Dealerships recalled

[CarlW]

Hi,

I found a set of license plate frames from Waters Studebaker in San Francisco. I couldn't find any info on this dealership but I have discovered they had a Buick dealership on Van Ness Ave in the 60's. Uncertain if the Studebaker location was the same. Picture of frame is on recent (7/24/2006) post. Any information would be helpful. Thanks, Carl

[53k]

quote:Originally posted by Bill Sapp

...Something odd about Mr. Owen is that he would order cars and never sell them, instead keeping them for parts and would pull parts from them if he needed something for a car one of the mechanics was working on in the shop. Said it was cheaper than keeping a lot of parts inventory. I remember vividly the fenced in section behind the garage and it was lined with mostly 56/57/58 big Studebaker sedans and several Larks. ...
Bill Sapp
Hamlet, NC

I remember hearing of a Chrysler dealer in Western Kansas that sort of did this too. Shortly after the end of the model year any new cars in stock went to a back lot where they remained for the rest of his days.

[img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/64%20Daytona%20Convertible/Copy%20of%20DaytonaConvert7-20-06.JPG[/img=right]

Paul Johnson
'53 Commander Starliner (since 1966)
'64 Daytona Wagonaire (original owner)
'64 Daytona Convertible (2006)
Museum R-4 engine

[showbizkid]

I'm told there was a Studebaker dealer in Escondido, CA. by the name of Freed, although that may not have been the name of the dealership. Anyone with info, please let me know.


[img=left]http://members.cox.net/clarknovak/lark.gif[/img=left]

Clark in San Diego
'63 Lark Standard

[53k]

quote:Originally posted by garyash

According to the build record, my '65 Wagonaire (assembled 6/23/65) was delivered to Fox Buick, N. Antrim Way, Greencastle, PA, between Chambersburg, PA and Hagerstown, MD, off I-81. There still seems to be a dealer at that location: Hicks Buick-Chevrolet-Volvo, 650 N. Antrim Way. Anybody know that dealership?

Somehow, my car found it's way to Bangor, Maine where it got abandoned in the woods for a few years. The previous owner rescued it and later sold it to me.

Gary Ash
Dartmouth, MA
'48 M5
'65 Wagonaire Commander
'63 Wagonaire Standard
www.studegarage.com

Sorry to resurrect such an old thread, but I'm a "newby" to this forum and I found the thread to bring back many memories.
I know the Fox dealership. Mr. Fox is long gone, but the dealership is still there, but in a new building 1/2 mile from the old one on US 11 at Greencastle) . Dan Webber and I tried a number of times to buy him out (unsuccessfully) only to find that he sold to Packard Farms later. He had a lot of old Buick stuff too that we weren't interested in. He had his old parts in a seperate building in town and had some literature that neither of us had ever seen (plus some other "gold"). He had a completely restored 8E Champ in the basement of the old dealership and a pre-V8 50s Packard plus (I think) a 47-49 Land Cruiser. He told us of one old family in Greencastle that bought a new Studebaker every year, but never sold or traded the old ones. Their last Studebaker was an Avanti. No, I didn't find out who they were or whether the collection still existed.

[img=right]http://www.frontiernet.net/~thejohnsons/64%20Daytona%20Convertible/Copy%20of%20DaytonaConvert7-20-06.JPG[/img=right]

Paul Johnson
'53 Commander Starliner (since 1966)
'64 Daytona Wagonaire (original owner)
'64 Daytona Convertible (2006)
Museum R-4 engine

[glen]

Clark, you may want to shoot an email to StudeDave,
since he is the VP of the San Diego SDC, one of the
memebers may know....I believe Colin Fort, who was the
President of the SDC last year, lives along the North
Coast (Encinitas???) and is a mbr of the SD club. There
are several mbrs that live in the inland area (San Marcos
Poway). By the way, my "Charlene", is sporting a dealer
frame from "Palm Springs Studebaker".

Glen Brose
Chino Valley, AZ
53 Champion Tudr Sedan

[53k]

quote:Originally posted by rockne10

Brolaw's inquiry about the Atlanta dealership got me thinking about my memories.
...
If you are old enough, do you remember your local dealers? Are there still any parts or key fobs buried in the basement?

