small town Oklahoma dealer

[Lynn]

Went by a shop about closing time this evening. Drove my Z just to make sure I got the owner's attention.

This shop was a Chevrolet dealer for many years. Was in business at least well into the 80's as the original owner worked there until 1982. It is now a father son shop. Get this: the dad worked in the Chevrolet dealer shop back in the 60's, and later bought the building from the family. Is this going somewhere, you ask? Well yes, I just don't know exactly where yet.

So, I am talking to son and ask if he has any idea what the dealer code was (I am still hoping to find dealer 833 in zone 23). He says no, don't have a clue. Then calls dad over. He doesn't know either. Then son says, "you know we have all that old paperwork in the attic". Hmm. I have no idea what all they have, but he says he remembers several muscle cars from late 60's early 70's including a 4 speed 70 Monte Carlo. Then he says I can come back, go up in the attic and look through "all that paperwork". I have no idea what I am going to find, but at the very least am hopeful I will find a dealer code. It will be one more piece of the puzzle I can give NCRS for their data base, as I know for a fact this dealer is not in their current data base of zone 23 dealers. I hate attics, so will either have to go very early one morning, or wait until fall.
Keeping my fingers crossed I find someone's cool paperwork.

[scuncio]

Awesome!! Keep us in the loop on your find....

[PeteLeathersac]

Cool news Lynn, now get digging!
<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

[mssl72]

Wow, that is cool news!! Dig into it and see what you find. There's gotta be something!
If I was closer I'd come and help.

[TAR6569]

Wow, that sounds like a great find! I wonder if they would part with the paperwork. I'd love to get more fullsize and Corvair stuff for the research.

[miket1]

Great deal

[Drew Papsun]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Lynn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Went by a shop about closing time this evening. Drove my Z just to make sure I got the owner's attention.

This shop was a Chevrolet dealer for many years. Was in business at least well into the 80's as the original owner worked there until 1982. It is now a father son shop. Get this: the dad worked in the Chevrolet dealer shop back in the 60's, and later bought the building from the family. Is this going somewhere, you ask? Well yes, I just don't know exactly where yet.

So, I am talking to son and ask if he has any idea what the dealer code was (I am still hoping to find dealer 833 in zone 23). He says no, don't have a clue. Then calls dad over. He doesn't know either. Then son says, &quot;you know we have all that old paperwork in the attic&quot;. Hmm. I have no idea what all they have, but he says he remembers several muscle cars from late 60's early 70's including a 4 speed 70 Monte Carlo. Then he says I can come back, go up in the attic and look through &quot;all that paperwork&quot;. I have no idea what I am going to find, but at the very least am hopeful I will find a dealer code. It will be one more piece of the puzzle I can give NCRS for their data base, as I know for a fact this dealer is not in their current data base of zone 23 dealers. I hate attics, so will either have to go very early one morning, or wait until fall.
Keeping my fingers crossed I find someone's cool paperwork. </div></div>

Hello Lynn,
I want to know that you have gone back to search for the paperwork?
When will you let us know what you find there?
Regards,
Drew Papsun

[Lynn]

I just saw the owner Sat. at the hardware store, and will be going by one day soon. Sherri and I have been buried. We (not sure why) agreed to put our home on the holiday home tour of historic homes in Downtown Guthrie.

Just removed a sad looking safety rail in the upstairs game room and installed this cool iron railing. It was repurposed from the fencing we took down in favor or some 1860's vintage cast iron hoop and spear fencing. Was glad to find a use for it. And luckily, I recently picked up a Snap On 120 mig welder with a broken switch for $100 so I was able to make the final welds on it up stairs. That way I didn't have to bolt it together. You can see just a little of the old railing in the first pic. White 2x4 and 4x4 construction. Just didn't look right with all the other improvements we have made.

Definitely will update when I get to those docs.

[NickZ]

Wonder why the different size bricks throughout the walls? Love the look.

[Lynn]

Several reasons. The walls are five bricks thick, and they used varying sizes from two different plants. They would stagger bricks, laying some east west, and others north south. There were also areas where wood was mortared in place so they could hang things on the wall with nails.

Also, that large wall used to have windows and they were bricked up decades ago. I believe part of the wall was plastered at one time. You can see huge grinder marks left from an 8 to 10 inch grinder where the plaster was ground off.

[Lynn]

Finally, I am getting around to checking out this stash. May be nothing, but you never know. If nothing else, hopefully I can tell the dealer code, as NCRS does not have it.

Talked to the owner today. Super nice guy. Gave me these cards from back in the day. Check out the 3 digit phone number.

[mockingbird812]

Cool. Keep us posted Lynn and good luck!!!

[fsc66]

Austin Chevrolet in Guthrie OK:
Zone 23 Dealer Code 049

Paul Winvoices.......:)

Oh Part of address also show B0x 338

[PeteLeathersac]

Those are cool Lynn, looking forward to what else you dig up!
Do you have a listing for Zone 23 Dealer # 833 too Paul?

<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/beers.gif
~ Pete

[fsc66]

Pete.....:

830 Scott Chevrolet
835 Scotty's Chevrolet Olds

Based on what we know shouldn't be too hard to figure out......

