Photos of Vintage Auto Dealerships, Repair Shops, and Gas Stations
- Thread starter ayilar
- Start date
Exact Street addresses unknown. "Park Boulevard" and "Route 9" come up but not the exact address.
Burke Motors, Cape May Court House, New Jersey (on that little peninsula-looking part of the state between Delaware Bay and the Atlantic). Some locations are in Wildwood NJ
Architecture is not spectacular .. the spectular thing is this family business started in 1912 .. and still cookin'. Only 1/2 of 1% (0.5%, or 0.005, or 5 out of 1,000) of all businesses ever started lasts for 100 years. So says US Census Bureau in 2020.
source: About Burke Motor Group in Cape May Court House, NJ
1930's
1937 - getting a school bus delivery
1970's - the end of this location above.
1969 - Park Boulevard in Wildwood NJ (same general area as Cape May Court House)
1987 - Cape May Court House (Burke brothers dealerships - still there in the family and only selling used cars)
Today .. still in business, this building is NOT any of the others above.
Burke Motors, Cape May Court House, New Jersey (on that little peninsula-looking part of the state between Delaware Bay and the Atlantic). Some locations are in Wildwood NJ
Architecture is not spectacular .. the spectular thing is this family business started in 1912 .. and still cookin'. Only 1/2 of 1% (0.5%, or 0.005, or 5 out of 1,000) of all businesses ever started lasts for 100 years. So says US Census Bureau in 2020.
source: About Burke Motor Group in Cape May Court House, NJ
1930's
1937 - getting a school bus delivery
1970's - the end of this location above.
1969 - Park Boulevard in Wildwood NJ (same general area as Cape May Court House)
1987 - Cape May Court House (Burke brothers dealerships - still there in the family and only selling used cars)
Today .. still in business, this building is NOT any of the others above.
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Great old hot rod! And Mobil station too.
Carlin's Amoco station, 1721 Williamson Rd NE, Roanoke VA. Amoco was a brand name of Standard Oil of Indiana - I didn't know that.
Built 1947, concrete block & stucco, streamline modern "Ice Box Form" style (a slang term, but really an archiectural style Amoco/others used - the smooth lines/curves reminiscent of 1940's houseold refrigerators) common for the 40's/50's.
Abandoned, dilapidated, empty and long time .. bought by a local car dealer and restored to orginal glory. Has an historice site designation.
Didnt find any pics when it was a gas station being used as such. Now,no longer serving as gas station, its used for special/nostalgia-themed events.
sources: Carlin’s Amoco Station, Virginia (U.S. National Park Service), I finally finished my gas pump and Amoco station
Built 1947, concrete block & stucco, streamline modern "Ice Box Form" style (a slang term, but really an archiectural style Amoco/others used - the smooth lines/curves reminiscent of 1940's houseold refrigerators) common for the 40's/50's.
Abandoned, dilapidated, empty and long time .. bought by a local car dealer and restored to orginal glory. Has an historice site designation.
Didnt find any pics when it was a gas station being used as such. Now,no longer serving as gas station, its used for special/nostalgia-themed events.
sources: Carlin’s Amoco Station, Virginia (U.S. National Park Service), I finally finished my gas pump and Amoco station
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No architecture in this shot... The neon sign is great and check out that mild custom '53 Mercury on the outdoor lift. Olds Fiesta wheel covers, lake pipes and spot lights!. One of my brothers had a '53 Merc back when I was a kid.
That outdoor lift.... Something you never saw in this neck of the woods.
That outdoor lift.... Something you never saw in this neck of the woods.
Ontario, Canada
Phone number is 13!
Justin Plant
Well-Known Member
This is Williamson Rd, Roanoke VA. It's owned by Will Ferrel. No, not that one. He owns All in and around Roanoke with the Berglund name attached. Its across the street from Berglund Chevrolet, and next to their used car lot. He's got a MASSIVE personal car collection as well. In June on the Williamson Cruise night you'll see a few of his cars parked in front. Currently that's the only thing {classic cars}in the Chevrolet Show room, since they don't have any new vehicles to sell.
Great minds think alike. One of my favorites. Thank you for the extra pics!
sorry boss .. i knew it looked familiar
Why "sorry"? We got to see more photos, for which I am thankful (particularly on Thanksgiving!).sorry boss .. i knew it looked familiar
Keep them coming, please -- including additional info on older ones, just like you did here.
