Burne Oldsmobile-Mercury Dealership (Gone)
Scranton, PA
Photo courtesy Moon Mullins OX-76

Now here's a car dealer sign you don't see hanging over the sidewalk anymore. Burne Oldsmobile-Mercury in Scranton had this great old vertical Mercury sign, complete with porcelain panels, neon and enough size to catch the attention of anyone cruising past.

The dealership was part of Scranton's old Automobile Row around Wyoming Avenue and Mulberry Street, where car showrooms once lined the downtown streets. The Mercury sign appears to date from the late '40s or '50s, when dealerships weren't afraid to hang a big neon blade sign right off the side of the building.

These signs were once a pretty common sight along automobile rows around the country. Today the dealerships may be bigger, but somehow those standardized plastic signs aren't nearly as much fun to photograph.

Kinda makes you want to stop in and buy a new Mercury, doesn't it?

UPDATE: The old Mercury blade sign has been removed. Mercury itself disappeared from the new-car lots when Ford discontinued the brand in 2011. 08-26

Ernie's Motors (Gone)
Muskegon, MI
Photo courtesy Moon Mullins OX-76

Need a used car? Check out the old marquee for Ernie's Motors in Muskegon. Nothing fancy here, just a great old roadside sign pointing passing motorists toward the cars on the lot.

Ernie's has been selling cars around Muskegon for decades, although the business has gone through a few name changes over the years. The old location was on Ottawa Street before the dealership eventually moved out to Apple Avenue. And unlike quite a few of these old car lots, Ernie's is still around.

UPDATE: Ernie's continues today as Ernie's Auto Sales & Service on E. Apple Avenue. The old Ernie's Motors marquee is gone. 08-26

Pontiac Dealership (Gone)
Franklin WV
Photo courtesy Moon Mullins OX-76

Here's a familiar sight from the days when Pontiac signs still dotted the roadside. This Pontiac Dealership in Franklin sports the traditional Pontiac arrowhead on its marquee, letting everyone coming down Main Street know where to stop for a new set of wheels.

The old dealership was part of Franklin Motors and sat right along U.S. 220 through town. It's a simple little car lot, but that classic Pontiac sign gives the whole place plenty of character. Sometimes that's all it takes to make you hit the brakes for a photo.

UPDATE: The old dealership property continues in automotive use, but the Pontiac marquee is gone. Pontiac itself was discontinued by General Motors in 2010. 08-26

Arena Buick (Gone)
Hammonton, NJ
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

Check out the car dealer Arena Buick-Pontiac-GMC from Hammonton, NJ. Hammonton likes to call itself the blueberry capital of the world. The building is of the deco variety. Many thanks to Paul Bauke for info.

Arena had been around since 1920, starting out as an auto service business before selling new cars. Over the years the family dealership became a fixture along Route 30, eventually selling Buick, Pontiac and GMC. And if you're passing through Hammonton, you're also in the self-proclaimed "Blueberry Capital of the World." Cars and blueberries. Why not?

Arena remained Hammonton's last new-car dealership until January 2023, when the family gave up its new-car franchises after more than a century in business.

UPDATE: The old dealership building still stands and continues as Arena Automotive, concentrating on auto repair and service. The Buick-Pontiac-GMC dealership signs are gone. 08-26

Savage L&B Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram
Robesonia, PA
Photo courtesy Bob Jagendorf

Looking for a new Jeep? Just watch for the giant white hat along Route 422. Savage L&B Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram in Robesonia has one roadside landmark that's pretty hard to drive past without taking a second look.

The dealership started out as L&B Dodge, and the big cowboy hat has been part of the roadside scene since at least the 1970s. Old advertising even told customers to look for the dealership "at the sign of the big white hat." Makes sense. You're probably not going to confuse it with the car dealer down the street.

L&B later became part of the Savage Auto Group, but thankfully the hat stayed put.

UPDATE: Savage L&B is still selling Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram vehicles in Robesonia, and the big white hat still stands beside the dealership. 08-26

Rassas Pontiac (Demolished)
Red Bank, NJ
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

Located near the Jersey Shore is Rassas Pontiac in Red Bank. Rassas Brothers started as an Oakland-Pontiac dealer in 1930 and still serves the area. The neon still lights at night at Rassas. Many thanks to Paul Bauke for info.

Check out the old Rassas Pontiac dealership along Route 35 in Red Bank. Between the big Pontiac sign out front and the slanted glass showroom windows, this was the kind of car lot that could catch your eye while cruising down Broad Street.

Rassas had been around since 1930, first selling Oakland-Pontiac automobiles before moving to this location in 1949. The angled showroom glass was designed to cut down on glare while giving passing motorists a better look at the shiny new cars inside. Pretty clever way to sell a Pontiac. The family dealership lasted an impressive 83 years, eventually becoming Rassas Buick before closing in 2013.

UPDATE: The old Rassas dealership was demolished in September 2014. A Walgreens now occupies the site. 08-26