woodward Avenue built in 1911 Midtown, Detroit, MI. Includes a rendering featuring the building from a 1911 edition of the Detroit Times.
All of the above, fantastic photos.
Does anyone have any memories or information about World Sports Car Center at 17333 Livernois Ave. or its owner Delevan [[Dell) Lee? The same goes for Dick’s Auto Repair at 7144 Fenkell Ave. and its owner Richard [[Dick) Londergan. Photos would be gold to me.
Also, can anyone tell me if used car dealers in the late 1950’s typically registered and put Michigan plates on cars they had brought in from out of state to sell.
Quote: Also, can anyone tell me if used car dealers in the late 1950’s typically registered and put Michigan plates on cars they had brought in from out of state to sell.
I doubt it. Michigan was a plate to owner system even back then, not a plate to vehicle like California is. Once a vehicle was sold the plate no longer would be valid for use on that car, only subsequent vehicles titled under that person or company name after being transferred at a Secretary of State branch. Unlike today where some dealers are allowed to issue Michigan license plates all sales and transfers had to be done at a S of S office only.
I remember in the late 70's there was some legality regarding restrictions on dealer plate usage. As I was in management and assigned a company car the "D" plated cars were only to be used to demonstrate cars. The company cars we were assigned were registered in the dealership name with either regular passenger or commercial plates if a pickup.
Supposedly if the vehicle was driven on a daily basis it was to be registered in the dealership name and cars with dealer plates were only to be used on an occasional basis,to demonstrate. Not that all dealers followed those rules, it was cheaper to get dealer plates vs. registering and transferring plates around car to car as sold.
Our parts delivery vehicles once were sidelined for a full day as the office clerk in charge of company vehicle registrations forgot that the trucks were due the end of February, come March 1st we were at a standstill. Believe me if I could have put dealer plates on them that day I would have, my phone was nonstop irate wholesale customers, it took us two days to catch up after that fiasco.
Thanks for your comment, Ipg. Am I right to assume that way back then a current year tag could be bought before March 31?
I would like to find out to whom a 1957 tag was registered. The Michigan Dept. of State records people say they keep those records only 4 years. Does anyone know if that is really true?
Question for shovelhead. You said,
Quote: Once a vehicle was sold the plate no longer would be valid for use on that car, only subsequent vehicles titled under that person or company name after being transferred at a Secretary of State branch.
Does this mean that people selling or trading in cars typically removed the tag they were given at registration in order to re-register and use it on their next car?
If a person selling or trading in a car did not remove his tag, wouldn't the dealer remove the previous owner's tag, since it was worthless on the car?
Finally, would there be any significance to a used car dealer leaving a tag on a used car when it was sold--if that was legal? Perhaps to give the appearance that it was a registered car while in transit?
Plate to owner, person named on the registration is the owner of the plates. Plates to vehicle, plates are considered a permanent part of the vehicle, the stay with the vehicle regardless how many times it is sold as long as it remains registered in that state. Like California does.
Plate to owner, under certain circumstances a plate may be transferred, immediate family members only at least in Michigan. At any other time, once a vehicle is sold the plate is no longer allowed to be used on that vehicle, if so it is considered improper plates, a ticket and maybe a tow and impound.
Dealers, well the plates should be removed before sale, once they have acquired the vehicle any and all plates are invalid on it. Again, unless it is owned by the person named on the registration the plates are not valid on it.
Shovelhead, please check your PMs.
this thread has been going more than 10 years. Unbelievable. I am still holding out hope that someone either has a Jim Edelbrock license frame from Plymouth Michigan, or I will settle for a Berger Chevrolet license frame. Send me an email if you have either: BULLITT65@aol.com thanks!
I found this pic of Carpenter's from the Wayne Historical Society, circa 1950s? Former location was on the north side of Michigan Ave. where New Hope Baptist Church now stands.
Attachment 42293
Very cool pics and memories. This thread has been going since 2009!! So I am bumping my original request for pics of JIM EDELBROCK CHEVROLET items. A set of license frames where originally on my car with 1969 Michigan license plates CA5002, but they have not turned up yet* So I have been on the hunt. My car was serviced at Berger Chevrolet [[ in Grand Rapids), so I would be glad to find a set of those as wellAttachment 42431Attachment 42432Attachment 42431Attachment 42432
I worked at Redford Sales and Service [[Chrysler Plymouth) from 1/74 to 12/79, it was a former Nash/International dealer [[the chimney still had Nash on it and there was a dealer sign in the rafters above service); the owner Hugh McVeigh also owned the CP franchise in Walled Lake [[the Car Store, it was right on the water). He sold property at Twelve Oaks Mall to Ford Credit, who built the dealership that never opened.
