Twas the Night before Christmas Palma Motors 1953

[Studebaker Wheel]

Another creative (and season appropriate) newspaper ad by Palma Motors (Paris, Illinois) from long ago (actually Dec 22, 1953). The original provided by Bob Palma had a holly border but I was out of holly. The heavy black border is maybe more appropriate in view of the death of the three car makers listed at the bottom only a few years later! I wonder how many Packards, Kaisers and Willys were sold at the dealership that season?



Richard Quinn
editor: Antique Studebaker Review

[BobPalma]

Thanks, Dick! What a nice surprise.

Dick asked a fairly easy question to answer: How many new Packards, Kaisers, and Willys were sold during the 1953 "season"? In that I have all the sales records for the dealership and the tickets are in chronological order, it's easy to see how many were sold.

If we define "the season" as November 15, 1953 - December 31, 1953, they sold three new Packards and no Kaisers or Willys or Jeep products during that time.

(Early in 1954, they would add Nash and then, in June 1955, they would merge with the Studebaker dealer and become Studebaker dealers as well. That's why only Packard, Kaiser, and Willys are listed as of December 22, 1953.)

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all. BP

[Mark57]

Thanks for the post Richard - love to see the items you have in your collection - appreciate you sharing them with us! [^]

Bob - I have no idea what was "normal" as far as sales go... but 3 vehicles over a 6 week period seems to be pretty lean to me. Hopefully they had a fair amount of maintenance work to do!

<h5>Mark
'57 Transtar Deluxe
Vancouver Island

Are you planning to attend the NW Overdrive Tour in Parksville, BC
May 23 & 24, 2009?</h5>

[BobPalma]

Mark: They also sold 12 used cars in that period, including a 1939 Ford for $22.50! Paris IL is the county seat and the biggest town in Edgar County, but still has only 10,000 people in it, so no dealers were very big. BP

[Mark57]

quote:Originally posted by BobPalma

Mark: They also sold 12 used cars in that period, including a 1939 Ford for $22.50! Paris IL is the county seat and the biggest town in Edgar County, but still has only 10,000 people in it, so no dealers were very big. BP

That Ford must have been a deal... I remember Dad telling me his first car was a '29 Ford Model A for which he paid $40 in 1948. His father wouldn't let him buy a car before he left home, so living in Vancouver, he had bought a boat before his first car...

<h5>Mark
'57 Transtar Deluxe
Vancouver Island

Are you planning to attend the NW Overdrive Tour in Parksville, BC
May 23 & 24, 2009?</h5>

[studegary]

I thought that I worked at a small dealership in a village of about 1000. I averaged six new and six used per month. The salesman that replaced me did 14 new in a year.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[Avantidon]

Bob, these are fantastic ads and Richard does such a great job of cleaning them up. Thanks for sharing them with the group and Dick thanks for ceaning them up for all to enjoy.

[BobPalma]

'Glad they are enjoyed by all, Don; I hope they are!

Dad (age 91) and Mom (age 89) were here for Christmas yesterday in good form. We set them up with a laptop upstairs where they could see and read all the comments on this thread and the other thread, the one that included the "'49ers' Sail" and "Buy 'em by the Pound" advertisements Dad wrote. They thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

Thanks to all for the posts to these two threads that "made their day." BP

[Avantidon]

Bob, I'm just starting my KRC article on Studebaker Dealer advertising with these as the focal point of the ad. I'll send it to you when I'm done and it is published in late Jan or so.

[BobPalma]

quote:Originally posted by Avantidon

Bob, I'm just starting my KRC article on Studebaker Dealer advertising with these as the focal point of the ad. I'll send it to you when I'm done and it is published in late Jan or so.

Thanks, Don; You should have some others I sent you. (If I'm not being too greedy, would you please send two copies? I'd like to give one to Dad as I know he would enjoy and appreciate it.) Thanks. BP

[Avantidon]

Bob, I did get the others and I'd be more than happy to send you two copies. I just appreciate the fact that you have shared these with the group. Now I can spread them further.

[r1lark]

quote:Originally posted by Avantidon

Bob, I'm just starting my KRC article on Studebaker Dealer advertising with these as the focal point of the ad. I'll send it to you when I'm done and it is published in late Jan or so.

What's "KRC" ?? Inquiring minds want to know.....

Paul
Winston-Salem, NC
Visit The NEW Studebaker Skytop Registry website at: www.studebakerskytop.com

[BobPalma]

quote:Originally posted by r1lark

What's "KRC" ?? Inquiring minds want to know.....

Paul

Paul: Something on the order of Keystone Region Comments, although that may not be exactly right. (It's their newsletter/magazine.) BP

[studegary]

quote:Originally posted by r1lark

quote:Originally posted by Avantidon

Bob, I'm just starting my KRC article on Studebaker Dealer advertising with these as the focal point of the ad. I'll send it to you when I'm done and it is published in late Jan or so.

What's "KRC" ?? Inquiring minds want to know.....

Paul

I believe that he is referring to the Keystone Region Chapter of SDC.
It is a strange/different name, but they were a Region long beore they officially became a Chapter of SDC and wanted to keep their old name.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[Avantidon]

To clear the air, Gary is almost correct. The "KRC" stands for the Keystone Region Chapter of the SDC. It is my fault for using theinitials but it is sure simpliar to use then than to spell it out all of the time. When we were incoporated almost 40 years ago, about three years after we were formed, we incorporated the name Keystone Region Chapter and have used it since the very beginnig. Our newsletter which most have seen is known as the "Keystone Keynotes" and is again widely recognized because of the covers drawn by Bob Dudek for over 35 years.