The automobile was king in Tucson in the 1960s. The brand of car and model your parents drove said something about your household. And the dealers who sold them shaped the landscape of the town. Some names were local, a few national who came to this untapped market.
This is all well before the Auto Mall took everything north on Oracle Road.
O’Rielly Chevrolet moved from their 6th Avenue anchor to the “far Eastside” (Broadway and Wilmot) before anyone else did. I still walk by where their 6th Avenue location was and remember when my dad bought the 1961 Corvair Greenbriar wagon we took to Canada.
Holmes Tuttle Ford was the Ford dealer closest to downtown. It was in their showroom where I first saw the Ford Mustang. My dad bought his F-100 truck from them.
Quebedeux Pontiac, first on Miracle Mile then on Speedway, was the dealer my mom’s Catalinas and Tempests came from.
Royal Buick Opel sold my parents a LaSabre for them and an Opel Kadette for me.
Murray-Bryant Chevrolet was the “other” Chevy dealer in town down on 22nd Street.
Selby Lincoln Mercury on Broadway was where I saw my first Mercury Cougar. They later sold Subarus, as I recall.
Van Wyk Volkswagen sold Beetles on Speedway. Close by was the American Motors dealer, whose name I can’t recall.
Paulin Motor Company was the Cadillac dealer. “Discover Wigglesworth” was the catchphrase for the Volvo dealer.
Beaudry Chrysler Plymouth on Broadway near downtown was where I saw my first Roadrunner. That “other” Chrysler Plymouth dealer, Rollings, was on Broadway near downtown, too.
Bill Breck Dodge, first on Speedway and Country Club and later on 22nd Street. Sponsored local drag racers. It was at the speedway location I got to meet “Big Daddy” Don Garlits and see his “Swamp Rat” slingshot dragster up close. The 22nd Street location was billed as “the world’s largest Dodge dealer.”
Precision Toyota started as Precision Motors selling MG and similar sports cars. They took a risk selling “foreign” cars with this brand from Japan.
Thoroughbred Datsun (Nissan) sold “the other Japanese” nameplate out on 22nd near Craycroft. Saw my first 240z there.
And, of course, Jim Click Ford. At 22nd and Wilmot, his was the newcomer to selling Fords in town. From Altus, Oklahoma, he bought Pueblo ford and became a fixture on local TV. Great wildcat supporter. And still out and about—I saw him at the Tanque Verde LeBuzz coffee shop a few weeks back. Still upright and moving under his own power.
Cars, cars and more cars! We couldn’t wait to be 16 and able to drive around town!
Thanks for letting me share these memories.
Relentless
