History Grand Spaulding Dodge... Today

I hadn't driven by the buildings in the while, I guess the church that was there after the dealer closed is closed too...

Before:


Now

 

That's a shame.

 

Be a great location for a hot rod shop.

 

I don't know know about! Not in that neighborhood without having some serious steel bars on the windows!

 

That part of Grand Avenue is not the worst, but it's become sort of empty and industrial so it's not a bunch of fun.

 

That is especially sad for us Mopar guys

 

I'm looking for someone who knows ALL about the history on the place. Any suggestions?

 

Oh wow..Thats a sad sight..Great Post! Thanks

 

This is indeed a sad thing to see. Just imagine if those walls could speak.

For the complete history from the man, Mr. Norm Kraus himself, plan on attending the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals in the Chicago area November 21-22, 2009.

Mr. Norm will be at the show in the Mr. Norms display both days. The theme of the show is "Nickey Chicago vs. Mr. Norms" and it is very possible that this may be the largest gathering of real Mr. Norms and Nickey cars ***embled since back in the day. www.mcacn.com

Also, check out Mr. Norms website, where you'll find his complete bio and more; www.mrnorms.com

BA

 

great place for a ghost run.........

 

I grew up on Grand Ave in Chicago in the late 50s..a couple miles from the dealership. Sad to see it now.

 

Used to go past it and marvel as a kid when it was in its hayday! I was 8 in 1968,my dad would only buy plymouths so I tried to talk him into a Roadrunner! then a GTX, No Michael! were gonna buy a Fury 3! oh well!

 

Wow... on the gallery page click on the WLS mp3 near the top. That was 'never gonna' have it' bread back then for me.
Edit: www.mrnorms.com

 

I remember going by there about ten or fifteen years ago and seing some one was selling used muscle cars from there. I always hoped that the old dealer would be turned into a speed shop. Sad realy.

 

WOW. So sad...

 

Needs to be moved to Henry Ford Museum!

 

First picture, parked at the curb, looks like a fairly new Super Bee. With spring shackles on the rear leafs??? Surely these weren't a dealer installed option.

Seems appropriate that a church occupied the building in its later years. A lot of people probably thought of it as a "church" during the heyday of Mr. Norm's!

 

THAT was a great time. Oh ****, don't get me started

 

Anyone else notice the Moon eyes on the back of the red Bee?

 

I got the first pic off the web.

 

I was there in 1966......................Rich

 

I was there in 1969 with my father who was in the market for a new Dodge. For a 10 year old with a serious car problem it was a real load blower!!! Sad to see it in that state.

 

Bummer

would have liked to get a picture of that place with my 68 sitting out front of it..when the building still looked good

 

Looking at the new foctory hot rods was always a cool thing to do, but the real treat was wandering the used car lot. Seems like Mr. Norms was the only dealership that would take a hot rod in on trade in Chicago. And always a thrill to see one of the mechanics launch a 426 Dodge right in front of the place. (1964-65)

 

Friend of mine bought a '68 hemi Dart from Mr. Norm that he raced back in the day. He still has the car and I keep bugging him to sell it to me. But no luck so far. Even though I drove a super nice '70 Nova SS all through high school, I always wanted a hemi Dart.

 

I got the tour of the place from Mr.Norm hisself about a dozen years ago when I was working for SS&DI magazine. Brian Kohlman (Blown AWB Coronet) and myself were like kids in a candy store. We actually found a bunch of NOS trinkets in the warehouses across the street....and of course, the Funny Car.

 

Thanks for the link!

 

Norm is selling modified muscle cars under the G-S name. There were some @ Chrysler Carlisle but I didn't pay much attention.

 

Kind of like seeing an old girlfriend that you haven't seen in a very long time. Better to remember how she was...............

Terry