Paul

[Lynn]

I tried every Chevy dealer I could find from the 60's but had no luck.
My Z came from Dealer 833. I thought it might be Seltzer in Yukon, which sold the white ZL1 #61.
Turned out that wasn't 833 either.

The dealer emblem had been removed when I got the car. I measured the holes before welding them up, just in case I run across an emblem with that spacing. Don't remember the spec, but have it written down somewhere.

Just talked to the local shop owner and we are still on for tomorrow to go up in the attic and see what we can find.

[Lynn]

And, GM has no record of dealer 833, which makes me think small town, out of business many years.

Received the following message from Roy a couple years ago:

<span style="font-weight: bold">Lynn, a heads up for you we don’t know your dealer name, it’s not in the GM directory! Or in the NCRS online database, you might search some other marque’s. Zone 23 was Oklahoma in this time frame but your dealer number is 833 and I can find it nowhere in the GM directories.

If you find a GM document with zone 23 dealer 833 on it please send it to me and we will have GM update their directory.</span>

[fsc66]

And 23 832 is Scott's Chevrolet in Prague OK, has to be either Scott, Scott's, Scotty's or a derivative of. Could also be I.e. Frank Scott, or Frank Scotts, etc.
23 is also part of TX, NM, AZ.......
Or don't you forget names like Scott Motors, etc.
Paul

[The Dude]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fsc66</div><div class="ubbcode-body">And 23 832 is Scott's Chevrolet in Prague OK, has to be either Scott, Scott's, Scotty's or a derivative of. Could also be I.e. Frank Scott, or Frank Scotts, etc.
23 is also part of TX, NM, AZ.......
Or don't you forget names like Scott Motors, etc.
Paul </div></div>

Reliable Chevrolet CO
Prague OK
Circa 1968

Gary Hooper Chevrolet Co.
NW Main and Broadway
Prague OK
Circa 1970.

[TAR6569]

Hopefully you find all the paperwork up there!

What was the address for Seltzer? 1515 _ Main St. Have that one in my list from 69 but no dealer code.

[Lynn]

Seltzer was at 1515 E. Main in Yukon. Also referred to as RT 66, which was Main St. in Yukon, OK.
Became Alan Merrill (sp?) Chevrolet in early 70's. You may have it under that name.

[fsc66]

Looks like te Dealership may he's been taken over by: Alan Merrell Chevrolet Inc at the same address, they were zone: 23 dealer code: 594

Paul

[GotGrunt]

Just talked to the local shop owner and we are still on for tomorrow to go up in the attic and see what we can find.

I know this is an old post but was any paperwork ever found? Any other memorabilia? I own a 1972 Chevelle SS that was originally delivered to Austin Chevrolet. I was amazed when I found the build sheet and saw the dealer name & address because the car has been in NY for at least 25 years that I know of. I would have never guessed it came from a small town in Oklahoma.

[PeteLeathersac]

'

Cool your car's from Austin Chevrolet Guthrie!
Does your paperwork indicate Zone/Dealer # 23-049 or?:hmmm:
:beers:
~ Pete

.

[Lynn]

I know this is an old post but was any paperwork ever found? Any other memorabilia? I own a 1972 Chevelle SS that was originally delivered to Austin Chevrolet. I was amazed when I found the build sheet because the car has been in NY for at least 25 years that I know if. I would never have guessed it came from a small town dealer in Oklahoma.

I was never able to talk the current owner into letting me sort through the paperwork in the attic. He is a really nice guy, and we do talk from time to time.

A couple years ago, he told me he went up there and found nothing significant. Mostly payroll records and such. He really isn't in to the collector cars, so not sure he would even know what to look for. I will tell him that I know a guy with a 1972 Chevelle that came from Austin Chevrolet. Maybe if I personalize it for him, he will reconsider and give me access.

[GotGrunt]

'

Cool your car's from Austin Chevrolet Guthrie!
Does your paperwork indicate Zone/Dealer # 23-049 or?:hmmm:
:beers:
~ Pete

.

Yes, it does show 23-049 as the dealer code.

[GotGrunt]

I was never able to talk the current owner into letting me sort through the paperwork in the attic. He is a really nice guy, and we do talk from time to time.

A couple years ago, he told me he went up there and found nothing significant. Mostly payroll records and such. He really isn't in to the collector cars, so not sure he would even know what to look for. I will tell him that I know a guy with a 1972 Chevelle that came from Austin Chevrolet. Maybe if I personalize it for him, he will reconsider and give me access.

I checked the address using google street view and the building seems original and unchanged, aside from new signage. It still has the Austin Chevrolet logo painted on one side. I also found a vintage pic from the late 70’s that shows the building in the background. Pretty cool!

[nova67]

Hey Lynn....do you know of an Archie Treadway a farmer out of Yukon who always had lots of Novas? I almost bought a 66 327 4 spd car from him abt 92. Was wondering if he was still around. Thx Tom

[GotGrunt]

I found another old picture of the dealership main building after it had been sold in 1983. The name was changed from Austin Chevrolet to Knight Chevrolet. Notice Short service center to the right. Present day, the main building is now Short service center.