1st Toyota Dealership

[strever]

Does anybody know what has happened to the first FJ25 ?
or the vin # of the FJ25 owned by Frank Conn in Cle Elum Washington ?

and hatman where did you find this image ?

 

[D'Animal]

x - 2

cool stuff

 

[JohnnyC]

Does anybody know what has happened to the first FJ25 ?
or the vin # of the FJ25 owned by Frank Conn in Cle Elum Washington ?

and hatman where did you find this image ?
View attachment 210766

images found here:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/40-55-series-tech/194207-all-land-cruisers-manuals-factory-lit-etc.html

1st fj25...debateable:
https://forum.ih8mud.com/fj25-owners-group/63656-tlc-showing-first-25-us.html

 

[strever]

WoW

that is a ton of info

thanks Johnny

 

[JohnnyC]

some pics

 

[KillerPea]

I bought my first FJ40 from Garson Rice Jr. around 1994. It was a "fully restored" 1969, baby blue with a white softtop, sitting on the showroom floor of the dealership in Greensboro. 2 days later the clutch started slipping. 6 months later the bondo cracked and the lr quarter panel fell off. Before I sold it 8 years later, that Cruiser got rolled or laid over 5 times, broke 4 birfields, one rear axle, and got 2 engine overhauls. Either way, it hooked me and I've owned at least one Cruiser ever since
Great thread.....thanks for the history.

BTW....I still have the original warranty card from 11-11-68. Original owner was Burton Upholstery in High Point, NC. FJ40-57798. Maybe I'll try to scan it one day.
If anyone has that baby blue Cruiser...I'll buy it back!

1st toyota dealership in North Carolina was "Rice Toyota" opened in 1965.

Garson Rice, who as a young Marine fought the Japanese at Guadalcanal during World War II and later made a fortune selling Japanese cars.

In 1965, when many Americans associated anything made in Japan as junk, Rice started Rice Toyota on Battleground Avenue, the first Toyota dealership in the South.

He sold only 120 cars the first year.

Business picked up considerably. In 1979, Rice broke a world record by selling 1,089 new Toyotas in a month, as well as 300 used cars. His Toyota dealership ranked as one of the nation's largest.

Rices Toyota in Greensboro NC, offering new and used Toyotas, a Toyota Dealer 2007 Toyota Camry, Camry Hybrid, Yaris, FJ Cruiser, Tundra, and RAV4 Rices Toyota sells Cars, Trucks, SUVs, and Toyota Hybrid Vehicles

 

[JohnnyC]

some more pics:


"It was actually one of the first Toyota dealerships in the entire country. Hil Probert, who in 1945-6 built the building and gas station that now comprise most of the Lark Creek complex, had first been a Kaiser/Frazer dealer, then DeSoto/Plymouth, started selling what were then called "Toyopets" there in the late 50s. You can see the sign on a 1962 pic here."

"'Toyota Road' which was a road cut straight up through the woods from Madrone Canyon to Fireroad 10 where Probert's Toyota had supposedly tested & filmed Toyota Landcruisers in the early 1960's."

Quotes from: Welcome to MarinNostalgia.org!

also:
"According to Hil Probert's grandson, Alan, after Hil Probert died, the dealership was sold to George Dexter in 1969. Later it moved to Francisco Blvd. in San Rafael, the location of the present Toyota dealership."

 

[cruiserdan]

1st toyota dealership in Utah was "Tony Divino Toyota of Riverdale" what was the name at the time and what year?

Tony Divino Toyota Riverdale UT

Tony came along in the 1980's. Before him it was called Toyota of Ogden. I do not recall the name of the previous owner at the moment but he was a big game hunter and the showroom was full of African trophys.

[EDIT] Bill Dotson was the previous owner.

I thought that Wagstaff's House of Toyota in SLC was the first but I could be mistaken. Milt Wagstaff owned that store and could often be found in the back of the service department wrenching on Land Cruisers. Milt was killed in a private plane crash in the 1980s.

 

[JohnnyC]

thanks for that info CDan




here are some pics 1972 of an early Doxon & Sons now @ 3405 N. Auburn Way, Auburn, WA....not to be confused with dexter's

EDIT year...thanks CDan....i may have to email them and let them know their pic is labeled wrong

 

[cruiserdan]

That would be late 1971 or 1972. There is a 1972 Corona MKII on the lot in the top photo. Those were produced until December 1971 when the new 6 cylinder car replaced them.

The tan car in front of the window is a 1971 RT83 Corona.

 

[a.greenspan]

cool vintage photos Johnny, I like them
Cheers
Peter

 

[JohnnyC]

spokane news artical from 1959

 

[JohnnyC]

cool sales article from 1963

 

[JohnnyC]

some early japan dealer pictures from the T-G site

 

[Cruiser_Nerd]

Pretty sure this was posted in another thread, local dealer to me. The building is still there (vacant), but no trace of dealership. Next time I'm on that side of the river I'll take a pic. Nice to see you back Johnny, hope you enjoyed your vacation, was pretty quiet here.

 

[JohnnyC]

vacation starts in a few weeks ... however i'll be spending my summer doing some wearhouse work

some more pics... we likeie pics

bottom pic i dont think was a dealership pic .... but.... a cool pic anyway

 

[Cruiser_Nerd]

Ran across this while searching for something else, not sure if I ever posted it, don't remember where I got it.

 

[JohnnyC]

Very nice Jim!!

The 'Circle T' logo ... You don't see that much ... Everybody posts that silly TEQ ... Nice 'cloth top' as well

That should go in the literature thread in my sig

 

[treerootCO]

I'm thinking '65...