Old Ford dealerships

[Barry Wolk]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bossmustang/sets/72157622945726489/show/

[Mad Scientist]

Cool. I like the ones from the 30's with the gas pumps in front under the roof.

[John Pawoll]

Barry,

Great pictures! Thank you for all that you do for the Mark II Forum. My Mark II came from South Shore Ford/Lincoln in Chicago. Do you or anyone else have any information on South Shore? I do not believe that they are in business currently.

John Pawoll

[Barry Wolk]

No need for thanks. I enjoy every minute of it.

[Shelly Harris]

Barry,

Great pictures! Thank you for all that you do for the Mark II Forum. My Mark II came from South Shore Ford/Lincoln in Chicago. Do you or anyone else have any information on South Shore? I do not believe that they are in business currently.

John Pawoll

When I get back to Chicago next week I'll ask about that from my colleagues who will know about that.

[Barry Wolk]

If anyone knows the physical location of an old dealership you can use Google Earth to get a streetside view.

[John Pawoll]

Shelly,
I would appreciare any information on South Shore you might be able to get. I have the entire ownership history on my Mark II and would like to have Dealer infomation also. Thank you!

John Pawoll

[2MarkIIs]

Awesome photos.

[linc64]

Here's a before and after example of one of the pictures.
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h58/linc64/Miscellaneous/AndressFord.jpg

[linmk2]

Very interesting. Having worked in dealerships for a great part of my life, the days of low overhead must have added something to their bottomline. The last dealership I worked for (1996) just our electric bill was over $2000 a month!

[Chuck Lutz]

Jim, those 2 pictures pretty much show the before and after of the auto industry as we know it today.
I was watching some of the Detroit Auto Show yesterday and I'm amazed at how much Ford has going in so many directions. All this,I think, because they weren't distracted by governmental bail outs. I'm afraid GM my be so behind the curve and so intent on profits to get healthy the product may suffer for some time to come. I'm as "green" as the next guy but I can't see hybrids hitting the mainstream in the current platform. Come on, a battery that may cost as much as the car to replace? I can see them for "commute to work" horses but I don't see them feeding the traditional thirst of American buyers for style and power (not to mention one- upsmanship in the neighborhood). Then again, I may be stuck in that era.

[Barry Wolk]

Like any advancement in the automobile, the first changes were expensive. After production ramps up the cost drops. I think you'll see the same with electric cars. Tesla is proving that right now. Yes, they had government help, but who doesn't these days?

I my business, people would still be specifying mercury vapor lamps if the government hadn't stepped in, even though there are much more efficient and longer lasting lamps.

[depmike38]

:confused:Guys, I've never understood why there has never been a push to develop a standardized rapid charge battery cartridge that everyone's electric vehicle could use. Obviously you'd want to be able to charge it at home but an existing service station or even a convenience store could offer this alongside regular fuel where you swap them in and out like trading a gas cylinder for bbq grille. Of course the problem would be getting them all to cooperate. And additionally there's no reason they have to look like an Insight. No offense to anyone who has one.

[Shelly Harris]

When I get back to Chicago next week I'll ask about that from my colleagues who will know about that.



According to a colleague there were several auto dealerships on Stoney Island Ave in the South Shore Neighborhood. South Shore Lincoln/Mercury was one of them. The area has changed radically and the "car row" strip which extended for several city blocks was out of existance by the late 1960's.

[John Pawoll]

Shelly,

Thank you for your infomation on South Shore in Chicago. Sounds like my Mark II's selling dealership is long gone. I guess that means I can't return it for any warranty work!

John Pawoll
#3380