2284 Genesee. Buffalo NY. I'm bummin' a bit.
I have seen this station when I lived in Buffalo (early 2000's). It was dressed up in "Pennzoil" (though I thought "Texaco" guys had the Red "star") garb, like the 2010 photos, but it was NOT a gas station (no pumps).
Signage back then would indicate a repair garage. Condition of building (per the photos) indicative its best days were behind it.
Dunno it's history, but looks circa 1950 streamline modern "Ice Box Form" architecture (again, more like "Texaco" vs "Pennzoil' I would guess), with original porcelain enamal cladding. I had high hopes when I looked it up today.
Now? Ain't dissin' owner(s) -- just disappointed. Siding over the porcelain enamel among other architectural indignities.
Well at least it's still there at 60+ years old -- looks to still be in the auto repair business. Tougher neighborhood (about 10 mins away from the summertime tragedy at the grocery store
).
source: New York Icebox & Modern Gas Stations | RoadsideArchitecture.com
2010
2022
I have seen this station when I lived in Buffalo (early 2000's). It was dressed up in "Pennzoil" (though I thought "Texaco" guys had the Red "star") garb, like the 2010 photos, but it was NOT a gas station (no pumps).
Signage back then would indicate a repair garage. Condition of building (per the photos) indicative its best days were behind it.
Dunno it's history, but looks circa 1950 streamline modern "Ice Box Form" architecture (again, more like "Texaco" vs "Pennzoil' I would guess), with original porcelain enamal cladding. I had high hopes when I looked it up today.
Now? Ain't dissin' owner(s) -- just disappointed. Siding over the porcelain enamel among other architectural indignities.
Well at least it's still there at 60+ years old -- looks to still be in the auto repair business. Tougher neighborhood (about 10 mins away from the summertime tragedy at the grocery store
).source: New York Icebox & Modern Gas Stations | RoadsideArchitecture.com
2010
2022
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About 30 former gas stations .. some vacant,some barely recognizable, most turned into something else. Most all them though you can tell they were gas stations.
Examples all over USA are below -- locations in the link.
Source: Old Gas Stations—The Recycled, The Vacant, The Falling Apart
Examples all over USA are below -- locations in the link.
Source: Old Gas Stations—The Recycled, The Vacant, The Falling Apart
Thread is getting so big .. i think the B&W photo below might be here. The rest isnot I dont think.
2751 Fletcher Ave, Los Angeles. Streamline moderne, built 1936 as a Mobil station, stayed as gas till mid 1960's, then auto repair shops until right now. Largely stayed architecturally intact for over 80 years.
The Lopez outfit has seemed to have been willing to invest in the building over the years (they took over in 1968)
source: Streamline Moderne - 2751 Fletcher Drive — Luis Lopez Automotive, AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR WITHOUT THE “MANSPLAINING”
1950's
Over the years.
Today -- looks like the neighborhood may have toughened up around them (with the type of fencing) but they are hangin' in.
Not sure, but I believe the last two bays on the right are not original. A five-plus bay gas station, put up by big oil originally from the 30's, was NOT a likely design. Tire stores maybe (post #206).
Looks like they left the gas business as well (pumps/gas sign are gone).
2751 Fletcher Ave, Los Angeles. Streamline moderne, built 1936 as a Mobil station, stayed as gas till mid 1960's, then auto repair shops until right now. Largely stayed architecturally intact for over 80 years.
The Lopez outfit has seemed to have been willing to invest in the building over the years (they took over in 1968)
source: Streamline Moderne - 2751 Fletcher Drive — Luis Lopez Automotive, AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR WITHOUT THE “MANSPLAINING”
1950's
Over the years.
Today -- looks like the neighborhood may have toughened up around them (with the type of fencing) but they are hangin' in.
Not sure, but I believe the last two bays on the right are not original. A five-plus bay gas station, put up by big oil originally from the 30's, was NOT a likely design. Tire stores maybe (post #206).
Looks like they left the gas business as well (pumps/gas sign are gone).
2239 Thurman Ave, St Louis. Built 1940. typical of Standard Oil stations built all over the USA at this time. Streamline moderne, enamel clad, red&white theme. Still there, repurposed as something else (some kinda eatery it seems).
source: The Streamlined Standard Service Station in Shaw – Preservation Research Office
2022
link abve has very interesting, related history. The economic "logic" of the streamlined moderne design - footprint, amenities, even building material choices.
Another city's (Milwaukee, 4924 W Roosevelt Dr., still there) example of another Standard Oil "cookie cutter" station what was repurposed since it was built. Same footprint except done in masonary vs. enamel in 1937.
