Check out some of these auto shops found in Southern California. The photos below depict autos hops with either a unique building structure or classic retro signage.

Downey Brake & Wheel Alignment
Downey, CA
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

Check out the familiar bear keeping watch over Firestone Boulevard at Downey Brake & Wheel Alignment. With “BRAKE SERVICE” above and “WHEEL Aligning” below, this Downey garage left little doubt about what brought motorists through the door. The smiling mechanic in coveralls added a little character to the roadside, with his equipment already in hand.

The bear was part of the Bear Alignment advertising seen at automotive shops around the country, dating back to the 1930s. Paired with the stacked neon lettering, this one made a good companion for a garage along the busy boulevard. Whether the neon still lit up when this photo was taken is another question.

UPDATE: The shop closed around 1998–2000, though the bear stayed on duty for a few more years. The sign came down between 2002 and 2004, and the old garage was later demolished for newer automotive and retail development. Another familiar roadside character had finished its shift. 10-26

More of these roadside auto bears, most from California, can be found here at Roadside Peek's Roadside Auto Bears.

Engler Bros. Motor Parts (Closed)
Santa Monica, CA
Photo courtesy Georg Balandran

Check out the neon marquee for Engler Bros. Motor Parts in Santa Monica. The stacked sign gave the old parts shop plenty of roadside presence, with enough lettering to keep passing motorists busy at a stoplight. This was the sort of sign that made finding a business part of the fun, especially for anyone more interested in old neon than replacement parts.

At one point, Santa Monica’s sign regulations threatened to send this marquee and other older signs into retirement. Fortunately, preservation advocates recognized that these familiar fixtures were part of the city’s character. A trip to the parts counter might have been routine, but there was nothing ordinary about the sign overhead.

UPDATE: The Los Angeles Conservancy’s Modern Committee helped save the Engler Bros. marquee from removal. The parts business later closed, but a form of the sign was preserved, keeping a reminder of the old shop around after the last customers left the counter. 10-26

Valley View Auto Parts (Closed)
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Check out the old marquee for Valley View Auto Parts in South Whittier, near Valley View Avenue and Leffingwell Road. This sign had several levels of advertising, with script “Auto Parts” lettering up top, a FRAM filters panel in the middle, and the Valley View name below. Plenty to read while waiting for the light to change.

The two-post sign had the familiar look of an independent parts store from the days when a weekend repair often included a trip to the local counter. The corrugated metal backing gave the upper lettering a distinctive setting, while the separate cabinets made the whole display look assembled one advertisement at a time. Even motorists who didn’t need an oil filter had something to catch their eye.

UPDATE: Valley View Auto Parts is gone, but the old sign appears to have stayed around for another assignment. The display was repainted with lettering for Guitron Auto Sales, though the finish now looks faded. The property continues in automotive use, with auto sales and transmission repair taking the place of the old parts counter. A different name greets passing motorists, but the familiar sign structure still marks the spot. 10-26

Firestone Marquee (Demolished)
City of Commerce, CA
Photo by RoadsidePeek.com

Standing tall above its industrial surroundings in Commerce, the Firestone Distribution Center marquee was a familiar landmark dating back to the 1950s. The big vertical sign carried the Firestone name high above the street, giving motorists plenty of notice as they approached the sprawling property.

The building and marquee belonged to a time when even an industrial facility could have a memorable roadside presence. There was no need for a small sign beside the driveway when the company name could tower over the neighborhood. For years, the Firestone landmark was part of the scenery along this stretch of Southeast Los Angeles.

UPDATE: The Firestone marquee came down in April 2004, signaling the loss of the rest of the landmark property. The building was demolished, and despite talk of a major retail development, the site remained a dirt lot through early 2008. The familiar tower and industrial building had given way to a much emptier view.

See more photos and information about this place at Roadside Peek's Lost Treasures tribute to the Firestone Building.

Goodyear Tires (Gone)
Photo courtesy Steve Jones

Check out this old Goodyear Tires marquee, with its blue-and-yellow display and familiar Wingfoot emblem. The diamond-shaped cabinet sat above a tall, ribbed support, giving the tire shop plenty of roadside presence. Finding the service bays probably wasn’t much of a challenge with this one pointing out the stop.

The sign appears to match the former Goodyear display along La Palma Avenue near Stanton Avenue in Buena Park, close to the Knott’s Berry Farm parking grounds. Between the amusement park traffic and motorists heading toward the nearby mall, there were plenty of opportunities for the big marquee to catch someone’s eye. Tires may have been the business, but the old sign was an attraction of its own.

UPDATE: The Buena Park property remains an operating tire and repair shop under the Tire Choice Auto Service Centers name. The sign was changed and the Goodyear lettering is now gone. 10-26