VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Old Dealership Photos/listings--Wash., DC

Anybody out there in the DC area know where I could obtain a list of old Chevrolet dealers (extinct and active) in the Washington DC area? I have written to NADA but no response yet.

Not living in the area anymore, I don't have access to Lib of Congress or Washington Historical Society archives.
Trying to track down the old dealer that sold my dad's 52 Chevy Styleline back in 1952. I seem to recall him telling me it was on either Florida or New York Avenues back in the day.

A photo would be cool too.

Thanks to our DC members.

Hello Rick,

I would begin the dealership search with the folks at the GM HERITAGE CENTER, in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

Their phone number is 586-276-1498.

If they cannot give you specific answers to your question, I would think they could direct you to a GM archive facility or a GM library, for your answer.

Good luck, Rick.

I know this probably doesn't answer the question about your father's '52 Styleline, but one of the oldest Chevy dealers in the DC area was the Henderson-Rowe Auto Company. In 1913 Louis Chevrolet appeared at their display at the D.C automobile show. This dealership most likely handled the sale of the car that President Teddy Roosevelt used upon his return from South America in 1914. See attachments.

Hey ZZZ--

Thanks so much for the cool pics and the info. I will add Henderson-Rowe to my list and hope I can find some pics of this dealership.
Hopefully they were still in biz by 1952!!

Cheers,

Old City Directories (the equivalent of telephone books) will have listings of automobile dealerships. Many of these directories are available on-line.

Great idea. I may search online as I don't live anywhere near DC anymore.
You can never go home again..."

Thanks!!

PS--Update on GM Heritage Center. Got a response telling me they have NO dealership history information in their archives. Hard to believe but not impossible, me thinks.
Nice that they responded so quickly. I also have an email into the AACA Library, which VCCA contributes to.

Just heard from Christo at the GM Heritage Center. Nice guy. He tried but couldn't find anything as he says dealers were independent businesses and Chevrolet had no control over them.
He's still looking. Also heard back from NADA. Snake eyes.

Some day I'll get hold of some old biz directories from the 50s.

Ancestry.com has an archive of old City Directories that has a pretty good data base of City Directories. You can get a basic subscription for $19.99, and can cancel after 30-days. That should provide you with enough time to mine their records, and is a cheaper alternative than a bus ticket to DC.

VERY surprised that GM HERITAGE did not have dealership information.

Yes, dealerships were independent operators, BUT their PARTNER in business was GM.

Make no mistake in thinking otherwise.

That's what he said. I take that to mean GM didn't retain extensive dealer records and like many organizations, probably purged stuff from their files (or never digitized it) that was older than 20 years old. Money is king--nothing else matters in modern biz..

I am sure GM had some GM owned dealers as well.
Maybe I'll take a nostalgia vacation back to my old stomping grounds someday. (You can never go home). LOL
Last time I went home was 2000 and I got lost!!

How about looking for the VCCA region near DC ?

Perhaps there are members within that group that may go back to the '50's or '60's.

If so, those members may recall which dealer was where.

For me, I recall ALL the dealerships that were in my area, back then ....... but I can't remember todays breakfast !

Great idea, Bob,

I copied you on some email sent to MD and VA Region Directors. Hopefully somebody grew up in DC in the 50's and have some recollections.

Thanks!

I have not seen a copy that you sent to the regions, but keep us posted on your adventure.

Thanks to all members who pitched in to help--especially the MD and VA regions.
I struck gold with NADA and obtained a list, which I'll share below for all interested. Not sure what marques were sold except Hicks was a Chevy dealer. Thanks to NADA Public Affairs for the assist.

1950s Washington,DC Dealerships:
Cherner Motor Co. 181 Florida Ave., NW
Hicks Motors 1518 Rhode Island Ave., NW (Chevy dealer which sold my dad his 52 Styleline)
Holleman Motor Co. 1611 R.I. Ave., NW
Rudolph and West Co. 605-11 RI Ave., NE
Jerman Bros. 3901 RI Ave., NE
Triangle Motors 3010 RI Ave., NE
Guys Auto Sales 1360 Florida Ave. NE
Beal Motor Co. 1401 RI Ave, NE
Trew Motor Co. 600 Florida Ave, NW
Steward Motor Co 3010 RI Ave., NE
McNey-Kelbaugh 1513 RI Ave, NE

**Looks like Rhode Island Avenue was "dealership row."

That's great information + you now know where your DAD's '52 began its life as a family hauler ........