I remember E.L.Strope in El Monte, Ca. (15 mi east of L.A.) and Oscar G. Yeager in Covina, Ca. (about 25 mi east of L.A.)
I remember E.L.Strope in El Monte, Ca. (15 mi east of L.A.) and Oscar G. Yeager in Covina, Ca. (about 25 mi east of L.A.)
Just to add to Jeff's comment, I bought a 54 Starlight coupe from Randolf Light for parts for my then 53 Starliner in the early 60's. I think I paid $$25.00 for it and even got a clear Minnesota title for it. My how times have changed.
Last edited by old digger; 01-24-2015 at 04:29 PM. Reason: add a coment to Jeff's post on page 2
E.L. Strop is where my '61 Hawk came from. Original owner traded in a '57 Hawk there - doesn't say Golden/Silver - for $1050.15 against $3229.96 for the new '61, no downpayment, $79.90/month for 3 years. Which looks like a SCREAMIN' deal...until an inflation calculator tells you that would be a $632.62/month payment in 2015!I remember E.L.Strope in El Monte, Ca. (15 mi east of L.A.) and Oscar G. Yeager in Covina, Ca. (about 25 mi east of L.A.)
While going through some Studebaker lit I came across one with 17 different dealers here in the San Francisco /Bay area some of them should already be in other posts but I don't plan on going back and checking every one out so will just add all of them now.
Century Motors- Walnut Creek, Ca.
Al Young's Vallejo, Ca.
Rossi Garage inc. San Rafael, Ca.
Ben A. Begier co. San Leandro, Ca.
West bay motors San Carlos, Ca.
Standard motor sales inc. Richmond, Ca.
Oakley Motors Oakley, Ca.
Milton motors Oakland, Ca.
Jobrack motors Livermore, Ca.
Band B motors Hayward, Ca.
Pierotti motors Fremont, Ca.
Wm. J Sweeney and sons Daly City, Ca.
West Bay motors inc. Burlingame, Ca.
Lou Fox inc. Berkeley, Ca.
Howard Motor sales Albany, Ca.
Webster motors Alameda, Ca.
Phil Frates Inc. San Francisco, Ca.
Thank you...
(copy)
735 Broad Ave, Wilmington, California. Top photo dated March 23, 1940 by the LAPL. But the cop car is a Ford.
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I have the 42" dealer sign that came from a Stude dealer on highway 259, in Leitchfield, KY. The dealer's grandson gave it to me about 25 years ago. He remembered his g-pa's dealership very well. I do not know the name of the dealership, however. The sigh has been prominently displayed on my garage wall since 1989
Notice the small headlamps on two cars in the picture above #1087. The car on the left and the car on the far right have those small headlamps. Was that some Studebaker accessory, or just a coincidence that two cars have them at the same dealership?
Rice Equipment Company, Lapeer, MI. Mr. Rice's daughter goes to my church and was so happy when I showed up one Sunday with my Champ!
My great aunt and uncle, Clyta and Don Mentzer, owned Mentzer Motors until they retired in 1965 and liquidated the business. I think they started with Graham and then went with Studebaker and Packard in the '40s. Studebaker had a distribution agreement with Mercedes-Benz and when Packard went away, they were offered a Mercedes franchise. That was in 1958 and they did very will with that brand and hung on with Studebaker until the end. Their building on Lake St. is still there and has been a restaurant and night club in recent years - currently vacant.
The dealership employed the Mentzers, a salesman, one experienced mechanic, and one mechanic's helper. Showroom held one car; two in a pinch. Their mechanic was a good one and they had one customer who had two 300SL coupes and always had them serviced there.
Jim Kroeger
Fairlawn, OH
Originally Posted by Bill Pressler
Barberton, Ohio
Wow, that's not real far from where I live--very near Akron. I was aware of Mentzer Motors, which was a Packard dealer, then a Stude dealer, up 'til the end, but never heard of Derhammer's. I wonder if the building is still there.
Barberton is famous for their many fried chicken dinner restaurants, started by Eastern European immigrants back in the '30's. My favorite is Belgrade Gardens. Their chicken is still fried in lard and is absolutely the tastiest fried chicken I've ever had. It's often served with 'hot sauce', which is basically rice in a spicy red sauce.
Bill Pressler
Kent, OH
'63 Lark Daytona Skytop R1 (sold new by Cordell Motors, Moorhead, MN)
'64 Daytona Hardtop (sold new by Carl E. Filer Co., Greenville, PA)
Would that be Mentzer Motors, in Barberton, Ohio?
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