Old Car Dealers in the Detroit Area

[13606Cedargrove]

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.

[13606Cedargrove]

The Burke store later became Maxey Lincoln-Mercury before they moved to Mack Avenue.

[One Shot]

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 37109

Wow. That can opener design must have been common. We had one when I was young and that pic instantly brought back that memory-opening the giant Hi-C juice cans!
Cool name for a dealer too-aka Edelbrock aftermarket parts.

[Meddle]

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.

[Cincinnati_Kid]

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.

I believe I've heard of that name as well. Don't think you're off base.

[Meddle]

I believe I've heard of that name as well. Don't think you're off base.

Turns out it was Emmert with an 'r'. Found another thread that mentioned them.

[jfk]

Turns out it was Emmert with an 'r'. Found another thread that mentioned them.

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

[Meddle]

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.

No Vettes now. Not even a fence.

[GMan]

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

[LongGone06]

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.

[CassTechGrad]

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.

[pjbear05]

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.

[jfk]

[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

[TheDapperMaleDetroit]

[p69rrh51]

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

[p69rrh51]

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.

[p69rrh51]

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.

[p69rrh51]

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.

[p69rrh51]

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.

[p69rrh51]

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

[p69rrh51]

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.

[p69rrh51]

Designed by Charles N. Agree. Marmon Motor Car Company Sales and Service Building, 5800 Cass Avenue built in 1928 Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.

[p69rrh51]

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.

[p69rrh51]

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.

[p69rrh51]

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.