I recall Dameron becoming Dick Green West, but not Farmington Hills. I worked at Porterfield Wilson Pontiac in '72 [[formerly Glenn Pontiac).
Grew up in the area, recall Dean Sellers Ford, Bob Sellers Pontiac, Armstrong Buick, Rosedale Olds, Dwyer Imports, Emmert Chevy. I worked for a very short time at Kelel Dodge; Naiff Kelel was a retired Army general and the dealer principal at Greenfield AMC- Kelel became Luv Dodge, which relocated to Telegraph and became Bruce Campbell Dodge. There was a Chevy dealer that opened at I-96 and Telegraph in an old supermarket [[Matick?), also Coon Bros. AMC/Jeep at Plymouth [[became Snethkamp).
RGK20m3,
When you were at Porterfield Wilson I can’t remember the parts manager’s name? He helped me “beat” a defective equipment ticket in ‘71 for exhaust noise as the car I had was factory equipped with a low restriction exhaust system and the cop was looking for reason to ticket a hippie that day, no DB meter, just his opinion.
The Glenn/Wilson building at Grand River and Prevost has been torn down, the only signs of what it was is the showroom floor is still there, a checkerboard pattern and one single post hoist is still in what was the service department area.
Further down on Grand River east of the Northwest Precinct on the south side was a Dodge dealer [[?) that was later the site of Kar Kraft Collision. Do you remember what dealer that was probably around the early 70’s.
I think that’s where I went in with a broken clutch fork in the summer of 1970 looking for a replacement. When he asked me what it was out of I said “I think it’s from a 62 Chrysler”. He said with an attitude “You don’t know what car you drive?”
I replied “Ok, it’s a 54 Chevy” He said “I don’t have Chevrolet parts, go to Emmett down the street” again with more,of an attitude.
I answered “When it’s got a Chrysler drivetrain in it you do!” which it did, 383 and four speed……
I don’t recall the parts manager’s name at Porterfield Wilson, I do recall he was a nice guy. I worked their spring through fall of ‘72 and remember the checkerboard floor.
If I recall, 12th precinct was on Schaffer, 14th was on Grand River…Dodge dealer was probably what became Kelel, which was on the south side of GR, west of Evergreen. I might know the name if I heard it. The parts manager at Redford had a sign “make me smile from ear to ear by giving me the make, model, and year”.
14th Precinct was Schaefer north of Grand River, my late uncle was assigned to that one late 40’s/early 50’s. 16th was Grand River and McNichols. Funny story,1969, a friend pulled onto westbound Grand River from Westbrook, first side street west of Redford HS in front of a eastbound car. Got broadsided, car he was driving ended up it the 16th’s driveway, he ended up in Mt. Carmel. Went by there later that afternoon, scrapes in the pavement and glass was still in the driveway apron.
That Chrysler dealer was east of McNichols on Grand River, wasn’t Kelel,this was before they opened.
Only Chrysler dealers on Grand River that I can think of were Rollie Barrett [[down by Joy I think), Redford Sales by Lahser, and Dameron by Middlebelt. There was Town and Country Dodge in Farmington [[J.P. McCarthy owned it, was moved to Clarkston in late 90s), and Kelel/Luv near Evergreen after about '75- don't know what was at that location prior but believe it was AMC.
Im trying to remember too. Motor City Dodge, late 60’s west on Grand River near Schaefer. Mulligan Mercury Grand River near Evergreen.
I’m positive there was a Dodge dealer in that area before the Kelel/Luv days this was 1970.
Actually it was a pretty easy swap. The 54 already had the torque tube rear axle replaced with a Tri-five rear end with an open driveshaft. Unbolted the factory “tower” engine mount brackets, two pieces of angle iron and a drill press and the 62 Chrysler mounts sat right on top. Had to move the rear crossmember back an inch or so, it was a previously fabbed one during the rear axle swap.
About two or three hours to mount the radiator and wire it. It did get a lot of looks when the hood was closed and I hit the starter and bystanders heard the famous Chrysler gear reduction starter whine………
The funny part, I had a nameplate from a engine donated to my high school auto shop on one of the valve covers that said:
Chevrolet Motor Division Engineering
This unit is donated for educational purposes.
