The local dealership we had a town over closed in 1983 when the state came out with emission testing for inspection. Sort of the straw that broke the camels back as it were. He had the franchise since the 30s, going through two other buildings before building the last that was the biggest in most of the country (1949) His son, who now owns the property (they use it for a parking lot) Told me that GM told him that they had the dealership as long as his father was alive. Once he was gone, they were pulling it (they also sold olds, and jeep) At the time it was shut down, he said the business ran in the black only six months of the year (this IS a very seasonal economy here) and was slipping fast from that. Sad part is, in 1950 when is building was opened, GM had a custom neon Chevrolet sign made as a opening gift for the front. A few years back, I bought some stuff from the son, and tried to find the sign (in that picture you can see the brackets where it was mounted) and it was nowhere to be found. He couldn't remember what happened to it. THAT would have been a great score.....
The Jalopy Journal
