VW Dealerships

[VolksytheBug]

I am a young ACVW addict, so I never had the pleasure of seeing the Bug infestation during Volkswagen's glory days, but I've noticed that a good many Samba members bought their fweemers new. As a result, I often wonder what VW dealerships back in the day were like? Anybody go to them in the 50s, 60s, 70s? Post pics if you have 'em!
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1970 Savannah Beige Beetle - Volksy
1965 Piper Cherokee 180 aircraft

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[Bloog]

I passed out and fell down the front steps of a VW dealership one time in 1979. I came to and the sales manager was yelling to call the amberlamps! I told him I was ok and then he calmed down.
It was awesome.
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[iowegian]

In the early 60's there usually was a waiting list at most dealers to get a new VW and you took what they had available. And the window price was the price-----no haggling.

[73sports]

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I will never lie, but sometimes the truth changes.

Central Jersey VW Society

[Jennepher]

We have a dealer listing under the Technical tab (USA and Canada).

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/usa_dealers_al.php

Many of the locations have pictures but if you have items to add, we do appreciate it.
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[KTPhil]

VW had a standard design for all new dealerships. It was very mid-century modern. Older dealerships had more personality since they often were legacy dealers that sold other makes originally.

Check out the book "Small Wonder" which includes some descriptions of this, as well as my posted video "A Sure Thing" on youtube in two parts.

[VintageVulture]

I read "Small Wonder" two years ago- abslolutely marvelous way to study the history of my favorite classic make. So much to overcome, such a fresh market for the new Germany, quite an amazing company. One of my all-time favorite quotes is from Heinz Nordhoff... "Competition breeds excellence". Too true, and so forgotten in our current gov't. Oops, did I go there? Ah heck, just a slip of the tongue. Anyhow, read that book- My fav chapters cover VW'sadvertising campaigns and the early factory days/ boozing up the French to hide their stolen equipment!
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The best things in life aren't Things
(they're Buses)

[Tram]

This was my uncle's dealership:

Shameless plug: looking for memorabilia if anyone out there has anything! remember visiting it many times when i was a lad, but nobody in the family has any reminders of it for some odd reason.

He got out of the VW biz and retired to Marco Island, Fla in the late '60s, IIRC.
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Немає виправдання для війни! Я з Україною.

[VolksytheBug]

KTphil, I checked out your video on YouTube, and it is hands-down the coolest thing ever! I love the part with the ship. If I could have only been to a VW Dealership in those days...
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1970 Savannah Beige Beetle - Volksy
1965 Piper Cherokee 180 aircraft

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[Mike Fisher]

I type in "A Sure Thing" on youtube and get Miguels's music video!
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https://imgur.com/user/FisherSquareback/posts
69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,70,71,71,71AT,72,72AT,73 Parts
two 57 oval ragtops sold
'68 Karmann Ghia sold

Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up you end up with a lot of scum on the top! - Russ_Wolfe/Edward Abbey

[KTPhil]

[VolksytheBug]

Yeah, you need to type "A Sure Thing VW" into the search box instead
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1970 Savannah Beige Beetle - Volksy
1965 Piper Cherokee 180 aircraft

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[bugger101]

[far rider]

bought my first brand new vw, a 67, back in the day. I remember going to several dealerships to find a better 'deal' but they all held to the list price and there was none or little negotiating on price. sorry no pics but you can check the samba collection - most of the dealerships looked pretty much the same.
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67 zenith blue sunroof

Contentment; when what you have is what you want.

[Mr Mike]

Reading FAR RIDER'S post brings many memories to mind.
I also bought a new Volkswagen, a beetle in the sixty’s.
And I certainly remember the dealer.
It was in June of 1966. For folks that weren’t alive or around in that era I feel it’s necessary to describe the atmosphere at American car dealerships in order to highlight the differences at Volkswagen at the time.

Purchasing an American car in the sixties was tantamount to a pitched battle with the salesman. There never seemed to be any base price to an American car and almost anything you wanted in it seemed to be an “extra” that would cost you more. The attitude of most salesmen in that period was condescending and crafty. The only person lower than a new car salesman was a used car salesman.

As a young navyman stationed in San Diego during that period I saw many sailors “ripped off” in deals involving both new and used cars.

The contrast with Volkswagen in that period was night and day with their fixed prices on their cars. The only variables were the
Monthly payments depending on how much you put down on the car, plus cost of financing. The total price of the vehicle would depend on what extras you wanted to add. But these had a fixed price also, so there was no lengthy negotiations with a salesman
With a “sharp” pencil.
I first learned of Truman Motors watching blaCK AND WHITE tv AD'S.
(I got my first color TV in 1967 just before “the thrilla in Manila.” By the way.)
They Featured a guy who always finished his pitch by saying
“ Truman Motors Volkswagen, come on down, you’ll like this place.”
And by golly I did! Truman Motors was located in El Cajon, it had a relaxed atmosphere with no pressure.

