Car dealerships
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Car dealerships
We've been talking in the ModCom about historic auto dealerships in L.A. County. I actually started a thread over in the car section about it, but after four years we only have 16 candidates? Is that really all that's left?
Casa de Cadillac
14401 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
1949, Randall Duell
CRESTVIEW CADILLAC
2700 E GARVEY AVE South,
WEST COVINA, CA
1962
CLIPPINGER CHEVROLET
137 W SAN BERNARDINO RD,
COVINA, CA
Felix Chevrolet
3330 S Figueroa St, Â
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Built 1939 as Tupman Motors (Ford)
Became Felix Chevrolet in 1959
Nelson Dodge (Formerly Nelson PONTIAC)
3462 Peck Rd,
El Monte,CA
Crenshaw Motors (Ford)
5140 Crenshaw Blvd.,
Los Angeles
Tate Cadillac
Pomona, CA
Norman Ford
Pomona, CA
Massey Chevrolet Cadillac
10700 Studebaker Road
Downey, CA 90241
Reynolds Buick
345 N. Citrus Ave., Covina
c. 1965
Pasadena Ford
1365 N. Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA
Alberston Olds/Chevrolet
Washington/Sepulveda
Culver City
Star Chrysler Jeep
1401 South Brand Boulevard,
Glendale, CA 91204
Glendale Dodge
1101 S Brand Blvd
Glendale, CA
Downey Ford
9500 Lakewood Blvd.
Downey, CA 90240
Ray Vines Chrysler - Plymouth, 1963
4201 E. Willow St.
Long Beach
Casa de Cadillac
14401 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
1949, Randall Duell
CRESTVIEW CADILLAC
2700 E GARVEY AVE South,
WEST COVINA, CA
1962
CLIPPINGER CHEVROLET
137 W SAN BERNARDINO RD,
COVINA, CA
Felix Chevrolet
3330 S Figueroa St, Â
Los Angeles, CA 90007
Built 1939 as Tupman Motors (Ford)
Became Felix Chevrolet in 1959
Nelson Dodge (Formerly Nelson PONTIAC)
3462 Peck Rd,
El Monte,CA
Crenshaw Motors (Ford)
5140 Crenshaw Blvd.,
Los Angeles
Tate Cadillac
Pomona, CA
Norman Ford
Pomona, CA
Massey Chevrolet Cadillac
10700 Studebaker Road
Downey, CA 90241
Reynolds Buick
345 N. Citrus Ave., Covina
c. 1965
Pasadena Ford
1365 N. Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA
Alberston Olds/Chevrolet
Washington/Sepulveda
Culver City
Star Chrysler Jeep
1401 South Brand Boulevard,
Glendale, CA 91204
Glendale Dodge
1101 S Brand Blvd
Glendale, CA
Downey Ford
9500 Lakewood Blvd.
Downey, CA 90240
Ray Vines Chrysler - Plymouth, 1963
4201 E. Willow St.
Long Beach
- babyblue65bird
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- babyblue65bird
- Modern Master
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- Location: Sunland, ca
- babyblue65bird
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As was the neighboring Honda dealership, which was unfortunately demolished in 2003
https://digital.lib.washington.edu/arch ... res/10678/

https://digital.lib.washington.edu/arch ... res/10678/
Where are we going & what are we doing in this handbasket?
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- Modern Socialite
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Here is the beautiful sign pavilion at Crestview Cadillac, at 2700 E Garvey Ave S, in West Covina, CA.
And this is the 1970s era corporate GM signage at Crestview. These are less distinctive but also becoming a rarer sight these days...
We visited Reynolds Buick this weekend, also in West Covina.
The original sign is still there (with newer stuff tacked on) and the original space-age flying steel buttress building.... I think it should be high on the list.
Also nearby is great signage at Clippinger Chevrolet. Both are on Citrus Ave.


And this is the 1970s era corporate GM signage at Crestview. These are less distinctive but also becoming a rarer sight these days...

We visited Reynolds Buick this weekend, also in West Covina.
The original sign is still there (with newer stuff tacked on) and the original space-age flying steel buttress building.... I think it should be high on the list.
Also nearby is great signage at Clippinger Chevrolet. Both are on Citrus Ave.


