Today’s dealer visit is to Merriman Motors in Raleigh, North Carolina. We’ll start with this display of 1951 models in the showroom above, surrounded by prominent flower displays. It’s a theme in these photos, most with a rather celebratory spirit. Just check out the next one:
Here are the shots showing the arrival of the “spinner grille” 1950 models, for which the dealer made quite a festive display, as it could only be for cars that were “Styled Ahead”.
More bright lights outside, at night. Studebaker folks know the ’50 “Spinner” face was a fun update of the rather radical-looking 1947 bodies. Talking about which…
… Here is a ’47 model at Merriman, in a rather fun photo.
We’ll close with this image, where the Merriman guys seem to be capturing a merry occasion. Or more precisely, a ‘Certificate of Merit’ occasion. Should you wonder, this is not the first appearance of Merriman Motors at CC, with one image featured before.
I’ve no way of knowing if our Merryman folk will show up again on our pages, but for the time being, let’s leave them enjoying this occasion.
Foiling the walls and ceiling seems like a lot of work for one party!
The original tin ceiling would be appreciated now; it was just old hat then.
Wondering about that pic as well. Just does not phot well. Perhaps didn’t look to good “in person” as well.
I just want to know how many rolls of foil, how many hours did it take to do it and how the stuck it on there. I’m also wondering how long it took to take it all off and how big of a ball of foil they ended up with.
In Valparaiso, Indiana my parents bought our 1950 Nash AMBASSADOR from Thomas J. Marimon Nash. At that time Nash was a big seller. Until the early 80s his son continued selling AMC. Coincidence? Especially with the failed attempt to save Studebaker. Nash, Packard and Hudson.
Ugh, those fixtures that featured bare fluorescent light tubes. They make an appearance in almost every shot!
And no doubt without the clear plastic safety tubes over them!
All those flower arrangements remind me of a funeral home!
Two rhyming slogans on the hanging banners: “The car America rates as great!” and “The car that led is still ahead!”
I presume the “First by far with a postwar car” one is behind the cameraman in the 1947 pic.
In the photo of the 47 Commander and the “referee”: on the wall behind the car are framed showroom pictures of other 47 models. Interestingly, above those pictures, is a large one of the 1946 Champion that was a short run, interim model. Little publicity was issued for the 46 and I wonder why the dealer continued to feature it.
Being post WWII, I’m sure the dealership sold anything that had a set of wheels.
It was the price war of the Big Three in the mid to late 50’s that ate up the smaller shops forcing hook ups (some successful, some failures). At least AMC got 30+ years out of their merger.
Do not know why Dad bought a 1951 Studebaker. two door bullet nose. It was the 1950s and we already had two 1955 Oldsmobile’s. It was a blue-gray and I only remember riding in it once. As the story goes, Air Force Dad was driving to work one day, door came open, he fell out. Only then did they find he had cancer, Off to Walter Reed Hospital, cancer cured, I remember at Walter Reed, Eisenhower came in for heart issues.
Danbury Mint offered in their limited edition 1:24 collector car series, this same Studebaker, limited series, same color as Dads ride. I wasn’t a member of this DM series, but I emailed them, told my story, DM sent me their last limited edition production model of that special order series.
I have a large collection of 1:24 scale diecast autos but this Studebaker is a favorite. If Dad had not fallen out of that old car, perhaps his cancer might not have been detected and treated in time. And Danbury Mint, made a special effort to get me their last of their limited production Studebaker.
What a great story!