Let’s pay a visit to Chrysler-Plymouth cars on display in the 1950s (with DeSoto and Dodge making guest appearances). From showroom floors and special displays to dealer lots and vehicle deliveries, this gallery offers a little bit of everything. It’s also a chance to watch these Mopars evolve throughout the decade, transforming from the practical, conservative designs of the early 1950s into the dramatic finned creations that defined the era’s closing years.
As with many of these dealership photo galleries, the locations of some images remain unknown. If you recognize any of them, feel free to share what you know in the comments. Our opening photo shows a group of salesmen admiring a 1959 Plymouth on display at what appears to be a Canadian Plymouth-Simca dealership.
H.C. Bauschard, Chrysler-Plymouth, Bradford, PA.
Les White, Chrysler-Plymouth, in Los Angeles, CA.
Les White showroom, Chrysler-Plymouth, in Los Angeles, CA.
Shimkat Motor Co., DeSoto-Plymouth, Fort Dodge, IA.
1954 Plymouth Belvedere on display at McMillen and Baer’s Plymouth booth at a trade fair.
1955 Plymouth Belvedere delivery from Sam Ruben DeSoto-Plymouth, at Forbes Field Auto, Pittsburgh, PA.
1956 models opening night (with some odd photo retouching), Oct. 1955, at Lloyd Gregg Chrysler-Plymouth, North Hollywood, CA.
1957 models on display at Harry Heiman Inc., in Utica, NY.
1957 Plymouths on display.
1958 Plymouth Suburban delivery at Gilliespie-Blumer Motors, 802 East Washington Ave., Madison, WI.
Chet Dickson Plymouth-Dodge, Petaluma, CA.
Nice ;
I prefer the earlier “Keller Cars” but having owned a 1958 Plymouth Plaza I understand the attraction and driving of the Forward Look cars too .
-Nate
Les White showroom Los Angeles, CA:
A feeling of film noir with the two photos.
I except to see Sterling Hayden asking questions as a private investigator.
The topic would be the affair of the wife of the franchise owner who was gunned down in the shady part of LA.
He’s looking for answers before Sgt. Joe Friday of LAPD shows up!!
If Sgt. Friday drove over, it would have been in a Ford.
“Fobes Field Auto”!!! There is a “honking”, bit a history!! In the lead pic, what tells us it’s a “Canadian”, dealer?
“TOUT!”
I think the full poster says “La Plymouth prime en tout!”
Here’s a 1959 newspaper ad with that slogan:
Ah. Ok. Good eye! “Merci”.
Imagine buying a new car at Shimkat Motor Company?
My cousin Luanne posed in a cutaway Mopar product at a dealer in New England, late 1950s. Wish I had a scan of that picture.
The salesman in Picture #7 (1955 Plymouth Belvedere at Forbes Field Auto Sales) is Lenny Levy. He and Sam Ruben founded the dealership, but Levy was also well-known as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.
He played with the Pirates as a catcher in the 1930s and stayed with the organization in coaching roles after he quit playing. Back then, baseball didn’t pay much, so he had other jobs, which included operating a dry cleaner for a while. After serving with the Marines in WWII, Levy returned to Pittsburgh and went into the car business, eventually opening Forbes Field Auto in the mid 50s. He was still a scout for the Pirates, and then in 1957 joined the club again full time as a coach (1st base coach). He remained a coach until 1964 – still operating the dealership as well.
I don’t know how the locals or the family pronounced their last name as “HE-man”, or “HY-Man”, but regardless of gender, it’s hairy.
A 3 year warranty on the ’57 Plymouth’s. That’s good, as you will need every hour of it.
We had EL Par Motors. Chrysler-Plymouth- Imperial. It was sad to see them close in 1981.