Roberts Oldsmobile (Closed)
Auburn, WA Photo courtesy John Spencer
You couldn’t ask for a better sign to sell Oldsmobiles. Roberts Oldsmobile sent a rocket soaring above Auburn Way, giving passing motorists something considerably more interesting to look at than the cars below. With its sweeping shape and neon detailing, this sign looked ready to leave the dealership behind and head into orbit.
Roberts opened in 1952, and the rocket came along when the dealership moved in 1963. The design wasn’t just borrowing from science fiction. Oldsmobile introduced its famous Rocket V8 engine in 1949, making rockets a natural part of the company’s advertising. This was one dealer that took the idea well beyond a picture in the showroom window.
UPDATE: Roberts Motors has closed, but the rocket sign survives above Auburn Way. It has outlasted both the dealership and the Oldsmobile brand, which ended production in 2004. Here’s hoping this unusual piece of automotive advertising keeps pointing skyward for many more years. 07-26
Lil John Auto Sales (Gone)
Bremerton, WA Photo courtesy John Spencer
Used car lots have always been good places to find interesting signs, and Lil John Auto Sales in Bremerton certainly had one worth photographing. Its bright yellow neon arrow incorporated a ram’s head, giving motorists an unusual combination of animal mascot and roadside directions. Apparently, a plain arrow wouldn’t have been quite enough.
The sign had the personality that made independent dealerships fun to discover. Before rows of matching franchise signs became the usual sight, a local dealer could distinguish the lot with something a little unexpected. Whether you were looking for another car or simply collecting roadside photographs, this one gave you a reason to slow down.
UPDATE: Lil John Auto Sales and its distinctive sign are gone. The property was redeveloped for a Rite Aid built in 2006, and that store has since closed as well. The former pharmacy has been offered for sale or lease, but there’s no confirmed word on what became of the old neon ram and arrow. 07-26
Lincoln Mercury (Demolished)
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy John Spencer
You didn’t have to be shopping for a car to notice the giant Lincoln Mercury sign above Westlake Avenue. Those enormous rooftop letters made sure motorists knew exactly what was inside the showroom. Long before glass towers changed this part of Seattle, the sign was one of those familiar sights you could use when giving directions through town.
Dealerships certainly weren’t shy about advertising during the 1950s and ’60s. The cars had chrome, fins, and futuristic names, so a modest storefront sign hardly seemed appropriate. This rooftop display carried that same enthusiasm above the street, where it could catch your attention even when the showroom windows were hidden behind passing traffic.
Lincoln Mercury (Demolished)
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy John Spencer
The building below had its own appeal, including a decorative terra cotta facade that gave the dealership more character than the average car lot. Together, the architecture and oversized lettering made a memorable combination. It’s the kind of place that reminds you how much personality an automobile dealership could bring to a city block.
UPDATE: The dealership closed in 2002, and the buildings were later demolished during redevelopment near Mercer Street. The historic facade was preserved and incorporated into the replacement development, but the giant rooftop sign was removed. Its whereabouts remain unconfirmed, leaving photos like these to recall the days when Lincoln and Mercury watched over Westlake Avenue. 07-26
Packard
Cottage Grove, OR Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
An old Packard sign is always worth a second look, especially when it’s still attached to a small town storefront. This example in Cottage Grove recalls an era when buying a luxury automobile didn’t necessarily mean visiting an enormous dealership surrounded by acres of parking. Sometimes a modest showroom and a handsome sign did the job. 03-06
There’s another automotive surprise here, too. The same building has also been photographed with a Hillman sign, giving visitors reminders of two vanished automobile names in one stop. It’s quite a combination, with American luxury and British motoring sharing a little piece of Oregon’s roadside.
UPDATE: Both signs were documented at the building in 2020, although their present condition has not been confirmed. That gives this Packard survivor a more recent chapter than the original photo alone suggests. Hopefully these unusual dealership reminders will continue hanging around Cottage Grove. 07-26
Wentworth Chevytown (Gone)
Portland, OR Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn
The giant Wentworth Chevytown sign certainly wasn’t shy about announcing the dealership. Those enormous red neon letters rose above Portland’s Central Eastside, giving motorists a landmark they could spot long before reaching the lot. You didn’t have to be shopping for a Chevrolet to appreciate this much roadside advertising. 03-06
The Wentworth business traced its history to 1903, when horse drawn carriages were still part of the inventory. Its later dealership signs reflected a very different transportation era, including a towering display with a revolving Chevrolet emblem. Between the neon lettering and all that height, the dealership practically furnished its own skyline.
UPDATE: The huge Chevytown display came down in 2013, ending its long watch over the neighborhood. Other dealership signs lingered for several more years before the property transitioned to Subaru sales. The cars changed, but it’s those oversized glowing letters that many roadside fans remember. 07-26
Huling Bros Used Cars (Gone)
Seattle, WA Photo courtesy Jeffrey Cook / 2006
The Huling Bros Used Cars sign gave motorists along Fauntleroy Way another reason to glance toward the lot. Used car dealers understood the value of being noticed, and this roadside marker helped distinguish the business from the surrounding storefronts. Even without stopping to inspect the inventory, it was worth pulling over for a photo. 11-07
The Huling family’s West Seattle dealership dated to 1946, when brothers Dale and Deryl Huling established the business. Their sons later carried it on, keeping the family name familiar to generations of local drivers. The dealership was sold in January 2007, bringing more than sixty years of Huling ownership to a close.
UPDATE: The successor dealership closed later in 2007, and the familiar Huling signs disappeared as the properties changed uses. Trader Joe’s took over the former Buick showroom at 4545 Fauntleroy Way, with its opening planned for 2011. Groceries eventually replaced the new car shopping at that part of the old dealership. 07-26
Roberts Oldsmobile (Closed)
Lil John Auto Sales (Gone)
Lincoln Mercury (Demolished)
Lincoln Mercury (Demolished)
Packard
Huling Bros Used Cars (Gone)
