Modern Motor Sales Ltd., De Soto-Dodge, Montreal, Quebec.
Jim Clark Motors, Dodge-Plymouth, Lawrence, KS.
S & W Sales Co. Inc., Dodge, Ridgewood, Queens, NY.
Currin-Massey Dodge, Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Elliot Of Bedford, Dodge, Bedford, OH.
Braley’s Dodge, Mercedes-Benz, DKW, Stockton, CA.
Klepinger’s West Valley Dodge-Fiat-Jeep, Los Gatos, CA.
Frontier Dodge, Modesto, CA.
Whipple Motors, Hingham, MA.
Howard Taylor Dodge, San Diego, CA.
Falls City Dodge, Louisville, KY,
Mallot’s Manteca Dodge, Manteca, CA.
Greenbriar Dodge, Atlanta, GA.
Judging from the newer Dodge logo on the big sign in front of Braley’s in Stockton, as well as the vintage of some of the visible cars, I suspect they werent selling DKW’s anymore. I wonder even about Mercedes being paired with Dodge by the late Sixties.
As for West Valley Dodge in Los Gatos, their Dodge-Fiat-Jeep lineup foreshadowed FCA and Stellantis. They also sold AMC for a while.
Could it be that Braley has a Studebaker franchise at one time, and held on to the surviving Mercedes franchise via a grandfather clause?
Just speculating!!
I find the Jim Clark Motors building in Lawrence interesting – it’s a downtown location but set back from the street. The building still stands, though it’s been extensively modified, and unfortunately lost its unique brickwork along the way. From what I can tell the brickwork was covered by flat masonry long ago, and a more recent renovation actually made the facade more appealing.
Then-and-now comparison and Google StreetView link below:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/4kT5ep9Dd7iQbYXD9
Not too shabby! I do prefer the historical building facade, as well. With the always attractive multi-pane factory-style windows looking great then and now, and unique jagged-edge look, near the roof top. More character.
Nice to see a property, where someone invested good money and quality design, to improve the building exterior, and grounds..
At first I didn’t like the building’s current looks, because it just had the appearance of what looks like composite material like EIFS and the kind of parapet that I see on modern buildings that try to look “classical.”
However, then I looked at what the building had looked like before the current owners restored it, and then I appreciated what they’d done.
It fits in well, and that setback makes for a good outdoor dining space. I do miss that jagged-edge brickwork, though.
Very cool. Yes, the original facade does appear the most attractive and appealing.
The latest property manager did an excellent job, attempting to restore character and authenticity, to the building facade and patio area.
The small town I grew up in (5,000 pop.), maintains strong historical standards for commercial architecture, and branding.They established long ago, bylaws for building facades and signage, that must meet rigorous and specific historical standards. The office supply store would likely have been asked to reduce their logo, and place it on a smaller more traditional wooden background. Not back illuminated. But illuminated from the front. With brick or stone as a facade. I do think they get tax breaks, to help them comply.
I also like the charm visible here, of main street-style diagonal parking.
Modern Motor Sales certainly has quite a selection of new cars in the showroom. Three convertibles (Plodge, DeSoto and Dodge) plus looks like 2 Imperials. A surprising (and expensive) mix in a Canadian showroom.
Looking at this 1975 model year lineup, it is understandable why everyone associated with the Chrysler Corporation would want the 1976 Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare to market, as soon as possible. Front row at Greenbriar Dodge, featuring the ancient Dart and Valiant, representing their only domestic small cars. Every other car in this pic, likely 318 or 360 equipped. Averaging less than 20MPG?
Equally brand new Plymouth Fury coupes looking rather unappealing, next to the Cordobas. Featuring vertically-aligned triple opera windows. At the time, I actually thought the new for 1977 rectangular stacked headlights, improved the Fury’s looks.
Before the Impala/Caprice wagons took the honour in 1977, the F-body wagons were America’s top selling wagons, in the Bicentennial year.
There was less brand marketing competition in the 1970’s, compared to the next decade, but Chrysler was likely overdue by 1975 for a dealer brand refreshing.
Major League Baseball commentator Joe Garagiola, was of course the most prominent spokesperson for Chrysler, during the mid-’70’s.
Virtually every major car magazine would feature the unique bottom half page full colour ads, drawn in a comic book style. Featuring Garagiola’s caricature. Promoting Chrysler cars, and the Mopar brand.
Buy a car, get a check!
“If you can find a better car, buy it!”
“America won’t be pushed around anymore!”
Credit Joe for pushing Mopar iron in the middle of the ’73-’74 recession.
Funny thing, GM & Ford immediately followed along with their own rebates and cut rate financing.
Hats off to the man! A street in Detroit needs to be named in his honor!
Worthy of a CC story of his own.
Had a ’69 Valiant company car… drive the wheels off it… wouldn’t get less than 20 MPG. Next, had a ’72 Valiant, drive as gentle as could be, wouldn’t get above 12 MPG. Both with the Leaning Tower of Power 6. Had a personal ’74 Pinto 4 banger that got 14 MPG. ’71 – ’75 were the Dark Ages. A few engines got improved starting in ’76. New Pontiac 301, Vega, Astre Iron Duke, Pinto Pony.
I notice none of these dealers also carry Chrysler. Wasn’t Chrysler usually paired with one of the lesser nameplates such as Plymouth, DeSoto, or Dodge?
Until the dealer reorganization of the early 60s, it was Plymouth that was paired with either Dodge, DeSoto or Chrysler. After the reorganization (and ignoring the short-term Valiant brand) it was usually Dodge (red) or Chrysler-Plymouth (blue).
And the Canadian market was smaller, Plymouth was paired with Chrysler and Fargo trucks while Dodge was paired with DeSoto and inherited some “Plodges” like the Regent and the Mayfair and Valiant remained a separate brand in the Great White North until 1966.
http://www.oldcarscanada.com/2011/02/1965-valiant.html
NZ had a reduced version of the Canadian line up topped up by other makes Chrysler gobbled up in the 60s that Todd motors could get in CKD packs if it wasnt assembled or finish assembled here it was hard to get, those forecourts shown are amazing.Strangely both Dodge and Fargo trucks were over here in various sizes.
The photographs presented feature very few Dodge Trucks. I see a Panel Delivery, an A-series van, and a camper van based on the B-series van. Yet only a couple actual pickup trucks appear. I know Dodge was perpetually #3 in pickup sales, but I would have expected to see more of them.
I believe you can see a Ramcharger, centred within the showroom of Greenbriar Dodge, in the last photo.
Notice the sign on Frontier Dodge of Modesto CA. says ‘Truck Center’. That was one of the designated Dodge commercial heavy truck dealers. Regular franchised Dodge dealers that sold light and medium trucks in addition to cars would have a sign reading ‘Dodge Trucks’.
Nice layouts, look pleasing to the eye except the one in Queens, N.Y. .
-Nate
I like that “ole, city/gritty”, vibe..lol Goes with “Queens” @ that time.
Anyone else catch this?
“Klepinger’s West Valley Dodge-Fiat-Jeep, Los Gatos, CA.”
50 years ago this wasn’t even a dream that Fiat would own all three brands.
The ’55 Chevy Bel Air on Jim Clark Motors’ used car lot looks much like the one my Dad had, in its original color combo. He had it repainted in a Cadillac color, Pelham Blue, once he started to customize it.
Loving all the vintage dealerships in these photos! Thanks for compiling and sharing them.