There was a showroom built on Grand River east of Meyers [[Just beyond Frost-Avis Ford) that was supposed to be a Tucker dealer. As you all know, Tucker went belly up before it really got off the ground, and the building became Skiffington Kaiser-Fraser. Back around 1948, I'd guess.
My run of Michigan plates from 1910 here in Las Vegas.
Ray,
pretty impressive the plates 66 through 69 with the same numbers!
You had to know someone at the branch office to get those!
In ‘72 I had one of my plates stolen while working at Livernois and Seven Mile. I made some Secretary of State runs to the Livernois branch and around then they were assigned PMD series and I was trying to get by until plate number 421 came up as that car was a Pontiac and was a 421 engine. Well, almost. The thief or a different one came back for the rear plate and I could not stall any longer, had to take what I could get.
The 1970 MCL777, a coincidence? I looked up MCL777 and there is a statute on the books here under that number.
BTW, the 1970 plate colors. As a LEO what was your take on that paint scheme that year? I found them hard to read especially motorcycle plates.
Dameron changed ownership due to the death of the dealer principal, early 70’s thereabouts. Before Bob Sellers Pontiac that was Clohecy and before that it was Currie Pontiac.
I remember that dealership by Twelve Oaks that never opened, slated to be a Mercury dealer and possibly Lincoln. That would have put the hurts to Bob Dusseau Lincoln Mercury in Farmington.
Im thinking that the old Kar Kraft building was a Dodge dealer, maybe Norwest but I can’t remember, maybe that was the franchise that became LUV/Kelel? I remember the body shop manager at one time for Kelel, his nickname was Mac, last name McCarthy.I remember him from my seven months at Gene Merollis in Garden City in ‘73.
Maybe they still have one way in the back???
Attachment 42525
My mother was the branch supervisor at the AAA branch in east Dearborn, which also handled plates, so getting my fav number was no problem.
Yeah,the MCL number is a coincidence. As for the 1970 plates, I've always had good 20/20 vision, so I really didn't have a problem best as I can recall. It was, though, a pretty sick combination of colors.
It was pretty neat to get a new plate every year. With today's way of just issuing year stickers, I wonder if license plate collecting will kind of fade away as a hobby. Pity.
"Yeah,the MCL number is a coincidence. As for the 1970 plates, I've always had good 20/20 vision, so I really didn't have a problem best as I can recall. It was, though, a pretty sick combination of colors."
I remember back when a fellow named Richard Austin was Michigan's Secretary of State. A slogan going around at the time was "His only job is to pick the colors for next year's license plates. And each year he blows it."
Yeah he sure did in 1970. LOL! :)
Yep, butterscotch and white, greaaaaat color combination to honor some small college in this state with no forethought on visibility especially on motorcycle plates. If I remember correctly 1970 plates were originally intended to have tabs for renewals but due to complaints from law enforcement on how bad those were for visibility. So it was 72 for that implementation with the color change of white on maroon for the plates for 71.
Anyone have any knowledge of Superior Motor Sales in Wyandotte? It was located on Biddle, SW corner of Superior, prior to 1958, when it was renovated to a Firestone store that my dad managed until 1973. It had a couple of hd truck hoists and obviously was a dealership in a prior life. It was where the Tim Horton’s is now.
Northwest Auto Co. was an import dealership selling MG and Austin Healy at that address per a recent thread on this site titled British Car Dealers; perhaps they got a Dodge franchise prior or after?
When I worked there I recall it being very small for a domestic brand, but would have been fine for MG/AH.
I’m still waiting for more Hodgea Dodge photos from around 1967.
great thread. Glad guys can connect on here for vintage dealerships from back then
Can’t speak for others here but I worked in dealership parts departments from 1970 to 2017 and was hot rodding and repairing cars from before that and still today.
One of my best friends is the son of the guy who owned Dalto Ford on Jefferson, east of I-375. I believe it is now Bob Maxey Ford. Dalto Ford had a slogan like "the little cheaper dealer." I wonder if anyone remembers when it was Dalto Ford.
Hello, all! Dick Green CP dealer was at 11180 Gratiot. Before that, it was Frank Guns Lincoln-Mercury. He was my uncle. Any body have pics and or info on my uncles dealership, let me know! The Dick Green dealership west was at 7Mile and grand River, I believe, near Botsford Hospital.