I was born in East Los Angeles at the end of 1954. I have two older sisters but my mom knew even then that East LA was no place to safely raise a boy so she pressed my dad to move to the then newly built suburbs in Whittier. We moved there in 1956 and I stayed until my marriage ended in 2000. So yeah, I lived there a loong time. I know where everything is. I know what was there before that, before that, and frequently even before that!
Cool story Dan in Pasadena. My parents grew up in E.L.A. (my mom was born in E.L.A in 1926. My Dad was born in San Fernando in 1924.) They lived in E.L.A until the early 50s when they bought their first house in Rivera (no Pico Rivera at that time) because they wanted to raise their children in a better environment. In 63, when I was born, they moved to La Mirada and then in 68 to Whittier at the corner of Armley Ave and Lambert. By the way, do you remember Mills Mart? How about King Cole or the Sundown? Sacketts and Peters?
Sackett and Peters, damn, I've been trying to think of the name of that store for a long time now. Thanks for dredging it up.
well here they are! sorry it took so long. the little car is now down in a micro collection in mexico and has been restored.(so the new owner said) please give our regards to your aunt for us. we were very happy with the car while we had it.
Yep That's the car! i remember it and have it on my video that I took that day in 94 when we stopped in to visit Anne & Mike along with all the others under the awning, and in the back of the shop as he showed us around the shop and all his cool toys and projects. if anybody has interest in getting a copy of it on DVD I'd be glad to get you one cover the 5 or 7 bucks to get on in the mail. Or maybe I should put on youtube?
Yup, I remember ALL of that. In my high school freshman year (1968) Mills Mart was THE place to go buy Levi's. We're of course talking 501, shrink-to-fit Levi's. They were $8.99. I guess that shows how old I am, huh?! We lived over off what is now La Mirada Blvd, but in those days it was called Lutweiler and was a LOT narrower than it is now. If you remember Lutweiler Rd, you're an old fart! Lol. We didn't live near/use King Cole market. In those days there weren't nearly as many supermarkets as there are now. We used "Thriftimart" - the "Big T" Anyone else remember the giant red neon T it had?
I Cruz Whittier BLVD a few times in the late 70's and mid 80's and even got a tattoo at the famous Tattoo Land tattoo studio that was on Whittier blvd . Always had a great time! Back then there was not static even though i was from San Francisco . There was always lots of pretty girls and we use to cruz all night long.......
Hi Auto Doug,please put it on you tube. we purchased several cars from Mike Ricker, I would always call in when in the area to see what was new,the stock would rarely change,I think most were p/x,s from way back, I loved the art deco work stations in the service area, plenty of model T,s and euro classics, I nearly bought the 190 sl for 14K We would breakfast in the conference room,Mikes wife Anne would be in another office doing the accounts. Mike would sit at the head of the table, and Midge his mechanic another blonde fellow and I would have coffee and cake and bs for a while, it was always a pleasure going to see all at Ricker motors, We used to go to Farmer Dels restaurant next to them till they leveled it Milt
Man...Lots of 'rememberances' here, proud to read 'em! My bud Al Mise got out of the Navy in '61, he had a channeled 'A' Coupe with a '47 Merc flattie. I kept the car, rebuilt everything (in Santa Clara, up North) while he finished his Navy hitch. 1962, he and I started going down to L.A. (Whittier/Montebello) to visit Jerry Guill, a B/Gas pilot who belonged to the Tridents... We made the trip probably 10 or 12 times, always in the fenderless flathead Coupe... Made Bob's Big Boy in the mid '60s, but in Al's former San Jose '51 Merc (chopped Carson, Lincoln canted quads, Buick nailhead w/'37 Roadmaster floorshift trans: Car was dubbed "The Green Latrine"... The guys on the Whittier cruise loved it...and we loved going there! Long drive from Santa Clara...we'd say, "Hey! Let's go to L.A.!" And pack a 'lunch' and leave... LOL
Does anyone remember a car club out of the Montebello/E.L.A area called "Sportsmens"? The plaques and jackets had the name "Sportsmens" with cross flags below it. I am just curious because my cousin and brother were in the club back in the 60s and they spent alot of time crusin' Whitter
I am an old Hot Rod cruiser from the east end of Whittier! I am actually researching all of the Car Dealerships in Whittier and the years of operation! Anyone remember these: Ed Taylor Chevrolet which was on Whittier at 12560 Whittier down by the train bridge and the lot is still there! I think it was open into the 80's, I can't say for sure. And operated since the 50's or 60's? Ed Sorenson Chevrolet which was on Greenleaf which ran famous Corvette race cars with Dave MacDonald. Definitely at its' peak in the very early 60's Jones Chevrolet which has to be either the Taylor or Sorenson lot, not sure of Jones's address, location or years of operation. Whittier Dodge-- known as the Charger Center which had really hot Mopars always on the lot and so on! I have some info on the Rambler dealership from this thread. I have info some of the others. But anything about any of the Whittier or La Habra dealerships and pictures, dates of operation, addresses, memorabilia etc.. is interest! Don Steves Chevrolet in La Habra I have good history
I can't remember Ed Taylor or Ed Sorenson Chevrolet but I do remember Jones Chevrolet which was at the "5 Points" where Washington, Santa Fe Springs Rd, and Pickering intersected with Whittier Blvd and there was a train bridge that spanned across Whittier Blvd and Pickering.
