Ray From Villa Park Talks About Burg Area Car Places Back In
The Day
rayfromvillapark said...
Mack, Here are a few more auto related businesses in and around
the burg area. My old hangout, P & R Auto Body, owned by Tony
Parno and Bob Reither, located at the corner of Bridge and
Center Sts. I spent many a day there, working on my 1955
Chevrolet Bel Air, between 1959 and 1963. Sunset Motors, a
used car dealership, on South Broad, near Pat's Diner.
Chico's Harley Davidson, on South Broad across from Marsh's
Hobby Shop. Later they moved across the street. O'Keefe Motors,
on Samuel St. just a couple of doors down from Kistardt Auto
Body. They sold a variety of marques, including Crosley,
Willys, Austin, Hillman Minx, Humber, possibly MG, Morris,
and other British cars. When I was 9 years old, my father
brought me there to see the new 1948 Tucker. The Tucker never
got off the ground and only 53 cars were built. It was quite
a car, with a flat six rear engine and outstanding styling.
Ferry Auto Supply got me started selling auto parts and
memorabilia in 1964/65. He retired and closed up. I purchased
a lot of his stock out of the basement. Parts from 1930 to the
1950s. I was selling out of the trunk of a new 1964 Chevrolet
Impala. I continued selling for the next 45 years.
Those were the days. Where did they go?
Thanks for this Ray, its Great:)
3 years ago
4 comments:
Ray, do you know if Bob was related to Reither's on Spruce and Princeton? That Reither had a 55 Corvette back in the corner of the garage for ages. It was not back there last week; I looked.
My last MGB was a 79 and was a great and reliable car. I'm out of sports cars with my health and I just sold my beloved 2000 Corvette last month. Of course if you have any parts left for an MG or Triumph, I just may be able to find good homes for them. Once a car addict, well, you will always be a car addict.
Skip
Sadly, in other area car news, Carlo of Carlo's Auto Repair on Princeton at the circle passed on a few weeks ago.
He had a yellow Pantera parked outside every day since the 70's and occasionally I would tease him by asking if it was for sale.
Skip
Skip, I never heard Bob speak about the garage on Princeton, although I remember it well. Can't say there was any connection.
Bob and Tony were great guys and excellent body repairmen. We had such great times hanging out at the shop.
We would pickup more than a dozen Italian hot dogs every Saturday from the Casino. We took turns being the go-pher. rayfromvillapark
When I got married in 1962, Tony borrowed a new 1962 White Lincoln Continental from Alexander Motors, the Lincoln-Mercury dealership across from the reservoir and drove us for the day.
And if you needed that unique part for your rod, or an alternator...used battery...mirror...trim..etc, etc...the place to find it was Riley's in Deutzville...
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