Ever wonder why a lot of the Texaco's looked alike? They had a patented design by architect Walter Teague in 1934
Socony (predecessor to Mobil) had one two .. though we dont seem to have many "Socony" (Standard Oil of New York, trust-busted in 1911) examples still around from Norman Bel Geddes' 1934 design below
source: The Streamlined Standard Service Station in Shaw – Preservation Research Office
2022
link abve has very interesting, related history. The economic "logic" of the streamlined moderne design - footprint, amenities, even building material choices.
Another city's (Milwaukee, 4924 W Roosevelt Dr., still there) example of another Standard Oil "cookie cutter" station what was repurposed since it was built. Same footprint except done in masonary vs. enamel in 1937.
Ever wonder why a lot of the Texaco's looked alike? They had a patented design by architect Walter Teague in 1934
Socony (predecessor to Mobil) had one two .. though we dont seem to have many "Socony" (Standard Oil of New York, trust-busted in 1911) examples still around from Norman Bel Geddes' 1934 design below
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425 Danforth Ave, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Some parts of the original building alleged by a local to have at least lasted until 2015.
I looked for it today .. there's stuff there but I didn't have any real clear markers to ID it (except the 1919 building is "asymetrical" on the right side -- so is the modern three-store front section, and the 1919 facade "stepped" roofline is sorta still there maybe).
source: Model T Ford Forum: Old Photo -Model T Era Peerless Garage
1919
2015 -- frontage looks wide enough. I dunno about the rest.
2022
I looked for it today .. there's stuff there but I didn't have any real clear markers to ID it (except the 1919 building is "asymetrical" on the right side -- so is the modern three-store front section, and the 1919 facade "stepped" roofline is sorta still there maybe).
source: Model T Ford Forum: Old Photo -Model T Era Peerless Garage
1919
2015 -- frontage looks wide enough. I dunno about the rest.
2022
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This is a local place. I actually found this because my son mentioned that he and I should go to lunch here next week. FCBO content: This is a couple hundred feet down the street from @68 4spd Fury 's profile picture was taken. (Got to be a Syracuse guy to know that LOL) . There doesn't seem to be any pictures of this gas station in its heyday, but a construction pic shows the old station after the façade was torn down during renovation.
How it looks now. Obvious gas station based. When they found out the heritage, they went with the theme. John Stage's epic road trip from iconic BBQ to Italian pizza
How it looks now. Obvious gas station based. When they found out the heritage, they went with the theme. John Stage's epic road trip from iconic BBQ to Italian pizza
Kansas City
small world. 2929 Gillham @ McGee, KCMO
my nephew lived here when it was "Greenlease Lofts" .
Now its Union Hill Condominiums (he couldnt afford the transition). Built 1918. I'd say a great use for this fine old architectural gem.
source: Greenlease Cadillac of Kansas City, MO | 2929 McGee Trafficway | Highrises.com®
backside, from around the curve on McGee
same view aas the Life Magazine Photo. McGee is the curved street on left bending behind the building, Gillham the straignt street on the right going due north toward downtown.
my nephew lived here when it was "Greenlease Lofts" .
Now its Union Hill Condominiums (he couldnt afford the transition). Built 1918. I'd say a great use for this fine old architectural gem.
source: Greenlease Cadillac of Kansas City, MO | 2929 McGee Trafficway | Highrises.com®
backside, from around the curve on McGee
same view aas the Life Magazine Photo. McGee is the curved street on left bending behind the building, Gillham the straignt street on the right going due north toward downtown.
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Not a lot of architecture here, but I like the picture. The Coke machines remind me of when I was a kid and we (neighborhood kids) would stop at the gas station for a soda while walking home.
The Gulf station had the traditional Coke machine and the Shell station across the street had the more modern Pepsi machine. This place has both, something that wouldn't fly these days. Along side the machine in the pic is the crates for the empties... If you walked away with a soda, you were supposed to give the guy in the station the deposit (IIRC 2 cents) and none of us had any more money after buying the soda (10 cents) so we would drink the soda there and put the empty in the rack like good kids.
The Gulf station had the traditional Coke machine and the Shell station across the street had the more modern Pepsi machine. This place has both, something that wouldn't fly these days. Along side the machine in the pic is the crates for the empties... If you walked away with a soda, you were supposed to give the guy in the station the deposit (IIRC 2 cents) and none of us had any more money after buying the soda (10 cents) so we would drink the soda there and put the empty in the rack like good kids.
