Z Frank Chevrolet (Demolished)
Chicago, IL
Photo courtesy Jason Carlton

The Z Frank Chevrolet dealership in Chicago featured a four-story-tall sign with a working neon boomerang arrow. Towering above Western Avenue, it was one of the city's most recognizable automotive landmarks. Many thanks to Jason Carlton for info.

Founded in 1936 by Zollie Frank, Z Frank Chevrolet grew into one of the largest and most successful Chevrolet dealerships in the country. The dealership became well known throughout the Chicago area thanks to its memorable television commercials and its larger-than-life presence along one of the city's busiest commercial corridors.

The true showpiece was the towering roadside marquee. Fabricated by the White-Way Sign Company, the massive sign featured a glowing Chevrolet emblem and an animated neon boomerang arrow that guided motorists toward the showroom. Standing nearly 50 feet tall, it was a spectacular example of the oversized dealership signs that once dominated America's automotive landscape.

UPDATE: The Frank family sold the dealership in 2008, and the original Western Avenue property was eventually redeveloped. Despite efforts by preservationists to save the landmark, the iconic sign was removed and scrapped in December 2014 before construction of a new Toyota dealership. 06-26

Keen-Service (Closed)
Streator, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Keen-Service in Streator features a weathered facade, stepped parapet, and recessed service bays that recall an earlier generation of neighborhood garages.

Located along North Bloomington Street, the building reflects the local shops that repaired engines, changed tires, and kept motorists moving long before national service chains became commonplace.

UPDATE: The building reportedly remains in automotive repair use, retaining its distinctive historic facade. The current Keen-Service business name and operating status have not been confirmed. 06-26

Steele's Garage
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Here is a nice vintage sign displayed in front of Steele's Garage. It's always nice to see old marquees in great shape. Not sure if the neon still works, though.

Independent garages once relied on distinctive roadside signs to separate themselves from the competition. Long before standardized corporate branding, local repair shops invested in custom steel marquees with neon, porcelain panels, and bold lettering that could easily catch the attention of passing motorists. Many of these signs became neighborhood landmarks, often outlasting the businesses they originally advertised.

The Steele's Garage marquee is a fine example of this tradition. Its clean lines, classic styling, and remarkably well-preserved condition make it a standout piece of roadside Americana. Whether the neon still illuminates or not, the sign remains a reminder of an era when independent service stations gave every town its own unique roadside personality.

UPDATE: The current status of Steele's Garage is unverified. However, the vintage marquee was in excellent condition when photographed and remains a wonderful example of the craftsmanship that once defined neighborhood automotive signage. 06-26

Pontiac
IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Here are a couple of classic car dealership signs in Illinois. The Pontiac marquee displays the brand's familiar Native American profile logo, one of the most recognizable automotive symbols of the mid-20th century.

For decades, Pontiac dealerships across America relied on bold roadside signage to attract passing motorists. Whether mounted high on poles or integrated into showroom marquees, the division's distinctive profile emblem became synonymous with performance, style, and the excitement of a new car. Today, original Pontiac dealership signs have become highly sought-after pieces of automobilia. With General Motors discontinuing the Pontiac division in 2010, surviving examples serve as reminders of an era when individual dealerships invested in distinctive roadside architecture and memorable corporate branding.

UPDATE: The current status of the Pontiac dealership signs shown here is unverified. As the Pontiac brand disappeared from America's roadways, many dealership marquees were removed or repurposed, making surviving examples increasingly uncommon. 06-26

Wolf Chevrolet (Gone)
Belvidere, IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

Wolf Chevrolet in Belvidere embraced its name with a towering neon sign topped by a howling wolf. Below it, a red Wolf panel and enormous Chevrolet bowtie created a roadside display that was hard to miss.

The family dealership traced its roots to the 1920s, and its custom marquee became a familiar State Street landmark.

UPDATE: Following the dealership's closure around 2010, the sign was removed in 2015 and sold in separate pieces at a Mecum auction. The wolf reportedly brought $63,000 and the Chevrolet bowtie $50,000. 06-26