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An entire volume dedicated to detailing and preserving the iconic muscle car dealerships of the 1960s and early 1970s, many whose doors are now closed. Text is supported with more than 350 historic photos and illustrations.
Muscle car historian Duncan Brown revisits this glorious automotive era when Nickey 427 Camaros and supercharged Dodge Demons by Grand Spaulding Dodge terrorized the streets. Drag sponsored cars from Reynolds Buick, Yeakel Chrysler-Plymouth, and Mel Burns Ford informed buyers that if you came to their dealership, you too could have a screaming fast muscle car just like the ones you saw at the dragstrip. It was these dealerships that created the lasting muscle car legacy through their innovative advertising and over-the-top performance.
The majority of these dealerships floundered, unable to reattract the customers they had prior to the muscle car. Thankfully, a volume has been dedicated to preserving the history of those less fortunate and revisiting the past success of these Lost Muscle Car Dealerships.
From the Publisher
Muscle car historian Duncan Brown revisits this glorious automotive era when Nickey 427 Camaros and supercharged Dodge Demons by Grand Spaulding Dodge terrorized the streets. Drag sponsored cars from Reynolds Buick, Yeakel Chrysler-Plymouth, and Mel Burns Ford informed buyers that if you came to their dealership, you too could have a screaming fast muscle car just like the ones you saw at the dragstrip. It was these dealerships that created the lasting muscle car legacy through their innovative advertising and over-the-top performance
Mr. Norm’s Grand Spaulding Dodge
The Grand Spaulding Dodge showroom juts out to meet the sidewalk at the intersection of 3300 West Grand Avenue and Spaulding in Chicago, Illinois, in 1969. A customer’s red Super Bee with the appropriate name The Stinger painted on the C-pillar has “Day Two” spring shackles and Moon stickers on the rear of the car. The blue Dodge Charger parked in front of the showroom still has the window sticker and no plates. (Photo Courtesy Mr. Norm Collection)
Fred Gibb Chevrolet
This October 1969 closeup view of the angled support posts of the Gibb sign reveals the cutting-edge architectural style for the era. A red 1970 Monte Carlo sits prominently in the showroom. Located in small town La Harpe, Illinois, Fred Gibb came into prominence by mastering the COPO system, as well as having prominent friends at General Motors. (Photo Courtesy Nancy Gibb)
Royal Pontiac
The two 1966 GeeToTiger GTO drag racers have tow bars attached and are ready to hit the strip. Royal’s midnight street racer John Politzer is wearing the full MysteryTiger suit with head piece on. The tall dealership sign replaces the old art deco–style sign that used “Indian head” logo and didn’t include Ace Wilson’s name. The new signage is cleaner and more in step with the simple 1960s’ style. (Photo Courtesy Dr. Eric M. Schiffer)
The 1965 altered wheelbase Hemi Plymouth Melrose Missile VI sits on its own open-air hauler at the track. Many dealerships of this era towed their race cars behind another car or a pickup truck. Jim Di Bari spared no expense on equipment. Charlie was still doing some of the strip driving but Cecil Yother had replaced driver Tommy Grove. (Photo Courtesy Richard Adair)
Albertson Brothers Oldsmobile
The winning cars appear with the winning team on the Albertson Oldsmobile lot in 1960. Standing left to right are: Lou Albertson, Leonard Harris, and Phil McNabb. Kneeling in front are Gene Adams and Ronnie Scrima. If you look closely at the license frame on the car to the right, you can see the rocket logo Albertson Brothers Oldsmobile used on its dealer plates. (Photo Courtesy Gene Adams)
Yenko Chevrolet
This location of Yenko Chevrolet at 575 West Pike Street, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, opened in 1949. Don Yenko stands in front of a truck on the lot with his distinctive body posture: Don was always in a hurry to do the next thing! The Camaro SS sandwiched between the trucks perfectly illustrates the dichotomy in approach between Frank Yenko, who sold trucks to small-town customers, and his son Don, who sold excitement all over the country. (Photo Courtesy Bob McClurg)
Reynolds Buick GMC
Jim Bell squats in front with two of the engines he built. Pop Kennedy stands in the middle with the 1970 GS 455 Stage 2 drag racer. Pete Reynolds is at the right with a stock 1970 Riviera behind him. Reynolds Buick GMC was regarded as the Buick version of Ace Wilson’s Royal Pontiac dealership. Unlike Pontiac’s approach for mass marketing, Buick’s approach was all stealth. (Photo Courtesy Don Reynolds)
Publisher : CarTech; Illustrated edition (September 30, 2019)
Language : English
Paperback : 192 pages
ISBN-10 : 1613254512
ISBN-13 : 978-1613254516
Item Weight : 1.5 pounds
Dimensions : 8.5 x 0.38 x 11 inches
