The poster backwardsk wanted me to post this photo. In the back ground there is a chimney or something with the Nickey logo on it. I personally can't really see it so clearly.

[URL=http://imgur.com/BmsCK] [/URL](click to enlarge)

If you enlarge it, and look to the left of the tower, above the very back end of the little track speedster, you can make out the backward "k"on the long tall skinny smokestack looking structure. When I saw the photo the first time that backward k stood out. Now these tracks ran right near the dealership, and the photo was taken in May 71...so Nickey was still around.

This is why I have bad eyes....I can see the small details, but at a distance, ugh I have some troubles.....also check out the Zenith sign to the right of the tower.

Yesterday I was driving down Western Ave, which used to be one dealership after another. There are only a very few left between 71st and 63rd. I remember my parents buying a Buick station wagon (1968) from Van Male Buick which was on the NE corner of 71st and Western. The last dealership at that location has closed and it is boarded up now. Most recently (2000?), we bought a Taurus at Metro Ford, which is still there. When I graduated from HS in 1974, my parents bought me a used Pinto from Murphy Motors which was located in Ford City Mall. Murphy's is also long gone. I loved that car though and kept it for about 10 years.

1986 Berens commercial at fuzzymemories

http://www.fuzzymemories.tv/fmbeta/index.php?c=225&n=25

"Lynn Burton for Certain." Remember this?

Bert Weinman Ford, today:

<a href=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=3535+n.+ashland,+chicago,il&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=25.761936,64.511719&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=3535+N+Ashland+Ave,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois+60657&ll=41.945591,-87.671102&spn=0.002945,0.011973&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=41.945863,-87.668751&panoid=A70JIxCWi_EWCSuifbxLVw&cbp=12,59.44,,0,6.12>3535 NORTH on Ashland Avenue, today</a>

Is Berwyn Frank related to "Z"? May want to drive up north and get this sign!

<a href=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=6060+N+Western+Ave,+chicago,il&sll=41.945591,-87.671102&sspn=0.002945,0.007875&g=3535+n.+ashland,+chicago,il&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=6060+N+Western+Ave,+Chicago,+Cook,+Illinois+60659&ll=41.991219,-87.689652&spn=0.002942,0.011973&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=41.991952,-87.689667&panoid=pJokLAPH8DU9xlTT3JcfIg&cbp=12,224.99,,0,-11.59>Z Frank, today</a>

That is one of the coolest looking signs left in Chicago!

Here is what the old showroom looked like. The top image is of the lot across the street on the east side of Western just north of Glenlake.

The corner building of Z frank is now a Shell.
Walgreens built over where "Scottie Pippen Dodge" used to be, just north of Z.

Up until the 70's, most of the large car dealers were in the city. The suburban dealers were still small 'country town' dealers in tiny buildings. I looked through a 1963 Sun-Times recently, and 90% of ads were city addresses.

Long Chevrolet ushered in the huge sprawling 'volume' lots.

My union hall used to be in the 6900 block of Western Ave. and I remember all of the sleezy used car dealerships that used to line the street on both sides back in the 1960s. I remember a Brigance Chevrolet dealer in the Chicago area but I don't remember where it was located?

chevyliddle Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My union hall used to be in the 6900 block of
> Western Ave. and I remember all of the sleezy used
> car dealerships that used to line the street on
> both sides back in the 1960s. I remember a
> Brigance Chevrolet dealer in the Chicago area but
> I don't remember where it was located?


It was located on W.Chicago Av in Oak Park, Just west of N.Austin, S side of the street.

Brigance's User Car lot was on Division, near the Rockne theater at about 5700W in city; closed around 1974?

Here is some of my Brigance Chevrolet memorabilia.

(click to enlarge)

[URL=http://imgur.com/s4Vv5] [/URL]

[URL=http://imgur.com/dukNp] [/URL]

[URL=http://imgur.com/7STEC] [/URL]

[URL=http://imgur.com/tft5v] [/URL]

Doesn't Golf Mill (Ford, etc) still have cheesy locally produced commercials?

The last jingle was like;

"Do like Stu and
push it
pull it
tow it
to Golf Mill Ford"

Or something - not as bad as Eagle Man, but twice as forgettable.

Those were from around 2000. Golf Mill changed hands a couple of times since then.

The guy Stu in the commercial is actually a real person named Stu that worked in the dealers service department, then was later the aftersale manager in the sales department.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/2011 02:48AM by Berwyn Frank.

Brigance was located at 15 West Chicago ave. ANd I was an employee there when they closed. I believe it was a friday March 21rst. 1975 when they got us in the back of the service dept. and said "Sorry, Were out of business". I was there only about a year but enjoyed my time and the people there. Still have some nice memories.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/21/2011 02:52PM by charliesource.

There was a Ford Dealer on the North side named, I think, Tauber Ford or something similar to that. My cousin worked there for a time. THey might have had two dealerships. Perhaps someone will remember where they both were.
Nancy

The latest reference that I could find for Tauber Ford in the Tribune, was in 1957. The address listed was at 6035 Broadway and the phone number was
Longbeach 1-0860. They were selling a 1954 Ford Tudor for $395.

In the 60s ad 70s the ads for a dealer at that location were for VWs and Fiat.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/03/2011 05:38PM by Kchi.

Thanks,Kchi,
I remember when my cousin worked there- about 1954-56 It was when the Thunderbird came out. There were always 'looky loos' who came in to admire the red convertible on the floor. I got to ride in it and -boy- what a great experience. People's heads turned as we passed them by. It was one hot car-lol!
Thanks again for looking it up!
Nancy

I lived by LaFollete Park near Division and Laramie in the late 60's and used to see tons of Brigance stickered Chevys.

Also, nearby, there used to be tons of new car dealers on Cicero from Armitage to Belmont, with huge neon signs as Z Frank's.

Regarding the Western av. used car shops. In 8th grade, 1975, we'd look in the teacher's Suntimes to see 'who has the cheapest used car today?' Usually an early 60's one for $75!