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Slowlow Samba Member
Joined: March 17, 2004 Posts: 4121 Location: Northeast Tennessee
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 11:47 am Post subject: Harry Mills VW - Kingsport, TN -- Any pics or info? |
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Probably a long shot.... and I really didnt know WHAT catagory to put this!
Anyhow, Im searching for any pics or info or stories or anything to do with the Harry Mills VW dealership that was in Kingsport, TN.
The dealer closed down in the 70's, but I'd love to see/hear more! _________________ • Metal Fab & Quality Suspensions, Type I-II-III. Since 2004 • |
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johnnyrotten I Cure Seizures!!!
Joined: January 06, 2004 Posts: 1209 Location: Behind the security gate
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 12:16 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know much about the dealership, but the name looked familiar. I have a blue owners manual pouch with Harry Mills VW.... Kingsport Tn, stamped on the front of it.
It came with a 69 squareback I bought about 6 years ago.
John _________________ Enemies are friends in reverse..... G. Busey
In the garage....
64 Ghia
66 beetle
56 Oval rag
58 ex-art project Beetle
A fleet of parts buses and ghias |
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1977_L63H_P27 Samba Member
Joined: January 17, 2006 Posts: 2345 Location: Bristol, Tennessee
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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Have you talked to Mousy Johnson? He may know something, or someone that remembers. Peace! _________________
busdaddy wrote: |
...and try a few chubby ones until you find one you like.
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1977 Westfalia P27
you can't spell Volkswagen without SWAG
M-code Plate
Full Moon Bus Club |
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Slowlow Samba Member
Joined: March 17, 2004 Posts: 4121 Location: Northeast Tennessee
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Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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^^ Thats killer Johnny!
Yea, I know Mousey really well! We've talked tons about Harry Mills, but I just wanted to see if anyone out there had any old ad's or pics. _________________ • Metal Fab & Quality Suspensions, Type I-II-III. Since 2004 • |
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Rowroy Samba Member
Joined: November 07, 2006 Posts: 1012 Location: The ass of nowhere
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Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 3:58 am Post subject: |
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Nice find, Gary Busey!
Back on track . . .
You might want to check out newspaperarchive.com.
Also, you can find LOTS of information about the family on the internet, which may lead you to whatever it is you're looking for. Tennessee has all of it's tax and real estate records online for easy access. You can even trace the lineage of the property (assuming you know the address) back to harry himself and find out how much he paid for it. _________________ Suicide is man's way of telling God, "You can't fire me; I quit!" - Bill Maher |
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johnnyrotten I Cure Seizures!!!
Joined: January 06, 2004 Posts: 1209 Location: Behind the security gate
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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 4:07 am Post subject: |
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If I think about it, I'll post a pic of the cover tomorrow.
John _________________ Enemies are friends in reverse..... G. Busey
In the garage....
64 Ghia
66 beetle
56 Oval rag
58 ex-art project Beetle
A fleet of parts buses and ghias |
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Slowlow Samba Member
Joined: March 17, 2004 Posts: 4121 Location: Northeast Tennessee
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Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:39 am Post subject: |
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johnnyrotten wrote: |
If I think about it, I'll post a pic of the cover tomorrow.
John |
Good deal, Ive had a few over the years, but left them with the cars if I sold them.
Im still down to see anything related! _________________ • Metal Fab & Quality Suspensions, Type I-II-III. Since 2004 • |
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BSA64vW Samba Member
Joined: May 29, 2021 Posts: 1 Location: Richmond Hill, GA
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Posted: Sat May 29, 2021 4:05 pm Post subject: Re: Harry Mills VW - Kingsport, TN -- Any pics or info? |
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This post is old, I understand ... but just in case someone discovers this that is interested ...
Harry Mills VW opened on Stone Drive in Kingsport in 1963 and sold to Sam Anderson (the Kingsport Ford dealer) in 1982. It operated as Anderson Imports through to the early 1990s (in the same location), continuously selling VWs, along with Mazda and even Yugo for a few years. The original location closed and operated as a “buy here, pay here, value lot” for Anderson’s other dealerships for awhile but eventually was torn down and the site was used to build a chain pharmacy.
Harry Mills and his father had been in the automobile business in Kingsport for many years before he began selling VWs. His father owned Mills Plymouth as far back as the late 1930s and Harry later owned Mills Motors, Rambler and Renault, in the early 1960s which he sold to C.M. Taylor (to free up the capital to start a VW franchise) and later became Parkway Buick-Rambler, which later became JBR Buick (the JBR Buick building now currently is the home of Kingsport’s VW dealership). Harry Mills has long since passed away.
As far as stories about Harry Mills VW, I have heard a few.
By the early 1970s, the guys in the service department had made a habit of getting the cars through the garage door as quickly as possible during the winter months, to keep the heat inside the shop, so they would start lowering the door before the Bugs were completely past it. Sometimes they miscalculated and dented the roofs. They got pretty good at popping the dents out of the roofs and the customers never knew anything about it.
In the early 1970s, a customer had stopped in to new car shop and found a car that he wanted to buy. After looking it over, he got back into his own car and was “eyeballing” his perspective new ride as he drove off the lot. Not paying attention to his driving, he drove off the lot and into traffic on Stone Drive, getting struck by an oncoming car and totaling his car. |
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obus Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2001 Posts: 11040 Location: just off Garden State Parkway Exit 81
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Daytr1pper87 Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2019 Posts: 3 Location: Tennessee
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Posted: Wed Aug 18, 2021 9:04 am Post subject: Re: Harry Mills VW - Kingsport, TN -- Any pics or info? |
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I have a dealer frame from there. And a plate from the old C&T Vw in Johnson city. I also have one from Volkswagen of Kingsport which I believed operated in the same spot for a short time before the building was demolished. Now it’s just an empty lot |
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