Wow! Do I have memories (yes, I'm old enough).
My hometown in SE Kansas (Chanute) didn't have a dealer, but there was one the town 19 miles north (Iola) and one about 30 miles southeast (Parsons).
First memory- 1948- my dad took us to look at the new 2R trucks at the Parsons dealership (no, he didn't buy one- made do with the '39 Dodge).
Second- the Iola dealer opened an auxiliary showroom in Chanute in '56. I still remember seeing the green Power Hawk in there. That showroom didn't last long though.
Third- the Mercury dealer in Manhattan where I went to Kansas State took on Studebakers in '59 (like a lot of other Brand X dealers, but he did a great job with them). I used to try out his new Larks. Most of them were V-8s with 3-speeds (no od). They were really quick. He sold the city police '60 Marshalls. One cop I talked to loved them. They were real sleepers in catching speeders (especially college students in what they thought were hot cars.
Fourth- dealer in a small town near Atlanta where I saw my first '61. Here I was a Yankee with a Kansas tag and he tossed me the keys to a fully decked out '61 Cruiser and told us to take it for a spin. That was it- didn't buy there, but did buy a '61 Cruiser at Don Schmidt Motors in Wichita (our first new car). Same day at another Georgia dealer I saw my first '61 Hawk, a Flamingo 4-speed and a green '61 hardtop six cylinder (actually very peppy).
Fifth- Anderson Motors, Garnett, Kansas. They had been in business from the wagon days though several generations. Their boast was that there were more Studebaker trucks registered in Anderson County that Fords, Chevrolets and Dodges combined. The state of Kansas bought quite a few Larks and Andersons had a service contract. They specialized in sealing the tailgates of Lark wagons that leaked dust badly on gravel roads. They continued operating as a Ford dealer when Studebaker quit, but wouldn't sell their Studebaker mechanical parts inventory because they were still servicing Studebakers. They were willing to sell me all their accessories at $1.50 each because no one needed those. I got a half dozen '53 backup sets (some C-K and some sedan), a pair of Speedster exhaust extensions. a dozen or so Hill Holders, etc. The two owners were twin brothers and they both died just days apart in the 70s or 80s. The son of one brother tried to keep it going, but sold out to the local Chevrolet dealer who became a Chevrolet-Ford dealer in the same building. One of the Anderson brothers told me that they often drove cars away from South Bend and that they could walk in to the Studebaker Presidents office and order what they wanted whether it was on the list or not. They sold Golden Hawks, Rural routers to local mailmen, Avantis, convertibles (sold two '60 Lark convertibles the same day), etc. In '91 the son told me he had just taken a 2R 1 1/2-ton truck in trade at the Ford shop. I could find only one Studebaker in the local yards, a '55 President State Sedan that had been driven in a few months earlier. They wanted $400 for it and it was complete (kick oneself).
Sixth- dealer in Topeka- sold a LOT of Larks to the state. I tried out a two-door '60 V-8 three-speed with four barrel and SINGLE exhaust- very fast.
Seventh- Mason Motors, Timberville, VA. Mr. Mason would not sell anything because he was servicing cars (had a customer '50 Commander sedan in the shop as we spoke in '74). On a later trip he wasn't there, but his shop manager took me upstairs (old dealership with an elevator to carry cars the the second floor for storage). Lots of gold up there not mention a 10,0

[tstclr]

Check out this thread on the V8buick.com website:
http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=106825

Maybe that's why this AMC dealer had so many cars left over...
Todd


63 Lark 2dr Sedan

[Green53]

My first experience with Studebaker was Fairway Motors in Norfolk, Nebraska. They were active from 1947 until the mid 50's. My dad purchased a new 1948 Commander from a dealer in Neligh, NE. When I moved to Omaha there was Morton Motors. They later sold M-B and Avanti 11's. Old Mort sold out to Bill Chick. Morton Motors had a parts lady "Miss May". She was a human computer as far as knowing Studebaker part numbers. When Chick purchased the business he let her go. I remained friends with her and received all her parts books and memorbilia when she passed away. Of my current cars the 64 Daytona convertible was sold in Billings, Montana and the 64 Avanti was sold new by Forman Motors in Chicago. One of my former cars (Now known as Ted Harbits Tomato) was sold new in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Denny L

[Guido]

quote:Originally posted by tstclr

Check out this thread on the V8buick.com website:
http://www.v8buick.com/showthread.php?t=106825
Maybe that's why this AMC dealer had so many cars left over...

