On the Topic of Dead Dealerships

"DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish!" (daft-ryosuke) 05/30/2019 at 17:21 • Filed to: None

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Does anyone ever think about old dealerships that have closed down, now either demolished or operating as another business, and how you remember them back in their heyday? I do pretty often.

This is Vulcan Lincoln-Mercury in Vestavia, Alabama, which was once Birmingham’s premier Lincoln-Mercury dealership. I have vague memories of seeing them in operations, gazing at new Town Cars and Navigators up front on the lot, back about 10-15 years ago.

Vulcan Lincoln-Mercury ended up closing its doors around 2010, after Mercury went belly up and the Lincoln side of the dealership was swallowed up by a nearby Ford dealer. The building, however, was not quite done with car sales, as it was eventually purchased and turned into something called “Market Direct,” which focused on used cars and sales of those Panther-based VPG MV-1 access vans (you can see them in the third picture). This operation did not last long, as the building was soon left abandoned a few months afterwards.

The last picture is from December, and shows how the building stands now. I passed by it yesterday while in traffic and saw that construction was going on, so I highly doubt that it will remain in its current form, either going through renovation or demolishment, for much longer. Just to think, people saved up cash to go into this building once not too long ago to buy a new Grand Marquis or Mountaineer, and now it’s just a large concrete husk.

Anybody else have any stories like these? I could sit here going on all day long about our Saab and Isuzu dealerships in Birmingham, but I’d rather hear stories from others.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 05/30/2019 at 17:49

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See this dealer?

It was located in Toronto not far from where I grew up.

In 1980, my dad bought a used 1976 Gran Torino off of them. It was exciting as it was our first car with power windows, 4 doors and air conditioning.

It was a lemon and they didn’t honour the warranty properly. The A/C crapped out shortly after we bought it, there were issues with the brakes and we later found evidence that it had been in a collision... which wasn’t disclosed.

This dealer was shut down by the 1990s and the site has been redeveloped into townhouses.

And I was trying to find a picture of Yorkdale Pontiac-Buick, but couldn’t find one.

In the early 1990s, those assholes tried to sell us a base Pontiac Sunbird 4 door for $12,000 plus shipping and tax when GM was running a promo for the same car with AC and auto and other features for $11,000 plus shipping and tax.

They were also trying to push the crappy Daewoo-made Pontiac Lemans on us for the same price as the Sunbird.

Of course they are long gone now too.

Boxer_4 > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 05/30/2019 at 18:00

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I have a similar story in the form of a Lincoln-Mercury dealer.

Mayo Motors in Trexlertown, PA was a Lincoln-Mercury dealer. Mayo Motors sold the franchise in 1998 I believe, but still operated a used car lot across the street. The facility was purchased and used for another car sales operation, 222 Car Central at some point . Below is a picture from Google Street View. Unfortunately, I can’t find a picture of it as a Lincoln-Mercury dealer:

I believe they were closed by 2008, when this image was taken.

By 2011, it razed and replaced with a Tractor Supply:

BaconSandwich is tasty. > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 05/30/2019 at 18:19

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Sounds like good riddance to me.

RacinBob > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 05/30/2019 at 18:32

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Dahl Ford Davenport Iowa in 1973. Long since moved and I don’t know what is there now. I was a high school photographer for the yearbook and they needed pictures for their ad.

T he only cars pictured that may survive are the old truck and the Model T...

RacinBob > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 05/30/2019 at 18:45

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Here’s other pictures from the same day . 53 cents a gallon then = $1.59 today.

not for canada - australian in disguise > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 05/30/2019 at 18:59

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I’ve posted about this before, but my city still has a “Suzuki” dealership.

It’s actually just a used car dealer now, here’s what it looked like when they actually sold Suzukis;

Also just down the street in the same “Auto Row” area is a Subaru dealership that became another generic used car dealer. The Subaru dealer as an entity is still around though, just moved to an old VW dealer a couple of kilometres away.

Dat Routan and Eos. 