- nichols
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THANKS, I think Tate moves up closer to the top of the list....
Tate Cadillac
896 E. Holt Ave., Pomona
Weber & Cooper Lincoln Mercury
Ontario
Richard Hibbard Chevrolet
191 S Indian Hill Blvd
Claremont, CA

Tate Cadillac
896 E. Holt Ave., Pomona

Weber & Cooper Lincoln Mercury
Ontario

Richard Hibbard Chevrolet
191 S Indian Hill Blvd
Claremont, CA
Last edited by nichols on Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
- nichols
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That's great! M-M also reports there may be some more in Canoga Park along Sherman Way...
Here's the parallel thread:
http://www.lottaliving.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3183
Here's the parallel thread:
http://www.lottaliving.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3183
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Star Chrysler Jeep (1956)
1401 South Brand Boulevard,
Glendale, CA 91204

Glendale Dodge (1959)
1101 S Brand Blvd
Glendale, CA
Last edited by nichols on Fri Aug 14, 2009 7:42 am, edited 1 time in total.
Today: Casa de Cadillac. Chris's OP has the date as 1949; their website says the business was established in 48. Did they open the lot before the building was completed?
I wish I could cut down that damn palm tree!
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get to any of the other dealerships on the list, but I shot a lot of businesses along Ventura Blvd.


I wish I could cut down that damn palm tree!

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get to any of the other dealerships on the list, but I shot a lot of businesses along Ventura Blvd.
- nichols
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What do we think of Crenshaw Ford? In this case, does signage alone make a building? It's a very smart streamline moderne structure that had an intact interior. Does losing all that signage negate its importance?
2006
2007
today
Crenshaw Ford
5311 Crenshaw Blvd.,
Los Angeles
http://www.lottaliving.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=8528

2006

2007

today
Crenshaw Ford
5311 Crenshaw Blvd.,
Los Angeles
http://www.lottaliving.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=8528
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- Modern Socialite
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I shot this today in South Gate; the address is 2440 Firestone Blvd. It looks like it might have been a dealership at one time, with the showroom to the left, repair bays on the right, and a bit of room in the middle to display cars.
Now the showroom is filled wall-to-wall with engines salvaged from Japanese cars.
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2440 Firestone is a GREAT building, but like it's cousin at Wilshire and La Brea was a Firestone tire outlet. So, while absolutely incredible and preservation worthy, but kinda disqualified for this particular list. I was there this weekend and noticed what I believe is the Firestone plant on the north side of the street.
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Gonzales (Massey) Cadillac to close.
Casa de Gonzales is latest auto dealership to close
by Christian Brown, Staff WriterAug 28, 2009 | 283 views | 3 | 2 | |
DOWNEY PATRIOT
Casa de Gonzales Cadillac and Chevrolet is the latest Downey auto dealership to close. Downey Ford shut down in January. Courtesy www.RoadsideArchitecture.com
DOWNEY – Since declaring bankruptcy on June. 1, General Motors Corp. has struggled to find its footing, leaving hundreds of dealerships that sell its brands fighting to keep their doors open. Soon Casa De Gonzales Cadillac and Chevrolet of Downey will become the latest GM dealership to shut down...
http://www.thedowneypatriot.com/pages/f ... s_1st_left
Casa de Gonzales is latest auto dealership to close
by Christian Brown, Staff WriterAug 28, 2009 | 283 views | 3 | 2 | |
DOWNEY PATRIOT
Casa de Gonzales Cadillac and Chevrolet is the latest Downey auto dealership to close. Downey Ford shut down in January. Courtesy www.RoadsideArchitecture.com
DOWNEY – Since declaring bankruptcy on June. 1, General Motors Corp. has struggled to find its footing, leaving hundreds of dealerships that sell its brands fighting to keep their doors open. Soon Casa De Gonzales Cadillac and Chevrolet of Downey will become the latest GM dealership to shut down...
http://www.thedowneypatriot.com/pages/f ... s_1st_left
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