The process of buying a used car sure has changed over the years.
For many people looking to buy, the newspaper was always the first stop – checking out the listings in dealer ads, as well as combing the classified ads. And then, just as now, you could go over to a used car lot and look around, knowing that you were going to get swarmed by the sales staff. And for those who preferred the serendipitous approach, there were always the cars parked in driveways with a sign taped to the window with a phone number.
And all that's changed. People are very willing to buy cars on the internet – without even driving them! I guess the convenience of Carvana.com has revolutionized the industry. Plus Carvana bought up all the used cars!
Anyway, sixty years ago, car dealers still took out huge ads in the newspaper with eye-catching graphics – like this one for George May Ford (an occasional topic on this blog over the years). It ran in the Journal back on May 2, 1963.
I like the fun Western theme. Isn't it funny how it's been used by so many Lorain County businesses, like Heilman's Ranch House, Johnny's Country & Western Bar, as well as the Saddle Inn in Avon Lake? There was also the Westgate Shopping Center, which took the same marketing approach. And don't forget Wild West Sarsaparilla, Pardner!
George May even provided free pony rides for the little buckaroos with a souvenir photo to (cowboy) boot.
Surprisingly, there's quite a selection of non-Ford vehicles in the ad: Chevies, Oldsmobiles, Pontiacs, Volkswagen, etc. And each is 'branded' with a special price.
A few years later, George May aimed for an older crowd, with his 'Champagne Weekend' promotion featuring Jackie Rancourt of WEWS TV.
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The Bradys bought a lot of used cars over the years. Dad had an arrangement with Joe over at Milad's in Amherst to give him a call whenever a really good used Cutlass showed up. We bought a few that way. There was also one bought from a high school kid (the Cutlass with mag wheels, and a driver's door filled with broken glass that leaked out a hole at the bottom) and one bought from one of Mom's U. S. Steel co-workers. We had quite a fleet of them in the driveway at one time (which I wrote about here).