Charleston Ford Dealers

 (On the East Side)


Ford

In the early days, car dealerships were like Japanese motorcycle dealerships in the early 60s:  Almost anyone with a garage could become a dealer.  You didn't even have to state in your Ads that you were a Ford dealer. You kept the name of whatever your business was, and sold cars on the side.  In the case of Triple State Electric, they sold everything electric and sold Fords on the side for many years.  They were however the area's first Ford dealer.



But Eventually, we had a real Dealership

Ford

This was Charleston Motor Sales at 211 Broad Street in 1925

They would later change their name to Capitol Motors by 1933

Ford

This building was torn down around 2015 and a beautiful Ford enamel sign was
discovered between the buildings. The sign was stolen later that night.

Ford Sign





Next was a showroom built from the ground up for Fords.

Gene Byard Ford

This dealership started life as Capitol Motors, but by 1950, a man from Ohio named
Roger Dean purchased the dealership, to go along with his Ohio Ford dealerships.
But then something interesting happened:  Roger Dean switched horses and decided to sell Chevrolet's instead.  He then sold this dealership to Gene Byard in 1953. Gene was Vice President of Charleston Motors,  the second local Ford dealership.



Ford Dealers Charleston wv



Gene Byard Ford


Roger Dean

Above is the dealership that Dean took over.

Roger Dean
Roger Dean's Chevy dealership at Washington & Broad St.




Charleston Ford Dealers

 (On the West Side)




Ford

Valley Motor Sales at 321 Virginia Street West

Charlestonb Ford Dealers




Ford

Valley Motor Sales opened in 1933



Ford

Parts Dept. Valley Motor Sales was a Class Act.






Ford





Ford









Ford


When Bert bought the dealership, he had an entire plantation scene painted on the back wall of the showroom





Bert Wolf Ford






And those were the Ford Dealers of their day.






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