Oldsmobile
IL
Photo courtesy Don Gardner

This old Oldsmobile marquee is located in Illinois. One day, this sign too will disappear, especially after General Motors announced the end of the Oldsmobile line.

For more than a century, Oldsmobile was one of America's most recognizable automobile brands. Founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897, it became a cornerstone of General Motors and earned a reputation for introducing new technology and styling that often influenced the rest of the automotive industry. Dealership signs like this once stood proudly along commercial streets across the country, welcoming generations of buyers shopping for everything from practical family cars to performance-oriented models like the 442.

Today, surviving Oldsmobile dealership signs have become increasingly uncommon. With the brand discontinued in 2004, many former dealerships were remodeled, rebranded, or demolished, taking their vintage marquees with them. This Illinois survivor serves as a reminder of a time when nearly every town had its own local Oldsmobile dealer and a distinctive roadside sign to match.

UPDATE: The current status of this particular sign is unverified. As Oldsmobile dealerships have disappeared from the American landscape, surviving marquees like this have become treasured pieces of automotive history and are increasingly sought after by collectors and preservationists. 06-26

Bollinger's Used Cars (Gone)
Lakeview, MI
Photo and info courtesy Richard Weiss

Here's Bollinger's Dodge and Plymouth used car dealership in Lakeview, Michigan, featuring a rather large enameled sign.

Established in 1914, Bollinger's grew into Michigan's oldest continuous Dodge dealership, later adding Plymouth, Chrysler, and Jeep to its lineup. Like many family-owned dealerships of the era, it operated both new and used car lots, with its used vehicle operation anchored by a large roadside sign that helped attract passing motorists.

The dealership's oversized enameled marquee reflected an era when manufacturers invested in bold, permanent signage that became local landmarks. For generations of Lakeview residents, the Bollinger name was closely associated with buying and servicing Chrysler products, making the dealership a fixture in the community for nearly a century. 03-07

UPDATE: Bollinger's closed in 2009 during Chrysler's nationwide dealership restructuring. The former showroom was later purchased and renovated by the Village of Lakeview for municipal offices, while the dealership's large enameled sign was removed from the property. 06-26

Jack Thompson Oldsmobile (Demolished)
Oak Lawn, IL
Photo and info courtesy Bruce R. Cassi / 2002

Jack Thompson Oldsmobile was known as the "home of the Free Loaner Car". The main building's showroom only held 8 cars, but behind the service department was a 50 car indoor showroom. This rooftop sign burned bright for over 50 years. On August 2, 2002, through tear filled eyes I watched, along with former employees, mechanics and customers as this dealership was reduced to a pile of rubble. Many thanks to Bruce R. Cassi for info. 04-07

Founded during the postwar automotive boom, Jack Thompson Oldsmobile built a loyal following by emphasizing customer service. Offering free loaner cars while customer vehicles were being serviced became the dealership's trademark and helped make it one of the Chicago area's best-known Oldsmobile dealers. While the modest front showroom hinted at a small operation, visitors were often surprised to discover the much larger indoor showroom tucked away behind the service bays.

The rooftop marquee became a familiar landmark for generations of motorists traveling through Oak Lawn, glowing above the dealership and serving as a beacon for Oldsmobile customers for more than half a century.

UPDATE: On August 2, 2002, the dealership met its final chapter. The iconic rooftop sign disappeared with the dealership, and the site has since been redeveloped for modern retail use, ending one of Chicagoland's best-known Oldsmobile landmarks. 06-26

Roach's Auto Sales (Closed)
Fort Wayne, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Check out the neon on the marquee at Roach's Auto Sales in Fort Wayne. If the neon doesn't get you, the name will. 07-07

Located along one of Fort Wayne's busiest commercial corridors, Roach's Auto Sales used a combination of a memorable family name and an eye-catching neon sign to attract passing motorists. Independent used car lots like this were once common sights along America's highways, where towering marquees and bright lights competed for the attention of drivers searching for an affordable ride.

The real attraction here is the vintage roadside sign. Lined with colorful neon tubing, the marquee transformed into a glowing beacon after dark, giving the dealership a personality that stood out from the surrounding commercial strip. Even today, it's easy to see why the sign caught the attention of roadside photographers.

UPDATE: Although the dealership closed years ago, the vintage marquee managed to survive well into the 2010s, remaining on the property until around 2018 despite falling into increasingly poor condition. The former car lot has since been redeveloped as a Coney Island restaurant, and the classic neon sign has been replaced with a modern plastic business sign. While the original marquee is gone, photos like this preserve one of Fort Wayne's memorable automotive roadside landmarks. 06-26

Edsel
Marion, IN
Photo courtesy Alan Culley

Check out this old sign for Edsel in Marion, IN.

Few automotive brands have a story as fascinating as Edsel. Introduced by Ford for the 1958 model year, the division was backed by one of the biggest marketing campaigns in automotive history, with dealers across the country erecting new showrooms and eye-catching signs in anticipation of the brand's success. Instead, weak sales and a struggling economy brought the experiment to an abrupt end after only three model years, leaving behind a small number of distinctive dealership signs like this one.

The Marion dealership sign survived long after the last Edsel rolled off the assembly line. Mounted outside the former dealership on South Washington Street, it became a familiar local landmark and a reminder of one of Detroit's most famous automotive stories. In later years, the building housed collector Nick Karnes' private collection of mostly Edsel automobiles, giving the old dealership an appropriate second chapter. 01-08

UPDATE: The former dealership eventually fell victim to a devastating fire that destroyed the building and many of the collector cars stored inside. The rare Edsel sign was removed, bringing an end to one of Indiana's last visible reminders of the short-lived automobile brand. 06-26

GM Dealership (Gone)
Cheboygan, MI
Photos and info courtesy Alan Culley

The GM Dealership  in Cheboygan featured a classic brick showroom with large display windows overlooking Mackinaw Avenue. Its collection of factory-authorized neon signs gave the dealership a distinctive nighttime presence, with illuminated Chevrolet and Buick emblems helping guide customers from blocks away. Signs like these reflected an era when dealerships had their own identities and roadside appeal.

Today, photographs like these preserve a style of automotive advertising that has largely disappeared. While many of the cars are long gone, the neon that once introduced them remains a reminder of the days when buying a new automobile was as much about the experience as the vehicle itself. 11-07

UPDATE: The dealership property remains in automotive use as Bishop GMC of Cheboygan. Although the showroom has been updated over the years, the original mid-century GM neon signs have been removed and replaced with modern corporate signage. 06-26