The Two-Bay Garage

Junk mail is a phenomenon that we all have to come to terms with at some point during our time on this earth. There are people who have it figured out—both in digital and snail-mail form—and to be frank, I envy them. All that aside, digging into your junk mail is like sifting through the scrap pile in the back of the shop or the “Free” bin at a garage sale, because you never know when something usable may turn up.

Earlier this week, I was included on one of those lengthy chain emails that loosely pertained to service stations of the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s. Feeling ambitious, I opened it up and scrolled down the page that a coworker had previously described as “sketchy.” Neat? Yes. Germane to traditional hot rods and custom cars? Eh.

Just as I was clicking off the site, something in the bottom image caught my eye. The picture was crisp, black and white and featured a Texaco gas station with three polished pumps and two service bays. On the right hand side of the building, above the plate glass window, a name was affixed to the façade in porcelain letters. It was one I was familiar with—Walt Knoch.

Then it came back to me. I jumped to an article I wrote for the Jalopy Journal eons ago for cross-referencing purposes. Here’s an excerpt from the “Walt’s Auto Supply” story:

“From shirtless national record runs, fistfights with NHRA officials and some questionable German paint schemes, the Knoch family’s Walt’s Auto Supply has been riling up the drag racing community for over half a century. And now it’s for sale.

Walter Knoch, Sr. first opened the two bay garage facing Van Born Road on New Year’s Day, 1939. After World War II, the parts store was open for business, supplying the growing number of Detroit area rodders with their speed part fix.”

 As far as I can tell, this was a photo of the aforementioned two bay garage that later expanded into Walt’s Auto Supply. This was the home of “Walt’s Puffers;” this was Detroit hot rodding history.

Maybe I’m biased because this hits so close to home for me personally, but in the end, I’m glad that I took the chance on that junk mail.

—Joey Ukrop