The Goad Motor Company was a Cadillac and Oldsmobile dealer in Austin. Here’s their used car lot, at 1214 W. 6th Street in 1952.
Part of the collection of Rescuing Texas History from the UNT.
Vintage Dealers: Used Cars In Austin, 1952
– Posted on August 11, 2023
I’d be looking at one of those fastback Oldsmobiles for sure!
Two dimensions stand out. The ’50 Plymouth is NARROW and the ’51 Studie is LOW.
Love that picture. Reminded me of when I was in my pre-teens and would ride my bicycle about 4 miles each way to go visit with my uncle who owned a small used car lot up the road. I loved going there and looking at his cars for sale and talking with him. Yeah, I know. Most kids that age would be riding their bikes to the local swimming pool or to a friends house. Not me. It was off to the car lot and why ended up going into auto sales. Great memories.
Dan, I’d love to hear your story.
This was about the end of the line for a used Studebaker being good enough to be featured among the front row of late model used cars at a GM dealer. I would imagine dealers were still really scrambling for good late-model used cars as late as 1952, given the screwed up new-car market of the prior decade.
Is it lens distortion, or is the Oldsmobile on the left wider (and thus a 48-49 C Body 98) than the Olds to the right of the Stude?
One of my simple pleasures as a little kid, was going with my dad, when he went car shopping. Riding in the back on test drives, enjoying many different interiors. The excitement of a new car. Loved the sound of the overhead triangular flags, blowing in heavy winds. Never trusted the sales guys. lol
That’s a super great memory.
I wish I could go peruse the back row……
Hard to believe now but there was a time when used pickups were lot poison .
-Nate
Instead of visiting used car dealers when I was growing up, the used cars came to me. This was because my youngest aunt’s boyfriend was the son of a used car dealer. She was about a half generation older than me and lived with us until she got married.
Her boyfriend (later husband) would bring over the latest selections, and I’d always check out the cars in the driveway before they left on their dates. The one that really stands out in my memory was a red 1956 Buick Special two-door hardtop around 1960 or so.
How cool would it have been to have had a Austin dealership in Austin, TX? 😉
ahem… “an Austin dealership…”
sorry!
Must be within the city limits, to count.
Dan, I’d love to hear your story.
I want that Stude, and I love the look of those buildings!
I was more than a quarter century away when this photo was taken, but the automobiles, architecture and materials used, furniture, appliances and consumer goods… sometimes make me wish I was around in this time period.