"Van Ness Dodge" San Francisco

[Chris78]

Hello,

i've a question. My 1967 Charger was bought at "Van Ness Dodge" in San Francisco, California. Does anybody know anything about this dealer? My reseach in the internet wasn't very successful... the only thing i found out is that Chrysler established Van Ness Dodge in May, 1962. Till what year does the dealer exist? Someody who has further informations or a picture?

Thanks for your help, :edgy:

Chris.

 

[HitIt]

Im from the SF area and that dealer was on South Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco. The area was also refered to as "Auto Row". Those are the only clues I have for ya if it helps.

This is sorta interesting legal history of the dealer:
http://cases.justia.com/us-court-of-appeals/F2/493/269/4614/

 

[1badstroker]

Read the attchment, It looks like the dealer had some big problems of some sort?

 

[Chris78]

Hey, thanks for your answers. I already found this link via google. Does anybody know when the dealer stops existing?

Greetings,

Chris.

 

[Chris-Turbo]

Help my german friend!

 

[Chris78]

Help my german friend!

 

[Meep-Meep]

My dad bought a Dodge van back in 74 or so and I'm pretty sure he got it there but can't remember. I live less than an hour away so maybe I'll go check out the area next time I'm in that direction.

 

[van ness dodge]

van ness dodge

Hi Chris. I can probably help you. Van Ness Dodge closed in 1983, possibly 1984. My Dad worked there as parts manager from the mid 60's until they closed. They hired me to help clean out the building in the last weeks they were open. I still have a bunch of old Mopar boxes and a varied assortment of rare Mopar items. My Dad passed in 2001. When we cleaned out his house, I found even more stuff. Glasswear, Promo models, paint, lubes, car care items, stripe kits, all kinds of stuff, all still in Mopar boxes. Every item has the pentastar logo. I currently own a '68 Dart from there and I'm looking to buy a '70 Challenger from there also. If I scour my many photo albums, I may be able to find at least one photo of the dealership, but I'm not sure about that. Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[ROB L]

Van Ness Dodge

I started selling cars at Van Ness Dodge in 1967. It was located at Van Ness and California. The building later became Great Western Bank and eventually the site of San Francisco Ford, which recently closed it's doors. Interesting old building, 4 floors. Moved cars on old freight elevator. If you started up a new hemi on the 4th floor the whole building would vibrate!

 

[moparstuart]

very cool , any more stories or pictures from back in the day ???

 

[Budnicks]

I was born & raise in Eastern S.F. Bay area in Concord Ca. about 40+ miles east of S.F., If I remember correctly my step father Bob purchased his new 1968 Sport Satellite 383ci 4spd Drk Green w/white Vinyl top & white Bucket seat w/console interior & road wheels (Chrome/black magnum 500's style wheels) off the show room floor... I was like 9 years old, but I still remember the car very well not the Van Ness Dodge dealership so much, I do remember riding up & down an elevator in the dealership, Maybe...LOL... That was my mothers grocery getter car, his daily driver was a 64 GTO.. Bought New from Meridian Pontiac in Concord... I know it's not relevant, but added it any way it was a serious meaningful part of my youth...

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

I believe my 69 was purchased there, I know it was made in the L.A. plant but the story is it was purchased in the city then the guy moved to concord then a kid bought it up in el Dorado hills were I found it. not sure how or who made the changes to the interior, paint or had the body repaired after an accident but this brings up a good point about history, We have the Hamtramck web site for those line cars wish we had a L.A. site!
But I was excited to know my car was a Cali car and will remain so all it's life.

 

[Budnicks]

Concord car ???

I believe my 69 was purchased there, I know it was made in the L.A. plant but the story is it was purchased in the city then the guy moved to concord then a kid bought it up in el Dorado hills were I found it. not sure how or who made the changes to the interior, paint or had the body repaired after an accident but this brings up a good point about history, We have the Hamtramck web site for those line cars wish we had a L.A. site!
But I was excited to know my car was a Cali car and will remain so all it's life.

Do you have a name from the owner from Concord Ca. ??? I may know the car or owner, or it could be one of the many I have owned, the MoPaR contingent in Concord was pretty exclusive back in the day...

 

[SUPERSTOCKRACER]

this is a awesome post!:headbang:

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

Got to go to work tonight but I will dig through some of the old receipts I got with the car and let you know. If I remember it seemed like the same owner lived in the city then moved to concord if that helps

The car was originally bronze fire metallic 383 auto a/c saddle tan interior. going back to that as much as possible minus the 383 ;) and the interior. I know some rear end work was done by magnum in SJ....dam now you got me scrambling for those docs lmao...too much fun...

 

[Budnicks]

Got to go to work tonight but I will dig through some of the old receipts I got with the car and let you know. If I remember it seemed like the same owner lived in the city then moved to concord if that helps

The car was originally bronze fire metallic 383 auto a/c saddle tan interior. going back to that as much as possible minus the 383 ;) and the interior. I know some rear end work was done by magnum in SJ....dam now you got me scrambling for those docs lmao...too much fun...

Got ya you go to bed thinking about this **** now... Look in to it & let me know, I knew many of the Concord players from 1977-1998... & some 1974 & earlier I was in/at school for a portion of that time lost. ..

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

Don Beaudoin Pleasant hill - one of the owners

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

There was also a K C Dodge Inc in SF 3030 mission street 9410 got a receipt from there 1987 lol

 

[Budnicks]

Former owner

Don Beaudoin Pleasant hill - one of the owners

I haven't ever heard of the guy, sorry, I live on Jeanie Dr in Pleasant Hill, Ca. for around 5 years late 80's - early 90's, It's a pretty small town in the middle of a couple of big towns Concord, Martinez & Walnut Creek Ca. surrounds it.... My neighbors were Nostalgia Drag racers & Drag boat owners Blown Fuel Flat Bottom "Crazy Horse" word record holders, great people Pete, Marleen & Fritz K... I would go with them when I wasn't already going racing some were myself... Pete was one of the best engine builders & tuners you will ever meet, Marleen was just as involved as Pete & Fritz who became their driver when he got old enough....

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

This guy lived on 58 Dawn Pleasant Hill Looking through all the receipts he is the only one besides the kid I bought it from. Too bad none of the body work receipts are here.