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 high above Auburn Way, capturing the excitement of the Space Age with one giant swooping marquee. It's the kind of sign that makes you wonder if the dealership was almost an afterthought. 

Back when every automaker wanted to look like it belonged in the future, Oldsmobile embraced rockets, jet-age styling, and anything that hinted at speed. This sign fit that era perfectly, looking as though it had just blasted off and was heading into orbit.

The dealership dates back to the early 1950s, and when it moved to its current location in the 1960s, the rocket came along for the ride. Thankfully, the sign outlasted the Oldsmobile name itself and remains one of the best surviving dealership signs in the Northwest.

UPDATE: Roberts Motors has closed, but the famous rocket sign still stands. Its future is uncertain, but here's hoping this Space Age landmark continues pointing skyward for years to come. 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 had one that was hard to ignore. A bright yellow neon arrow with a ram's head built right into the design practically pointed motorists into the lot. It was the kind of eye-catching roadside advertising that made driving around town a little more interesting.

Independent dealers didn't have the giant budgets of the big-name franchises, so they often relied on clever signs to get your attention. This one did the job with plenty of mid-century flair and a design unlike anything you'd see at today's cookie-cutter dealerships.

UPDATE: Lil John Auto Sales is gone. The dealership property was cleared in 2006 for a Rite Aid, and the distinctive neon sign was removed. The Rite Aid has since closed, leaving the site vacant once again. 07-26

Wentworth Chevytown (Gone)
Portland, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

For years, one of Portland's best-known landmarks wasn't a bridge or a skyscraper—it was the giant Wentworth Chevytown sign glowing above the east side. Those enormous red neon letters could be seen from blocks away, turning an ordinary car dealership into something you couldn't help but notice. 03-06

Back when dealerships were built to impress, signs like this were every bit as important as the shiny new cars parked below. The massive rooftop display seemed to announce that this was the place to buy your next Chevrolet. It was bold, confident, and wonderfully oversized in a way that only mid-century America seemed to appreciate.

The Wentworth name had been part of Portland's automotive scene for generations, but it was the giant Chevytown sign that most people remembered. Whether you were shopping for a car or just driving by, those glowing letters became part of the city's skyline.

UPDATE: The famous Wentworth Chevytown sign was removed in 2013 after years of deterioration and safety concerns near overhead power lines. The dealership later became Subaru of Portland, leaving this photo as a reminder of one of Portland's great neon landmarks. 07-26

Packard
Cottage Grove, OR
Photo courtesy Dave & Debra van Hulsteyn

There aren't many reminders left of the days when a small-town dealership could proudly wear the Packard name. This old sign in Cottage Grove is one of them, taking you back to a time when Packard showrooms represented the very best in American automobiles. 03-06

Even long after the last Packard rolled off the assembly line, the sign managed to hang on. It's a simple reminder that nearly every town once had its own collection of dealerships, each with distinctive signs that gave the streets a little personality. Finding one like this is like discovering a forgotten chapter of automotive history still hanging in plain sight.

UPDATE: The current status of the former Packard dealership and its sign couldn't be confirmed. Photos like this have become an important record of a disappearing piece of roadside America. 07-26

Huling Bros Used Cars (Gone)
Seattle, WA
Photo courtesy Jeffrey Cook / 2006

A good used car lot could be every bit as memorable as the new car dealerships, especially when it had a sign like the one at Huling Bros Used Cars. Standing along Fauntleroy Way, it was the kind of roadside marker that caught your eye long before you reached the lot. 11-07

For decades, Huling Bros was a familiar name in West Seattle. Thousands of cars passed through these lots, and the used car sign became part of the neighborhood for generations of motorists. It's another reminder of a time when local dealerships had personalities of their own instead of looking like every other auto mall.

Today, it's hard to imagine the rows of cars that once filled the property. The dealership is gone, but photos like this preserve a small piece of Seattle's automotive past.

UPDATE: Huling Bros closed in 2007. The dealership was redeveloped, with part of the property becoming a Trader Joe's and the surrounding lots replaced by new mixed-use development. The roadside sign was removed. 07-26