I also remember a Lincoln/Mercury dealer that was on the corner of Whittier and Greenleaf but I can't remember the name.
Someone mentioned "Seymour" earlier in this thread and I had a flashback (coulda been because of the '70s). Classic stuff... I'm going to introduce the wife to it on YouTube later. She'll think I'm still suffering from the 70's.......
Great stuff this is, I just bought a 63 1/2 Galaxie with the original paperwork from Frank Dore & Son's Ford at 345 S Greenleaf Avenue Whittier, which is 1 block north of my current location on Greenleaf Ave.
Nope - Bert's started as a Motorcycle Dismantler on Foothill (Route 66) in Azusa, they later moved across the street and became a new bike dealership. They are now on Azusa Ave (Hwy 39, aka Beach Blvd) in Covina. Still owned by members of the original family - and there never was anyone named Bert LOL
Kinda like when people would call Atlas Chr/Ply, ask for Mr Atlas "we're close friends", and not know it was SALTA backwards.
A lot of firsts for me on that street. So many great memories. I hear the phrase "The boulevard" and I think to myself "There is only one, Whittier". Sadly, I don't have any pictures from back then (79-82 for me) but I do have these:
The remnant of Ed Taylor and then Jones Chevrolet is still there at 5 points, north of the new Walgreens and west of the train bridge! The address was 12560 Whittier Blvd. I remember heading often from or going to the 605 seeing cars parked there on the turn for sale, but at those particular Dealerships, I only vaguely remember an occasion real hot car on the lot, but then I never got out and walked the showroom. The Bob Sorenson was one of the older Dealerships in Los Angeles County and was up on Greenleaf. It had a full racing sponsorship of Corvettes back in the later 50's and then to about 1962. Your post was helpful, because I wasn't sure of Ed Taylor becoming Jones or Jones becoming Ed Taylor! It would be cool to find the dates and definitely some pictures of these! Since Whittier Boulevard has double fame from the Hot Rod and Lowrider Cruising, alot of cars came from all of the Car Dealerships that used to be along the Boulevard.
I have it some place written down. I will get it pulled out and post it! I might have a picture also. I think I have a Newspaper article when they demo'd the building!
This is a great addition! Any pictures!!!! A true local car with the original paperwork is super cool! That was before my time, but I liked those Galaxies also even though I am mostly a Chevrolet guy! We had one of two in the country 427 1967 Country Squire Station Wagons back when I was a kid. It used to kick butt on all kinds of Muscle cars with us sitting in the back.
I can't make out the address, but I was trying to chart all of the car related businesses along the street. Our Area has the car shop history! With Moon Eyes, Doug Thorley, and others! Here is some posts that I did on the Corvette Forum Whittier Boulevard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why we were known as one of the fastest Boulevards in the Country! Stick City!!!! On Whittier Boulevard down in La Habra. Even the Beach Boys staged a photo shoot and video at Stick City!
And more! Just in a couple of miles- we had two high end Dodge Dealerships- West end Schenk and east end was The Charger Center with Hemi's! Whittier Boulevard Sponsorship-- Don Steves Chevrolet. John Force had early ties to sponsorship originating from the Boulevard! Another one was sponsored by the Yamaha Dealership were he used to work! Here this one is sponsored by Don Steves Chevrolet on Whittier in La Habra! Also out of appreciation to Don Steves, a little realized fact, but he maintained Don Steves Chevrolet on the front of his Ford based Funny Cars for some time until Ford made him remove it. About three miles directly to the South of Whittier Boulevard were these guys! Here's an old Hot Rodder-- Kugel!!! On Whittier Blvd., I liked the shop truck in this photo! There are a lot of speed shops around here! Here is one other, a mile from the head of the boulevard! And we can't forget the famous Corvettes!!!!!!!!!!!!! As with the two Dodge Dealerships, on the Hot Rod cruising section from Greenleaf clear down to Harbor Boulevard were Bob Sorenson Chevrolet; Whittier, CA. on the West end of the cruise route and Don Steves Chevrolet; La Habra, CA. on the East end! Bill Thomas prepared! My little car! X How about a local car!
