Art & Inspiration Traditional images that need no explanation.

Hello,

Glenn Thomas dodge has/had a history in the city of Long Beach, CA It is a family owned and operated dealership since 1909, in downtown Long Beach and then eventually moved to the lower cost, top of the hill location on Signal Hill portion of Long Beach central. It is one of the top selling Dodge dealers, even today.

As one of the only Dodge dealers in Long Beach, they were involved in a lot of promotions, one being drag racing stock Dodge cars in the ever popular S/S classes being the most prevalent. The local Dodge Dealers in So Cal knew the road to winning in the S/S class was going to be difficult against the big Chevy and Ford cars.
1962 NHRA Winternationals pit scene featuring two 1962 Dodge Darts. One from Glenn E. Thomas Dodge and the other XD-413 from Foothill Motors.

“Factory literature from 1962–1964 states "the 413/426 Max Wedge was “available in any Dodge or Plymouth B-Body except taxi and station wagon” applications. Several factory-built 1962 and 1963 four-doors have been verified, though the factory lightweight package (sales code 709) was restricted to two-door sedans after March 1963."

Jnaki

Glen E. Thomas was a name we all knew as the Dodge Dealer was closer to our high school and favorite bowling alley on Anaheim Street. The location on Anaheim Street was a major thoroughfare that ran from the San Pedro/Harbor City/Wilmington area West to PCH South in East Long Beach. It had more exposure and traffic for a dealership.

He signed a franchise agreement with the Chrysler Corporation, and his company became a Dodge dealership.

During our time in high school, just down the street, the dealership was still in the 333 E. Anaheim Street historic building. Most of the cars and station wagons seemed like they were sold as family vehicles. Our Chevy sedans were the most popular and it was hard for the Dodge/Plymouth cars to break into the popular teenage choices for hot rods and mild customs.

Despite the powerful wedge motors, the Dodge/Plymouth sedans just were not the popular car to have as a daily driver. And a few of those still cruised around the Los Angeles area, but, not in the Bixby Knolls to southern coastal areas. Chevy sedans and Ford hot rods still ruled.

Even though the low interest car purchase market from the teenagers, the dealership flourished and moved to Signal Hill area of Long Beach. Now, it is one of the largest dealers on Spring St. near Cherry Avenue.
If a Dodge/Plymouth was in the picture, one ventured to Glenn E. Thomas dealership on Anaheim St. It was the only Dodge/Plymouth dealer in town. Now, located in the Signal Hill portion of Long Beach in what is known as the “Avenue of Cars” on a hill.

By the time the Glenn E. Thomas Dodge/Plymouth dealership moved to the Signal Hill location, those cars were in the thick of things at the dragstrips all over So Cal. In Long Beach, everyone knew where to go to get their version of those hot Dodge and Plymouth sedans. This was the Super Stock class, not the altered wheelbase cars, that was for a different classification of racing.

Note:

The City of Long Beach, CA has a lot of historic buildings. One in particular was an old “classic moderne” design building on American Avenue, now called Long Beach Boulevard. This old building was once the home to Glenn E. Thomas Dodge back in the very old days.

After the 1933 earthquake and the redesign of the building, Glenn E. Thomas took the Deco style, over the top, with neon trimming while pushing the latest Dodge autos. Its asymmetrical Streamline Moderne façade was enjoyed by all historians.

"Car dealers made great use of the building as a showroom both before and after the quake. Early tenants included E.W. Hillnger offering a Demot 2-cylinder horseless carriage for $650 in 1910. The Bush Bros. peddled Paige, Oldsmobile and Chevrolet models in 1916. Cowden & Marti sold Chevy roadsters in 1918 for $825."

Our own history with the building was when it became the famous Long Beach used/old book store called “Acres of Books.” It has its own history and almost a block long building filled to the brim with books, old mostly and some new. As college students and later on, my wife and I perused the tons of books in the stacks.

It was an all day adventure and the cost of an arm full of books was very low cost. Especially, for college kids on some budget or two. Then as 20 something, young married folks with very little pocket change, but still having a fascination with old books and old cars.

But, it is/was famous for its ability to know where every book, in every style, is located. Some were rather valuable historic books, too. That store, also, went away as the redevelopment of the whole downtown area was given full swing with bidding to recreate a new/old look.
Recently, a new construction within historic guidelines for the preservation of the old book store building. This is what is left of the historic area. (and the older Glenn E. Thomas Dodge showroom.)
Home away from home for a couple of college kids with an inkling to reading a good old book at super low cost. As 20 somethings, cost was important and this fabulous place helped fuel the fire. YRMV

 

Somewhere Down-Under in the boonies long time ago Red car is a '61/'62 Holden.

 

I was there a long time ago...