I recall seeing in the show room a really clean, nice, 1952 split window bug. It had been part of an estate sale. The owner of the dealership had purchased it and installed it on display in the
show room.

I purchased a new ’66 deluxe sunroof bug in Java green at Truman Motors, it was my first ever new car .

Looking at my original contract which I still have, I purchased the car with white wall tires, leatherette interior, 2 front seat belts, gravel guards, bumper stiffener front and rear, EMPI camber compensator, back up light, Chrome beauty rings, vent shades, rear package tray, ( the package tray came with a set of two rear speakers), sapphire IV AM/FM radio, door edge guards, rubber bumper guards front and rear, and finally, under seal.

The cash price for the car was $ 2256.00
I paid $200.00 dollars down. With financing through the Bank of America, the balance came to $2515. With payments to run a
Rompin’, stompin’ $ 75.00 dollars a month.

In those days Doing business with a Volkswagen dealer was pure pleasure. Their prices were extremely competitive and they went out of their way to ensure customer satisfaction.
New car warranty’s at the time were only six thousand miles, but
Regular service such as three thousand mile oil changes and adjust the valves were only fifteen dollars. Body work could be surprisingly cheap. I have a receipt for a crunched right fender
Incurred in a parking lot one day. Truman charged me $ 13.00 dollars to straighten and paint it.

The events I remember most with fondness were unexpected.
Moments that would surprise me.

I was, and still am a big fan of the blues, jazz and Motown.
I had most of the buttons on that AM/FM Sapphire IV set to FM
Stations that played blues and jazz “back in the day”.
On the AM side of the dial I used to follow a guy by the name of
“Wolf man Jack” He was the man! Don’t know how many who might read this are aware of him today. He’s been “gone” a while.
But for those who watch the old film AMERICAN GRAFITTI
He makes a guest appearance. He was the “bomb”.

On one occasion I went into Truman motors to get my ride serviced. It was a beautiful summer day in southern California. I was “bouncing” along with the sun roof open, and
watching the little orange foam, union seventy-six ball waving around on top of the antenna when I pulled in. The “tunes” were
playing nicely on the radio.
In those days it took a little over an hour to change oil and set the valves, so I wasn’t in there very long.

Later, getting back in my car , I pulled out of the lot and as I rolled up the street, I flipped on the radio. I expected it to be tuned to the station I’d been listening to earlier.
I was surprised to hear someone speaking Spanish. Realizing back at Truman Motors, someone had changed the station, I reached up to reset the tune button when all of a sudden this beautiful guitar music began. Pausing to listen, I heard some of the most beautiful Spanish guitar work I’d ever heard. Beautiful, emotional and moving.
Music I’d never heard before.
If music is a gift, I received one that day. For the year and a half that I remained on Navy duty in that area, I left the radio with one button tuned to that station. I never learned who changed the station that day but I’ve always wanted to thank him or her.

On the day in June that our car was delivered, it had seven miles on the odometer.
I remember stopping at a gas station to fill it. Two dollars did the job. It was a Friday. The next day my wife and I drove to Anaheim to visit Disneyland. In the parking lot, before we went in I asked her to stand up through the sunroof and let me photograph her and the new car.

I’m a pretty lucky guy. Next year my wife and I celebrate fifty years together and the little green bug is still in the garage.
And yeah, I still have that photo.
I still remember Truman Motors. Their gone now, which is to bad,
They had good coffee there too.

[VolksytheBug]

Wow,
That story was absolutely incredible! Thanks for making my day!
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1970 Savannah Beige Beetle - Volksy
1965 Piper Cherokee 180 aircraft

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[julrich366]

I bought a '71 Super new at "Volkswagen North" in Worthington, Ohio (dealership was leveled years ago and is now a fire station). Sure wish I still had the car! Sold it in '80 for $800 as a trade on a new Toyota Supra. (Wish I had that car still also!).

It definitely was a different time to buy cars. They had a "VW price list" with all the vehicles on it along with a checkmark to add any dealer-installed options. The prices on the sheet were the prices you paid, absolutely no negotiations. You did have some leverage on trade in's to a little degree. They would then let you know when your car would arrive (they had some demos on the lot, but all sales were ordered).
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- John
'74 Vert ..lot's to still do.

[79SuperVert]

Hey, Mr. Mike, great story. Thanks.
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Central Jersey VW Society

Wanted: Art Collins VW (Savannah, Georgia) items - license plate surrounds and other items. Also ivory "AM", "FM" and "SW" buttons for a US Blaupunkt Frankfurt.

[Mango_64]

[Tram]