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Monday, November 26, 2012

1939: GILBERT & MOTT CHEVROLET

This exquisite close up of the Gilbert and Mott facility and the "Autocar"  sign hearkens back to the 30's 40's and 50's when one could look at a car passing buy and immediately identify it. (There were only a few manufacturers as compared to today) Today, almost all autos seem to be using a "cookie cutter" mentality. It is very difficult to determine whether it's a Toyota or a Subaru, or a Mazda, etc.

3 comments:

rayfromvillapark said...

Hi Tom, This is a great view, looking South, on Brunswick Avenue. with the old Reading Railroad station in the background and a partial view of the Battle monument. This is the Service entrance to Gilbert and Mott Chevrolet. The Sales and Used Car departments were on Princeton Avenue. I never knew there was an Autocar Truck dealership at this location. They were a small manufacturer of mainly heavy duty trucks, that had been around since 1899. The lady standing next to the old Pontiac, reminds me of my grandmother. The dress and pulled back hair, into a bun, is so reminiscent of that time period. She has been gone for 45 years, but I remember her, as if it were yesterday. rayfromvillapark

Tom Glover said...

AS I SEEM TO RECALL THAT THE AUTOCAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN PENNSYLVANIA. RIGHT OR WRONG?

TOM

rayfromvillapark said...

Hi Tom, You are absolutely correct. Autocar trucks were manufactured in Ardmore, PA. They became part of Volvo, White trucks, in the 1980s. Back, in the 1970's, I attended an auction in Ardmore, PA. If memory serves me, it was the estate of an executive of the company. I picked up some very significant Autocar memorabilia, including 8x10" photos of the first Autocar, a beautiful huge bound book from WWII showing all of the products manufactured by Autocar during the war, among other things. A good productive day for me. Nothing like that in auctions, today. rayfromvillapark