My family is a car family. We moved to Hacienda Heights in 1978 and we started cruising Whitter Blvd. from that time till the very end! I distinctly remember the serious racers used to call the stretch between Colima and Greenleaf as the Tourist cruise! If you wanted the police to hassle you, then you drove down there. Corky's was known for the show car crowd is what I remember. But then guys that had permanent hang out spots, did have real fast cars. Our group more was on the east end near the speed shop down closer to Stick City. I remember practically every high school had it's preferred parking lot. And if we cruised, we might do the full lap to Greenleaf and then back to Fullerton Road down by the famous Dealership Don Steves Chevrolet with all of the hot Corvettes and assortment of Muscle cars on that lot!But most of the time we would lap from Scott where the Ford and Cadillac Dealerships were and then down to Fullerton Road. The Green Burrito and some of the other dives (Jack N the Box, the Bowling Alleys, etc.) were the hot hang outs in this less talked about but highly active section of the Boulevard!!! We usually would go down to either the SFS near Nabisco were the VW's were also known to run, sometimes to Bloomfield area of Santa Fe Springs, and I remember getting hi octane gas in the old Pyroil Refinery where there were two pumps (diesel and high octane for trucks, but we talked our way in all of the time). Also we used 4 lanes out over the hills off of Azusa near Valley for the super hot drag races. It sometimes depended on where the competitor lived, so we could go in three directions to get a venue! I will get some pictures up of some of our Family cars! In case anyone remembers them from 1978-1985 (the End Period). Even my family had a 460 cube White with Black Vinyl top and wood sides Ford Country Squire with side header pipes and Ansen mags, Holley etc.. after the 427 Wagon was in an accident and the front end was totaled while taking a trip to the San Diego Zoo! But my Father's Corvette was one of the hot cars! It recently won the Route 66 Open header Contest at the San Bernardino event a few years back in the same configuration of engine and drivetrain that it went down Whittier Blvd.. My father James Ekas in his hip clothing! Back in the Day! Every car in the picture has a California Black Plate last issued in 1969. The car was a Dana Chevrolet car, sold from the hi-performance shop that they had. We have the NCRS Corvette certificate on that connection. Basically it was special painted Riverside Gold onto this 1968, and got the racing goodies, like the vintage racing Hooker Headers, and the original Magnesium Americans, and the dealership put a 4 bolt main small block in it with all of the racing parts That was back when Dale Armstrong the Funny car racer worked there as their Drag racing specialist, and Dick Guldstrand also had worked there as the Performance General Manager. And the car as it is today! My father is in the cool Steve McQueen replica jacket sitting down! And this is how it has looked since the early 80's 1981 I remember and as it used to prowl the Boulevard. I took it down there a number of times myself! It was Silver prior to that but with all of the same things that are in the picture! As you can see, the header tubes are off in less than 5 minutes, because they are flanged! Three bolts both sides and the two on the rails and off they come! 2-1/2 minutes per side if you are setting up for a race! We would also pull the belts, advance the timing, let out some air in the back tires, but you had already pre-filled the fronts with alot of air. This is me in my car circa 1990 at Willow Springs Raceway up in the desert by Edwards Air Force base. After my cruising period, and with the Police and all, I went back to a full racing configuration, but I would still drive my car on the street! It is a semi famous car from Whittier Boulevard sponsored by Don Steves Chevrolet until crashed. As you can see I had to put a new nose on it. It is the yellow 1969/70 racer that I pictured above in the Whittier Boulevard related cars I pictured. I still own it!!!!!!!!
The Lincoln-Mercury Dealer was Ulrich, right across from the Ulrich gas station. Jack Ulrich was an oil millionaire in Whittier. I still have on old Popular Hot Rodding with a Ford shotgun powered Bucket-T built for Ulrich on the cover. Ulrich said he was going to give it to his son when he got older, wonder if he ever did.
To: TRRacing, Great Photos. I can't believe there's a Wally Mart in that area now. To : Jamesgr81: Thanks for the name of the Lincoln/Mercury Dealership Now to all: I haven't heard anyone mention the Sundown. There's gotta be good memories there.
Board was solid on Whittier Boulevard, the other Ford dealership was up on Greenleaf, just as Sorenson was back in the day when that was a main drag!! Hey have you guys see the earliest cruising on Whittier Boulevard Back to the Boulevard. And prior to all of these eras. Maybe the first cruise!!!!!!! (Whittier Boulevard and Greenleaf). Looks like a real rowdy bunch to me!!!!!!!!!!! I remember about every gas station having some type of fuel altered this or that in the corner of their lot. Alot of gas station sponsored cars back then. I think Whittier Boulevard hot rod cruising was officially completely over in 1985/6. In the mid to later 70's the Vans were the trend. Then the Mini Truck in super late 70's into about 1981, then the VW Cal Look cars took off 1981-84. Prior to the Van craze, it was psychodelic painted anything! Alot of big Grand Prix's, Impalas, Coronets. Or jacked generic Challengers, Stangs, Camaros, Chevelles! The early 70's their was a resurgence of street rods T-Buckets, etc.. and the later 1960's the Hot Rods and altered's ruled! Actually the stock factory muscle cars never had their moment on the strip, because they were actually too slow!!!!!! Also a good dumpster fire somewhere was the tactic to draw the police away from the area where races were being staged, but after about two of them, they got smart! Up at Van Nuys, we would go onto the new section of freeway (118) and slow down the trafffic all lanes and send the racers ahead and the flagman and finish line flashlight guy! Yes Brother--- I forget this local to the strip outfit! And there are many others! Maybe start posting up old speed shop shots! Bob's Big Boy came up alot! I can't find my picture of the one on Whittier, but this is the famous one in the Valley (Riverside Ave in Burbank)! I guess guys are missing my 1960's eating establishment pictures! Here: And there is still some hint of the old days hanging around!
The Jalopy Journal