Todd,

That brought back memories! I used to travel by that dealership on Rt 117 outside Goldsboro, NC in the early '80's when I dated a woman who had a sister in Wilmington, NC. At the time there were a number of Pacers there too. The last time I was by there was in 1995 with my wife (not the same woman) and the cars were still there.

Gary


Guido Salvage - "Where rust is beautiful"

1946 M-16 fire truck
1948 M-16 grain truck
1949 2R16A grain truck
1949 2R17A fire truck
1955 E-38 grain truck
1957 3E-40 flatbed
1961 6E-28 grain truck
1962 7E-13D 4x4 rack truck
1962 7E-7 Champ pickup
1962 GT Hawk 4 speed
1964 Avanti R2 4 speed
1964 Cruiser
And various other "treasures"
Hiding and preserving Studebakers in Richmond & Louisa, Va.

[Guido]

There was but a single dealer in my hometown of Charlottesville, Va., Coggins Motor Co. They were located on the lower end of Preston Avenue next to Settle Tire and across from the old Lane High School. The area behind the dealership was called Vinegar Hill and underwent urban renewal in the mid '60's but the buildings on Preston Ave. were spared.

Preston Ave. was on a grade and the dealership was a 3 story brick building. The service area was in the basement, the showroon was on the middle floor with access from the uphill side on the right and who knows what was on the third floor? The building literally sat next to the sidewalk and the showroom could probably hold 4 or 5 cars.

Though it was before my time, I think they were also a Packard dealer and were also the M-B dealer until they lost that in the late '60's. They also sold Triumph's and as a middle schooler in '68 I used to sneak in and grab the oval 4" round Truimph decals. I still recall the '63 light blue GT that was in the dealership at the time and was later owned by Richard Dickman, from who I bought my '61 Hawk in 1980.

When all the new car franchises were lost, he opened a used car lot on Rt. 29 north that lasted a few years. The dealership building was later torn down and most of the inventory ended up with the late Sam Miller, who had worked there fresh out of high school.

Guido Salvage - "Where rust is beautiful"

1946 M-16 fire truck
1948 M-16 grain truck
1949 2R16A grain truck
1949 2R17A fire truck
1955 E-38 grain truck
1957 3E-40 flatbed
1961 6E-28 grain truck
1962 7E-13D 4x4 rack truck
1962 7E-7 Champ pickup
1962 GT Hawk 4 speed
1964 Avanti R2 4 speed
1964 Cruiser
And various other "treasures"
Hiding and preserving Studebakers in Richmond & Louisa, Va.

[showbizkid]

quote:Originally posted by glen

Clark, you may want to shoot an email to StudeDave,
since he is the VP of the San Diego SDC, one of the
memebers may know....I believe Colin Fort, who was the
President of the SDC last year, lives along the North
Coast (Encinitas???) and is a mbr of the SD club. There
are several mbrs that live in the inland area (San Marcos
Poway). By the way, my "Charlene", is sporting a dealer
frame from "Palm Springs Studebaker".

Thanks, Glen! I'm hoping to meet Dave and the rest of the local chapter at next month's get-together.

Palm Springs! Wow... that's always been a pretty upper-crust area. I wonder what their Hawk-to-sedan sales ratio was?

My Lark has a plate frame from "Barney's Lark/Hawk, Escondido". I can't imagine that was the original Stude dealer out there - must've been a used specialist. Unless someone says different? [?]


[img=left]http://members.cox.net/clarknovak/lark.gif[/img=left]

Clark in San Diego
'63 Lark Standard

[bob40]

I recently acquired a small amount of dealership internal paperwork and included is letter dated Dec.3rd,1963 from the Studebaker Automotive Sales Corp.that was sent to Anderson Motors of Champaign Il.stating emphatically that Studebaker had no intention of stopping production of vehicles in South Bend.OOOPS!
Also included in this packet are 2 invoices,one is for a Wagonaire,the other for a 4 door Cruiser and a service letter outlining what was needed to improve winter starting on Jet Thrust engines.There is also a list of 26 dealers in the Il/Ia area and how well they met their sales quotas.Quite a list and I am thinking it might make a fun road trip for the wife and I this fall.No expectations of finding hidden stashes of parts but one never knows!

[glen]

Clark...good question my guess: Probably a lot
of Hawks!!! to almost next to nothing in sedans.
Barney's does sounds like a reseller (pc correct
for a gently used Stude lot).



Glen Brose
Chino Valley, AZ
Home of "Charlene"
53 Champion Tudr Sedan