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > BaconSandwich is tasty. 05/30/2019 at 19:00

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Yup...  I don’t get all that nostalgic over dealers that once existed or how dealers used to be.

not for canada - australian in disguise > not for canada - australian in disguise 05/30/2019 at 19:06

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And, because why not, another one for good measure. Southpark Pontiac/Buick/Cadillac/GMC. Located in Old Strathcona, a really hipster-y and trendy part of town (though it wasn’t always that way) , which is why I imagine it closed down not long after the death of Pontiac, which also came right before a big real estate boom in the area . Now it’s just an empty lot. Wouldn’t be surprised if condos pop up in the lot soon.

The Buick/GMC/Cadillac brands moved to Don Wheaton Chevrolet, which is literally a block away.

ranwhenparked > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 05/30/2019 at 19:15

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* Pushes nerd glasses up on nose* The MV-1 was not Panther related, it used a unique chassis developed by Rous h, with a Ford drivetrain. The 4.6 V8 was the slightly more powerful version used in the F-150, rather than the Crown Vic. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 05/30/2019 at 19:41

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While my story is the opposite of yours, its still interesting to me and related. The Cadillac dealer in Sherman Oaks, CA has as a really interesting building that I saw the other day. Since it’s kept the original design and style from when it was built in 1950. I didn’t know this and just came across it while driving home one day and was fascinated.

Casa de Cadillac:

(current) -

(past) -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casa_de_cadillac

Under_Score > not for canada - australian in disguise 05/30/2019 at 20:24

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That’s a Wheego Whip!

not for canada - australian in disguise > Under_Score 05/30/2019 at 20:36

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Sadly, it’s actually just a regular first gen Fortwo. 

Under_Score > not for canada - australian in disguise 05/30/2019 at 21:25

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I’m obsessed with photos of c.2008 cars brand new. I have no clue why. Maybe because it brings me back to when I started enjoying cars more seriously.

Dusty Ventures > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 05/30/2019 at 21:48

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Formerly a Ford dealership, currently a sports bar/gym/indoor batting cage

Dusty Ventures > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 05/30/2019 at 21:52

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This massive former Lincoln dealership sat vacant for a good 15 years. They just tore it down last year and are building houses on the land.

Dusty Ventures > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 05/30/2019 at 22:03

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One more. Cadillac dealer turned rescue mission

WildlyMild > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 05/30/2019 at 22:54

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Pontiac / GMC dealership turned into used car dealership. Then sat for two’ish years before being turned into a big distillery / bar thing which turned out really cool . With half the garage now being used to recondition used cars for a local dealership (the property owner).  

QCGoose > RacinBob 05/30/2019 at 22:59

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Life-long Davenport, IA resident here (born in ‘84). Those pictures are fantastic!

I’d like to know Dahl’s original location as then I could tell you what is currently there.

Also , funny enough, I’m currently in contacts with Dahl about putting in an order for a new Mustang GT (I’m picky about what combo of options I do and don’t want). Next time I speak with them or someone else who may know, like my grandfather, I'll see if they can tell me where they used to be located.

PyramidHat > Boxer_4 05/31/2019 at 01:54

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Used to live off of L ower Macungie rd, not far from there when I worked for Air Products

RacinBob > QCGoose 05/31/2019 at 07:21

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Here’s the Facebook page that has them and about a 1000 other shots that I took while at Central High School . https://www.facebook.com/Davenport.Central.Pics/

I grew up on Tremont St, 2 blocks north of Locust. I went to Sudlow and Central High. I might of gone to school with your dad. In a couple of weeks will be going to my 45th reunion. It’s true, time flies....

The dearlership was North of Kimberly somewhere about here where it meets Davenport Ave.

RacinBob > QCGoose 05/31/2019 at 07:23

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PS - Good choice in a Mustang. Seems like a lot of car for the money,. Don’t disable the traction control thought......

hike > DaftRyosuke - So Long and Thanks for All the Fish! 06/01/2019 at 16:13

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My favorite is an old Lexus dealership that’s now a local news station.