Roy Fisher Willys Jeep, Oklahoma City, OK.
Sunshine Motors, Willys Overland Jeep, Tampa, FL.
Park Jeep Sales, St. Louis Park, MN.
Pouliot’s Jeep, St. Louis Park, MN.
Mink Motor Sales Inc., Jeep-Studebaker, Galax, VA.
Frank Millard Valley Center, Jeep-Datsun, Los Angeles, CA.
State AMC-Jeep, Schenectady, NY.
I noticed in early ads in magazines and on some of the earlier images in this thread the word ‘Jeep’ is in single quotes. Later instances don’t have them.
Likely because ‘Jeep’ was old military slang. From my 1942 ‘Slanguage Dictionary’:
Jeep – An all-inclusive Army nickname for anything insignificant, from a draftee to a tiny observation plane.
‘Jeep” is actually the sound that the initials made of the original name. It was originally called a General Purpose Vehicle. Which was shortened to GP. The sound became ‘Jeep’. That is according to my Grandfather who was a GP mechanic during WWII.
Look at all of those FC’s! Love them and the forward control multi-stop delivery van! In Galax, Virginia we can see a Studebaker pickup and an Avanti. As for State AMC-JEEP in Schenectady, check out the guy on the left. That hairdo has GOT TO GO! Great photos. Thanks.
Andre the Giant popularized that hair and facial hair style for three decades.
It looks like there’s a gun pointed at the vertical Studebaker sign in that photo at the far right, or maybe a giant gas pump nozzle.
For a town the size of “Galax Va”, that dealer has a lot of inventory!
Park has a pickup-based stepvan that I’ve never seen before, along with lots of FCs. Was it factory or custom-built?
That is a factory built JeepFJ3 Fleetvan.
I think it’s the rare “Economy Delivery” stepvan: https://cj3b.info/Siblings/EconomyDelivery.html
(Same St. Louis Park dealership pic)
Two-level showroom at Roy Fisher Willys is quite cool.
Definitely. That dealership was on “Automobile Alley,” where most of Oklahoma City’s car dealerships were built in the 1910s and 1920s. That area fell on hard times later, but was revitalized starting in 1990s, and many of the original buildings remain intact, some even with original, or reconstructed car dealership ads.
Here’s the modern view:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/Mq7o2cHmbW5ot2vu8
Jeep & Studebaker; a perfect complementary duo. I’m surprised there weren’t more of them.
My thoughts exactly before I saw your entry. Where I grew up, 50’s, there was a Jeep-International dealership.
Each dealer have small footprints, and lots of marketing splash, in common. Small lots, mean vehicles fill up most of the available limited space. Appealing products, that had not gone mainstream yet.
Impressed, the ‘Jeep’ wordmark was generally accurately rendered. Pacer wagon in the showroom of State AMC-Jeep. With a Matador coupe parked further beyond.
Roy Fisher and Sunshine Motors, probably the best presented. There is a timeless appeal to the Forward Control cab.
4th Photo: Pouliot’s Jeep, St. Louis Park, MN:
I would image many of these dealerships started as gas stations or repair shops like the Gulf station in the photo. Someone came by, offered a franchise, paperwork signed, and a batch of cars/trucks delivered (on credit). Started with Overland, then Kaiser, then AMC, then Chrysler, then Stellantis.
Many a family lived comfortably based on owning a dealership. However, the family was required to upgrade the building & service bay or lose the franchise with each new manufacturer. Meetings held around the kitchen table, a few arguments, fear of the automaker going belly up, would the bank give a loan, and then the paperwork signed for the next corporation.
Hardest part was finding the right son, daughter, niece, nephew, grandson or in-law to take charge and getting Grandpa or Dad to let go!!
Lots of family drama!!
My favorite shot is #5 Mink Motor Sales (Jeep-Studebaker).
Can’t beat having a Transtar at one end and an Avanti at the other!
Wonderful pictures, THANK YOU .
-Nate
My 78 J-20
Found original registration in glove box from San Fernando, CA.
Such a great truck
Wow, Mink Motors had quite the selection! At least for the next few months until the new Studebakers stopped arriving. Also, the ancient Transtar truck and the brand new Jeep truck side by side is quite a contrast in what was available in 1963-64.
The Park Jeep dealership was my father’s. That pic was taken in 1958. . Sure wish he would have saved me one of those FC Jeeps !! Still in business but now located in Burnsville Mn.
Is that an ultra-rare Jeep sedan delivery/panel van I see out front in the Pouliot’s lot? Or at least a still-pretty-rare Wagoneer two-door?