ztheusa

Does anyone remember the name of the Chevy dealer on Rainier Ave? It was about 1/2 way between Renton and Seattle. It closed decades ago.


Also, do you remember Phil Smart? He was a big time Corvette dealer in 1957.

ExRedRacer

Would that be the same Phil Smart who has a Seattle Mercedes dealership? Probably his son?

last901

I believe the place was Courtesy Chevrolet and was located on Rainier north of Genesee Ave and south of MLK way. I think the building is still there and is home now to an assortment of auto-related businesses.

I think the other dealer you may be thinking of was Tad Davies Chevrolet on Capitol Hill. On Pike St just a block or two west of Broadway. I've been told that Phil Smart Sr was the sales mgr, but am not sure exactly how the Mercedes connection started. There was a time, during the 50's when the Mercedes line was distributed and sold through Studebaker dealers which at the time would have been L.E. Belcourt on 12th ave in the building where the liquor store is today and just north of the current Police Precinct.

Now you must remember this was just after what seemed like the Jurassic period so my mind may be a little foggy.

XC6VETTE

I'll defer to my senior partner on the name....but I know exzctly the dealership. It was past the Wigwam discount store but before the Foremost Dairy. As a kid I'd routinely ride my Metallic Blue (Chrome Fendered) Firestone 500 bike from our house in the Mt Baker District (near Stan Sayers) down to that dealership and look at the new cars.

That's where I saw and fell in love with my first Corvette....the C2. I dont remember the exact years but it could have been the entire 63-67 run....though by 67 I was running go carts on the streets in between patrols. I do remeber the sticker price though....a Vette was running $5,000 plus when a nice Impala was more like $3500. Seemed like an impossible amount of money at the time.

How many of these do you remember?
http://seattletimes.com/news/local/s...tory/nominees/

JETninja

Wow, it's hard to imagine Walter as a little Tyke on a Bike.

Cool history for someone that first lived here briefly in '93, then returned in '12.

MisterMidlifeCrisis

I lived in the Beacon Hill neighborhood near McClellan street from age 1 until I married and moved out. My dad actually purchased a car from that dealership, though I only barely remember it since I was probably six or seven years old.

I have vivid memories, though, of hearing the baseball games from our front porch from Sicks Stadium.

ExRedRacer

True dat!

XC6VETTE

Yup, me too. We used to sit up on the hill in back of the Stadium Aprtments and watch the game. Also, the Sics parking lot was the only legal place I could drive my go cart.

last901

Did you know that Elvis played his first Seattle concert there? (in the stadium, not the parking lot)

XC6VETTE

Had no idea. Only Elvis Seattle connection I can think of was that Seattle Worlds Fair movie he did....'62?
http://www.elvis-history-blog.com/elvis-in-seattle.html

I'll bet no one knows or remembers that the temp Worlds Fair housing that was set up Just north of Sics stadium, to the east of Ranier, but south of my grade school Our Lady of Mt Virgin. They must have torn them down quickly cause all I remember seeing was the remnant concrete foundation.

What year did he perform at Sics?
Found it, 1957.....I was 3....
http://www.elvispresleymusic.com.au/....SJfUppVK.dpbs

Mufflerbearing

As I recall Phil and I were in the front row.

last901

Yep, I remember we were talking about that obnoxious 3-year old on the bike out in the parking lot, trying to trade some marbles for a ticket, a cigarette and and some fake ID. Seemed a bit young to be out that late.

Wonder what ever became of him? My guess is he may still be in the Juvenile detention center.

XC6VETTE

Hmmmmm, not the way I remember it. As I recall I asked you to buy me some beer....I had my own smokes.