Gone But Not Forgotten in San Antonio! - Part II (Austin: campus, money)

[BudB]

Originally Posted by TexasMan77

Old San Antonio Auto Dealerships

Broadway Dodge (Just recently demolished, after being closed nearly 20 years)
Mike Persia Chevrolet
Smith Chevrolet
Torrado Chrylser-Plymouth
Main Lincoln-Mercury
Cavender Oldsmobile

Anyone have anymore?

Don't have any to add but here are postcards from my SAn Antonio book of Mike Persia Chevy downtown on S. St. Mary's and a lot somewhere. Loop 13 maybe?

[TexasMan77]

Where was Mike Persia Chev located, and when was it opened?

[outafocus]

Originally Posted by TexasMan77

Old San Antonio Auto Dealerships

Broadway Dodge (Just recently demolished, after being closed nearly 20 years)
Mike Persia Chevrolet
Smith Chevrolet
Torrado Chrylser-Plymouth
Main Lincoln-Mercury
Cavender Oldsmobile

Anyone have anymore?

Ormsby Chevrolet

[BudB]

Originally Posted by TexasMan77

Where was Mike Persia Chev located, and when was it opened?

The dealership in my postcard was at S. St. Mary's and Nueva Streets just south of downtown. Memory tells me that the adds began appearing in SA by 1960 or so as Persia started out in New Orleans. I left SA for Austin in 1966 so cannot say when Persia closed and also have no idea where the "Chevy Terrace" car lot was located. But somebody else will answer your question so stay tuned. And we all remember the crazy bongo guy beating out the Mike Persia jingle which could get old fast when frequently popping up on TV back in the day.

[ged_782]

Originally Posted by TexasMan77

Where was Mike Persia Chev located, and when was it opened?

Don't know when they opened, but the main location was 457 S St. Marys. That would have to be the location in the first picture in the previous post. The "Chevy Terrace" location was at 1258 Austin Hwy. They also had a "Chevy Center" location at 1505 SW Military, and a "Bel-Air Center" at 4206 San Pedro.

[Nix54]

You can afford a Ford when you buy from Gillespie. When you buy from Gillespies you can afford a Ford!

Tom Benson Chevrolet is the dealer for you! The dealer for your children and their children too!

Somethings just stick with you through the years.

[Nix54]

Does anyone remember the Rambler Automobile Dealership song?

Was it Andy Anders Rambler?

[smuboy86]

Northwood Audi/ porsche
cavander olds/ Saab
benson Mazda

[outafocus]

Originally Posted by Nix54

Does anyone remember the Rambler Automobile Dealership song?

Was it Andy Anders Rambler?

It was Andy Anders Rambler at San Pedro and Evergreen, but I do not remember a slogan or jingle.

I remember when Al Komray took over the Rambler Center, he would frequently have his daughter on the commercials.

I remember Jordan Ford's jingle when they billed themselves as the little profit dealer.

"The little profit saves you more than anything you ever bargained for!"

[RGJ]

Funny story, I walked in to the Olds dealer on Broadway around 1971. They had a Cutlass Supreme on the showroom floor and there were about 5-6 sales people standing around drinking coffee and chit chatting. I was probably all of 17 in jeans and a T-Shirt. While I didn't ask for help, no one came up to me asking me if I needed any help. After about 15 minutes, another salesman came from the back of the showroom and immediately came over to me asking if I needed some help. I told him,"I'll take this one" pointing to the Cutlass on the showroom floor. He asked how I was paying and I said, "cash". When we got back to his office, I called my banker and he spoke with the salesman(anybody remember counter checks or drafting instructions?) and I walked out 30 min later owning that Cutlass. The other salesmen(yes, they were all men) jaws were dropped damn near to the floor. Anyways, that taught me forever to never, ever, judge someone by their age or dress.