Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Here are some neat photos of the Earl C. Anthony Packard Dealership of San Francisco circa 1953.

I find it interesting the photos of the back lot/service area. There are what seems to be a Buick and a Pontiac there! Also notice, the "back/lot service area" is actually on the roof of the building!

The last photo is of the interior of the Earl C. Anthony Packard Dealership today. The building is used to sell High end European Autos now. Still quite stunning inside though.

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Reminds me of Peter Fuller Cadillac in Boston. Up into the 70's they still displayed the cars sitting on persian carpets.

Here is another picture of the show room from the mid 20's I would guess.

John F. Shireman

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I visited this building in 1987, they were selling Jaguars and Land Rovers then. Van Ness avenue is car heaven in a town that is all about driving. My friend Warren Lubich took my wife and I past this building in 2005 when he gave us a tour of the city in his 1950 Packard.

That is a nice picture of the dealership from the 20's John. You can see all 3 pictures taken from almost the same spot. It is a beautifully designed building.

looks like they enclosed the upper deck offices. seems today everyone likes there privacy much more than before.

also on picture 19534 what is that on the front back fender of the car on the right hand of the photo. i thought it might be a shadow, but it looks like some kind of back fender guard or something. i know i have some magnetic ones for my z3....so i wonder if that is what that is.

Are you referring to the large item down below side chrome strip in front of tire? Not sure we're talking same thing as I don't see anything unusual but if that is item, think it was called a gravel shield-a large chrome or stainless steel piece standard on all seniors from 51 on.

EDIT: Need an expert opinion here. I thought they were standard on seniors, particularly Patricians or 400's 51-3 since they always seemed to be there but in looking at photo archive, see a few cars labeled as Patricians without a shield. Was this an option?

that was what i was talking about, guess i never seen it before.

If we're talking about the same feature, 51-54 Patrician sedans all had the faux gravel shield, but the 53 Cavalier (former 300) which depending on view can be hard to distinguish from the Patrician in a photo, did not. And the 54 Cavalier used the same treatment as the 54 Convertible, a series of chrome strips.

PS - the parking garage on the roof reminds me that the 11th Avenue New York facility had a test track on the roof. There are a number of photos of this feature, I don't seem to have one handy but I'll enclose a photo of the facility itself, still very much in use by Ford Motor Co.

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had a test track on the roof.

That's kind of a scary thought. What kind of track and what happens if something goes amiss--like a steering or brake job not quite up to spec?