Today’s vintage gallery of dealer shots offers a chance to watch Dodge transform over the course of the 1960s. The brand began the decade with a grown-up mission, and curious Space Age touches, but by the latter half it reinvented itself as a younger, more aggressive, performance-minded automaker to keep up with the Sixties. By the late Sixties and early Seventies, Mopar muscle was front and center, and Dodge dealers were more than happy to show it off. These vintage photos offer a look at that transformation, from the early Sixties through Dodge’s “Rebellion” era.
Our first stop is at Carbone Dodge, in Yorkville, NY.
1962 models on display.
Tamer looks with a bunch of 1963 models at Pauley Motors, Shelton, WA.
1965 Coronet ready for a special occasion at the Mashell Motors showroom, Eatonville, WA.
Dodge Sweptline trucks at Killington Motors, Dodge-Oldsmobile, Rutland, VT.
The 1966 Chargers have arrived.
Nowell Dodge, Arlington, TX.
Darts, Chargers and Coronets at McMillian Dodge Inc., Platte City, MO.
White Bear Dodge showroom, MN.
1969 Coronet 440 time at Pompey Dodge, Kingston, PA.
E-Body Challenger in a showroom.
Checking out Challenger and Chargers at Mr. Norm’s Sports Club, Grand Spaulding Dodge, Chicago, IL.
Exterior view, Grand Spaulding Dodge, Chicago, IL.
A couple of “local” dealerships.
Jim Pauley also had the Ford Mercury Dealership in Shelton. Unfortunately the original building seems to have been replaced. Shelton still has a Ford/CDJR dealership, though now out by the highway rather than downtown.
The Mashell building in Eatonville still exists and now it is back in the auto business as Turbo Tires, after other uses such as a brew house and Florist.
That dart in the very first pic looks to be a bit trimmed, out. Hope it was red.
Killington Motors, Dodge-Oldsmobile, Rutland, VT:
Both a Dodge & Oldsmobile dealer….very rare indeed!!
Maybe the franchises were awarded years ago (1910 thru 1930) and held on to for an extended period; or consolidated two existing storefronts; or either brand wanted to assure area coverage in the early award of franchises. Another scenario would be an existing franchisee folded and was awarded to an exiting alternate dealership. A bit of a background story here.
Looks like Killington Motors was an established Oldsmobile dealer (dating at least from the 1940s, but changed hands in 1955 and became known as Killington Motors). The dealership picked up a Studebaker franchise, and then added Dodge in 1963. Even being in a small town, that combination surprises. me.
In Londonderry, NH. There was a Ford/ Chrysler/ Plymouth dealership! Maine, New Hampshire, Mass ECT: had grandfathered dealerships! In that neck of the woods, it is almost impossible for a manufacturer to cancel a grandfathered dealership!
The purple “2 O’Clock” sign at Pompey Kingston Dodge was a promotion where the dealership evidently sold one car for each of three consecutive hours at a special price. As it says in the ad below, “You must be ON THE SPOT to buy these specials!”
The Coronet 440 was the 2:00 special.
The Pompey group (a small regional chain of dealers) bought out Kingston Dodge earlier that year, so this was likely a promotion to generate some publicity for the dealership’s new name.
Thanks! I was wondering what that 2 O’Clock thing was all about.
My father liked Dodges, so we had several when I was growing up in the 60s and 70s. Purchased from Bob Koller Dodge in Naperville, IL. It was a 1-car showroom! The 69 Coronet 500 coupe in the Kingston Dodge photo is certainly a great looking car in the red/black combo!
Kinda looks like Rosey Grier checking out the Challenger at Grand Spaulding.
Nice cars, I wish I’d paid more attention to MoPars back then .
-Nate
Caption for the first pic.
Guy on the left, “Can’t get the goddam hood open !”
Guy on the right, “I thought quality was supposed to improve this year”
Sorry, I love Mopars I really do.
Grand Spaulding Dodge.
I think I’ve heard thousands of their commercials.
I love the 2nd picture. Parking it next to a 62 Dodge Dart is the only way I have ever seen to make an early Valiant/Lancer look subdued and normal. 🙂
How could you not mention Tator Dodge?!! One of the original Dodge dealerships!!
The family started repairing cars here in 1908. It became one of the original charter Dodge dealerships in 1914
Tator’s Garage, is a historic family-owned repair shop in South Salem, New York, that is Address: 20 Spring St S, South Salem, NY 10590
History: The family started repairing cars here in 1908. It became one of the original charter Dodge dealerships in 1914.
The “Viper Wizard”: Current owner Chuck Tator is an expert on Dodge Vipers. Owners travel from all over the country to bring their cars to his garage.
The official Dodge franchise ended in 2009, but the shop remains open as an independent garage handling classic restorations, routine maintenance, and Viper performance.
The shop retains its original 1910s barn appearance and does not accept credit cards
http://www.tatorsdodge.com/photo.html
You missed one of the original Dodge dealerships
I too love the second pic. One grandmother had a ’63 Dart, and my dad had a ’62 Lancer 4 door. We were a Dodge family from 1955 to 1974. Thanks for the memories.
At Killington Dodge/Oldsmobile, the two tone truck at the forefront of the photo is a
Dodge Utiline which was a stepside bed option during the Sweptline era.
I bought my most recent car from McMillian Dodge! Although these days it goes by Airport CDJR.
Last photo – my father had a 1976 Dodge Ramcharger 4×4 with a 360. It was the first vehicle I had and learned to work on as a teen in the 1980s. Seems that owner at the time is missing his outside rear view mirror. Not sure what’s up with those goofy mag wheels and street tires either.
The ’66 Chargers are in the showroom of McCarty Motors, Savannah MO.