Today, it’s visit time to Lincoln-Mercury dealers as they appeared from the 1950s through the 1970s—a period when the dealerships themselves went through quite a transformation. What began as fairly individualistic local establishments gradually evolved toward the more recognizable corporate look, with standardized signs, architecture, and aesthetics. Along the way, the showrooms sometimes took on additional Ford Motor Company marques, from the short-lived Edsel to the European Taunus.
We’ll start in the 1970s with Goodarts Vista Lincoln-Mercury in Denver, Colorado, a good example of that increasingly corporate-era dealership look.
Jack Tighe Lincoln-Mercury, Culver City, CA.
C.B. Knickerbocker’s Inc., Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln-Taunus, Santa Ana, CA.
Vulcan Lincoln-Mercury-Edsel, Birmingham, AL.
Berkeley Motors, Lincoln-Mercury, Berkeley, CA.
Caraway Motor Co., Lincoln-Mercury, Beaumont, TX.
Southgate Lincoln-Mercury, Sacramento, CA.
McGowen-Lane Lincoln-Mercury, Wynnewood, PA.
Eastway Lincoln-Mercury, Webster, NY.
Holland Lincoln-Mercury, Albuquerque, NM.
North Florida, Lincoln-Mercury, Jacksonville, FL.
State Motors Inc., Lincoln-Mercury, Manchester, NH.
What was the ‘leave clothes here for Hungarian relief’ in the second photo all about?
Would have been related to the unsucessful Hungarian Revolution of 1956 where the Hungarian people attempted to drive out the Soviet Union: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_Revolution_of_1956
There were many Hungarians in Culver City who were door-to-door paprika salesmen but they wouldn’t sell to anyone naked. So for a few years, folks stripped when they shopped for Mercurys so that the Hungarians wouldn’t try to sell them paprika.
Two Lipstick Edition Mark IVs. And a Silver Edition. And allll of those Mercury Capris.
Memories of 1975. My partner at that time had a 1972 Mark IV that I frequently drove and loved. I took his Mark in for servicing, must have been 1975, and on the dealer lot saw a new lipstick red edition (white w/red trim). Beautiful, except I preferred the 1972 body style without the big bumpers. A few months later he traded his Mark for a 1975 two-door Imperial, dark red, that was a wonderful car to drive. A few months later, still 1975, he gave me a 1976 Eldo conv., white w/red interior. Guess you can say I am attracted to white cars with red accents.
Wow, Holland Motors has a Pantera front-and-center!
There are TWO Pantaras, there’s a yellow one to the right
It’s fun to see that, and also to see where Lincoln-Mercury dealers advertised Panteras. Here’s on from Holland L-M – promoting the 1973 Albuquerque Auto Show – that Pantera sure stood out among the Marquis and Continentals and such:
Ten grand was a lot in 1973, and as ever a strict 2-seater’s a limited market but “You obviously have fine taste in European sporting cars, let me show you the Capri…”
anyone have pictures of D&E Lincoln mercury in Williamsville ny. probably closed its doors by 1980.
This photo is dated 1982
Shockingly few Cougars, I only spotted a 74 in the McGowen postcard and a 71-72 at Eastway
Found some more but it’s still surprisingly few
Vista- none visible
Tighe- none visible
Knickerbocker- none visible
Vulcan- none visible
Berkeley- none visible
Caraway- none visible
Southgate- 4 69’s under the canopy starting with a dark one under the word Mercury and then left to the tan one
McGowan- In addition to that hideous black-brown thing at the far end of the line of Capris it looks like there’s a silver one in the showroom. Nearest in there appears to be a Bobcat, then the Cougar, a Capri II, and furthest would be a Mark IV.
Holland- Looks like a 74-76 in the showroom behind the Pantera
North Florida- a white 74-76 in the showroom just to the left of the service sign. Probably a 76 considering the 1976 sign in the showroom window.
State- none visible
I have no pictures but in Lima Oh we had Laibe LM and then 80s on to 03 Lima Lincoln Mercury. That place was run by Steve Diepenbrock. The most organized 1st class dealership anyone could ask to work for and buy a car from.
Berkeley Motors is long gone, now a multi-story commercial building. A block south is the remodeled to modern corporate style Toyota dealership, but it’s still the same basic shape as when it was Gil Ashcom Rambler. Most of Berkeley’s auto row is long gone … thanks for the memories.
A row of Monarchs in the first photo and one in the last photo. I didn’t see any in between.
I like seeing Capris lined up at Eastway and Holland L-M as a reminder that at one time you could buy a De Tomaso Pantera, a Mercury Comet with 3 on the tree and a Lincoln Continental in the same showroom
My eyes always go directly to the used car lots .
I remember the German Ford Taunus they had the radiator _behind_ the engine .
Moms bought a Capri in 197? and I got to drive it a fair bit when visiting it had those Firestone 500 “Maypops” on it and one did as I was driving, glad Moms wasn’t, I stopped before it blew and watched a large goose egg appear in the left front tire’s sidewall, then it blew with a loud BANG ! .
Other than that it was a nice reliable car .
So many cool cars I wish I could go buy now .
BTW : Panteras were crap ~ I worked for a guy who was a Ford man and he bought one, it rattled like a Morocca leaked and squeaked, what a pile .
-Nate