On this momentous and solemn occasion, 4 April 2008 A.D., I lay the cornerstone of the Defunct California Automobile Dealers Information Clearinghouse in Regard to Cool Old License Plate Frames!  Collectors unite and banish the dark clouds of despair and ignorance (i.e., "what the heck kind of dealer was So-and-So??")

I will need your help with this project!  I don't have 0.001% of the total information needed.  Only if a "Lot o' people" send me their stuff will this be any use to anybody.  I will start this and if there is interest, please send me what info you have.  Ultimately I hope this will outgrow the limited size of an Ebay guide, but in any case, let's have the info in one place.

NOTE, not all these dealers are necessarily out of business!  Some have been around forever and are still going strong.  The point here is, they were active during the "collector car" era, whatever your definition of that may be!

IF YOU HAVE anything to submit (and I hope you do), just send me the stuff in format given below.  That is, one line per entry, with four fields:  Dealer Name, Location, Marque, and Years Active.  Send it or contact me via Ebay's message system and I'll include it below.  Thanks!

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Ron Baker, Los Gatos, Chevrolet

Barish Chrysler-Plymouth, 4th & La Brea, Los Angeles, 1960's

Bennett Ford, Folsom, 1960's?

Berl Berry Ford, San Francisco, 1940's-50's

David J. Bricker, Hollywood, Edsel, late 1950's

Camino, Burlingame, early 1950's

Central Motors Co., Sonora, Chevrolet & Oldsmobile, 1940's-50's

Ed Chandler Ford, Hayward, 1980's (?)

Citizens Chevrolet, Woodland, 1970's -- see Midland Chevrolet

Coast Pontiac, Fullerton, 1960's

Community Chevrolet, Burbank, 1980's (?)

Corning Ford Mercury, Corning

Courtesy Chevrolet, San Diego

Courtesy Ford, Napa

Coyle Chevrolet (Jack Coyle Chevrolet), San Bernadino, 1950's-60's.  Bought out by Crest Chevrolet about 1970.

Crest Chevrolet, San Bernardino, since around 1970 and still in business.  Bought out Jack Coyle Chevrolet.   

Crestview Cadillac, West Covina, 1960's

De Anza Chevrolet, Riverside, 1960's

Diller Chevrolet, Corona, early 1960's

Elder Buick Co., Oakland, pre-1956

Elm Ford Mercury, Woodland, 1970's, see Tracy Motors

Far West Motors, San Francisco (?), Kaiser Frazer, early 1950's.  Not sure on city, but definitely California 1951-1955.

Frontier Ford, San Jose -- see San Jose Ford Sales

Gaestel Ford, Merced, from early 1950's, now Gaestel Toyota

Garner Ford, San Bernardino, 1950's-60's

John Geer Chevrolet, Sacramento, early 1960's

Boyd H. Gibbons, Downtown Los Angeles, Ford dealer, known to be in business in 1940, and "for many years."

Good Chevrolet, Alameda, 1980's (?)

Holiday Ford, Sunnyvale, 1970's (?)

Jelton Motor Co., De Soto & Plymouth, early 1950's

Kay Motor Co., Sunnyvale, Chrysler & Plymouth, early 1950's

Joe Kerley Lincoln Mercury, San Jose, early 1950's and still there

McHugh Lincoln Mercury, Los Gatos, 1980's

Merritt Motor Co., Santa Cruz, 1960's

Midland Chevrolet, Woodland, known to be in business from early 1950's, then became Citizens Chevrolet in mid to late 1970's. 

Miracle Mercury, Culver City, Ford Mercury Edsel Lincoln, late 1950's

Del Munson Chevrolet, Pixley

Northcrest Motor Co., Crescent City

Oakmont Ford, Oakland, 1960's

Palomar Garage, Santa Cruz, early 1950's

Paramount, L.E. von Schultheis, late 1950's

Pelich Bros., Watsonville, De Soto & Plymouth, early 1950's

Redwood Motors, Eureka, Volkswagen

Reis-Durelli, Burlingame, Lincoln (?), 1960's

Jack W. Ronald, Gilroy, Studebaker, 1950's

San Gabriel Valley Motors, pre-1956

San Jose Ford Sales, circa 1967, I'm told they moved and became Frontier Ford in San Jose

Selman Chevrolet, Orange, early 1960's

Sequoia Motors, Oakland, Nash, pre-1956

Stewart Chevrolet, Colma

Glenn E. Thomas Co., Dodge, early 1960's

Towne and Country Motors, Reseda, circa 1966

Tracy Motors, Woodland, sold late 1960's or possibly a little later, became Elm Ford Mercury

Underwood, Ukiah, Ford Mercury, late 1950's

Ventura Motor Co., Ventura, Chevrolet & Oldsmobiles, 1940's-50's

Vince Dixon, Oceanside

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Contributing members:  cmsjoe, cowgrillu, crustycurmudgeon, montandon, retrostev-o, webster555, yblockasaurus