For today, three images for the vintage dealer series belonging to Carr’s Motor Sales in Austin. All from the collection of the Texas History Project of the UNT.
The showroom above is dated to November 1956.
The showroom in Oct. 1955. An image from this occasion has already been posted on CC.
Carr’s Motor Sales in November 1956, at the corner of 6th St. and San Antonio St. Notice the ‘Continental’ name on the dealer’s signage.
I like the Ford products from this era. Millions spent on upgrading Mercury into a separate marque, Continental Mark was an absolutely beautiful car, and the Lincoln, until it grew tacky fins, was another beautiful sedan and coupe. So sad to see it crash so soon.
Mercury couldn’t change from a fancy Ford to a little Lincoln even after spending millions on television. “The Big M” never caught on. Worse, there was Edsel looking for a purpose to exist and only hobbling both Ford and Mercury. Continental showed Ford that there wasn’t a market for such a beautiful, yet expensive car, and having the economy crash in 1957-1958 gutting car sales by 40% made all the risks taken by Ford – fail.
Lord knows 1958 was a bloodbath year. There were 20 domestic brands going into 1958, (5 GM division, 5 Ford division, 5 Chrysler divisions and 5 major independents), but only 13 within a few years. Buick, Lincoln, Mercury and Plymouth were on the chopping block and were saved by the 1961 Continental, the Comet going to Mercury, and the Valiant going to Plymouth. Dodge survived by gutting Plymouth sales with their Dart line of cars. Chrysler was saved by the Newport taking DeSoto sales.
Very few foresaw the incredible crash right around the corner in 1957, so the future looke pretty good for this Texas Continental, Lincoln and Mercury dealer!
I guess for Mercury trying to be a “Little Lincoln” or “Junior Lincoln” was a bit ahead of its time and it worked better for the 1965 model year with the tagline “Now in the Lincoln Continental tradition” and going in higher gears when the Cougar was introduced “At the sign of the cat” with a big Cougar roarling at the top of Mercury-Lincoln/Lincoln Mercury sign.
I agree, and it meant more in 1965 to be in the Continental tradition than it was in 1957, as “the Big M”.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stQFaHmpKZ4&w=909&h=511%5D
The “sprawling tutone”, one at the curb is a rendition of the “Merc” that became our “family car” in the spring of “62”.My sister got her “d/l” in the car!
I think it was about $375-95.00.
I know my mom was refusing to go over “400.00” for a car , Not sure of the “miles on the clock”.
Too young at that point to be aware of those things.
Anyway, come “1965”, the car was rusting and not going to make an inspection.
Got replaced by that new “65 Biscayne”. ((stripper ride)) Came with a “car loan too”. lol
Mom was not happy!
The bolts holding that Continental sign on to the existing Lincoln Mercury sign never got a chance to rust before it came down. Just a big prime rib and lobster fart in the wind.
Looks like the show room is all spiffed up for the unveiling of the new Continental! Truly a beautiful car with timeless styling that would live on in the 1961 Lincoln Continental.
The changed lighting at the ceiling was not an improvement. This showroom is a reminder of the headwinds faced by FoMoCo in trying to sell Lincolns to a wealthy, status-conscious buyer.