Walker Import Motors, Chicago, IL.
Lindholm Motors, Volkswagen, Ruland, VT.
Glen Chism Motors, Mesa, AZ.
Dover Volkswagen, Dover, DE.
Howard Cooper Inc., Ann Arbor, MI.
Leon J. Mezzetti, Fremont, CA.
Ralph D. Jones Volkswagen Village Showroom, Springfield, MA.
Talk about inflation. I had a 71 super, bought new and the dealer charged 1.92 for an oil change. Those were the days.
So, about a few cents less than 15.00 today.
I never owned one, but sorta wish I’d had the experience—I was certainly “of age” during Peak Beetle, etc.
Rich Baron: Another big stash of dealership photos (Alabama)—late 1950s-into-1960s—here…..perhaps worthy of their own post:
https://digital.archives.alabama.gov/digital/collection/photo/search/searchterm/volkswagen
THANK YOU GEORGE ! .
-Nate
VW was ahead of most other car makers with the early adoption of strong corporate marketing, and branding. Their logo, and advertising, were first rate. And use of consistent typefaces like Futura and Beton, really established a memorable look for their marketing material, and signage. The square serif, all caps ‘VOLKSWAGEN’, at the front of many dealerships, created a very bold, memorable look, I still find very appealing.
VW clearly encouraged high design standards. I uploaded this photo a while back on another ‘VW dealers’ post, but found a higher resolution version.
Clarkdale Motors in Vancouver, c. 1960 – impressive modernist/mid-century design.
Wonderful photo, thank you! Indeed, the cutting-edge architecture, makes all the autos appear archaic.
Also, look at the buildings. They are for the most part new or modernized, in design and size holding their own with American new car dealers. They also had a service deparment crammed with parts. This when most imports were a sideline at an American new car dealer or some used car lot with visions of grandeur. It was a synergy. They were a player in the market because they looked and behaved like one.
All while selling a foreign-made, and obsolete primary product, with highly dated styling, heavily associated with the Nazis. A remarkable marketing success.
My grandmother bought her 1968 Beetle at John P. Mooney Volkswagen in McKeesport, PA. Before it was a VW dealership, Mooney sold Packards, then Edsels.
Holbert’s in Warrington, PA held classic Volkswagen shows in the 80s that my dad and I used to attend. What a feast for the eyes of a teenage VW nerd! The site is still occupied by a VW dealer, but like all things Volkswagen, it’s lost some of its pizzaz.
We had a ’71 and then a ’73 Super Bug; both purchased at Downtown L.A. VW. The ’71 with itzz “autostick” trans gave new meaning to the word SLOW! Both had noticeably better, more supportive seats than the few U.S. built cars I had then owned (only 3). Their mpg was quite good for the time, slightly better than the lo 20s I had gotten with my 250 ci ’69 Nova 6.
However, driving them up 14 going to the Hi desert got “interesting” in the gusty winds that could be encountered on that highway!! One had to adjust how one drove in a VW Bug vs a normal rear drive American sedan. 🙂 My wife loved her Bugs. I mostly drove my ’56 Chevy by then. DFO
Designed by famous San Antonio architect O’Neill Ford (chief architect of Hemisfair ’68 in the city and several buildings on the Trinity University campus), the Inter-Continental Motors building at 3303 Broadway in San Antonio, Texas was erected in 1963 and still stands. It has not been a Volkswagen dealership for many years though.
The following is from https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Cityscape-Inter-Continental-Motors-Building-3518761.php . More images are available there
Because it replaced the much-loved Spanish/Moorish-style home of Mexican expatriate, Dr. Aureliano Urrutia, this airy, glass-walled auto showroom was initially quite controversial. But the raised pavilion and back-lit base, shaded by mature oaks and cedar elms, quickly won over critics for its pleasant, park-like atmosphere.
Inter-Continental helped introduce the Volkswagen Beetle to South Texas at a time when this stretch of Broadway was known as “automobile row.” The building has been empty for several years, but owner Glenn Huddleston says he’d like to see it redeveloped — retaining the original architecture — his first choice, a restaurant or restaurant/event center.
I never knew it was a VW dealer either. Live in Austin now, there used to be car dealers downtown (mostly 5th and 6th st) but none survive, having since moved out to the suburbs or along I35, probably similar in San Antonio.
A bit before my time, but my Dad owned a ’59 Beetle in Vermont from ’66 to ’68 (when it was totalled in front of our home). He first drove Beetles in the US Army when stationed in Germany after WWII in the early 50’s, guess the Jeeps were in Korea, he was stationed near the Czech border.
Dad moved from Vermont to central Texas (Austin) 42 years ago; I lived in Massachusetts but a year later moved to San Antonio…I brought my non-air conditioned ’78 Scirocco (I owned only watercooled VWs) and in ’86 traded it for a GTI bought at Rod East off of 410 in San Antonio. I later moved to Austin too and bought my current car (’00 Golf) new in Houston at DeMontrond. I’ve only owned VWs since ’81 though eventually need to get an automatic (no one in my family can drive my car).
The “inside/outside”, picture of “Ralph Jones VW village” is cool!
TOP PHOTO:
The blue Beetle in the middle of photo. I had a ’63 Beetle in that color for a short period of time. So miss it!!
The silver Beetle on the far right is showing signs of old age: faded paid on the roof and some rust on the rear bumper. It would still be welcomed in my driveway!!